Team In-Sync eye Czech Republic competition

By the end of the 2018 ice-skating season, the novice synchronised skating team based at Northgate Shopping Centre was in a difficult position.

Over the years, the team had attracted avid skaters from far and wide, including Edenvale and its surroundings.

Although the team had many skaters who still wanted to be part of a synchro team, there were not enough to continue under the novice category.

Several team members were either too old or too young to be classed under in the category.

For the team, the next level would be to create a junior team.

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However, there were too few skaters with required skills level four to form a junior team.

Coach Dino Quattrocecere knew he had to come up with a solution.

He put together a proposal and presented it to the South African Figure Skating Association (SAFSA) council.

During the presentations, he suggested the formation of a mixed-age synchro team in line with the rules as set out by the International Skating Union (ISU).

The proposal was accepted and the team was formed.

The new mixed-age team consists of skaters from 10 years.

All skaters in the team have a minimum of skill level two, which enabled them to qualify and compete at nationals.

Team In-Sync features skaters aged 11 to 21 and have skills ranging from level two to level five.

Since its inception, the team has worked hard to overcome every challenge thrown at them.

In the beginning, the varying skill levels of the girls meant there were certain elements in a programme that took longer to master.

As a team, everyone should be synchronised on the ice during the routine.

This was accomplished with many hours of practice, both on and off the ice.

The different ages of members meant the team formed a strong bond, with older members looking out for the younger ones and the younger members finding role models to look up to.

When lockdown level five was announced, all skating stopped but training continued online.

The team did a few fun challenges to keep themselves fit and motivated.

The lockdown also meant the team could not compete at all or hone the very necessary skills needed for a synchro team to be successful.

But in September, the team was allowed back on the ice under strict Covid-19 regulations, and they quickly adjusted well to their ‘new normal’.

Easing of the regulations ensured the serious work could continue.

At the Gauteng provincials in March, which took place at Forest Hill Ice Rink, the team skated its programme and qualified to compete at nationals.

The qualification saw that the team was the first-ever South African mixed-age team to compete at a national level.

In April, the team took on the Gauteng inter-provincials and beat its personal best score, setting it firmly on the path to do well at nationals.

At the beginning of June, the team took part in the national competition hosted by Central Gauteng and SAFSA at Forest Hill and took gold in their class.

The team’s performance earned it an ISU qualification that means it now qualifies to skate at the Santa Clause Cup in The Czech Republic in December.

In preparation for the upcoming international competition, the team will host several fund-raisers and also appeal to local businesses to support them.

Anyone wanting to get involved can contact memberships@cgfigureskating.co.za

Alternatively, residents can donate towards the team through SMS by sending the word ‘Teaminsync’ to 33960 (at R1.50 per SMS).

Follow the team on Facebook Team In-Sync Synchronised Skating or Team In-Sync on Instagram.

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