Editorial
EDITO: Ten events that marked the year 2017
Dream Edges presented last November its completely crazy program telling the story of a psychiatric asylum. / Credits: Tero Wester
As the new year dawns, it is time to look back over 2017. Highlights, competitions, and emotions... Browse with us the top 10 highlights of the year.
1. The Skyliners and MIU took the gold in Berlin
2017 started strong with the victory of the Skyliners Juniors and Marigold IceUnity at the Berlin Cup earlier this year. The Americans who skated to "The Last of the Mohicans" had largely finished in front of the Finnish Dream Edges with more than fifteen points ahead. Among the seniors, the famous Marigold IceUnity showed for the first time their free program on the 100 years of independence of Finland in an international competition. The Helsinkian team already announced the color... white and blue.
2. USA: Let's qualify
A strong moment for more than 1'700 synchro skaters in the United States. Even before the start of the spring, the national championships were held in Rockford, Illinois. In the senior division, the Haydenettes had retained their title and the Crystallettes were ranked 2nd. The Juniors had already qualified for the Worlds a few weeks earlier at the Connecticut Synchronized Skating Classic. The Skyliners and Lexettes were chosen to represent the United States, despite the 2nd place earned by the Chicago Jazz at the Nationals.
3. Team Unique fell by the wayside
After several months of qualifications, Finland finally knew its finalists at the end of February. After the Nationals, Marigold IceUnity and Helsinki Rockettes had won their ticket for Colorado Springs, leaving Team Unique coached by Mirjami Penttinen in the 3rd place. For this new season, and with the entry of the new criteria, the team will be ready to give everything this season to qualify.
4. Maple Leaf teams wanted the gold medals
At the beginning of March, the city of Calgary, Alberta, hosted the Canadian championships. Great success for Les Suprêmes who had won their 4th consecutive novice title and also won the junior competition. The NEXXICE had the strongest scores among seniors. They won their 10th national title.
5. The "fire-dressed" champions
It was in the middle of March that took place the junior world championships. The spectators in the Hershey Center in Mississauga were so excited. The competition had been able to count on a lot of surprises during long programs since the leader team Crystalice (Team Russia 1) had nine falls in the free program as they were leading after the short. Team Junost, their compatriots took finally the lead of the competition with the free programs. An incredible competition!
6. Team Paradise wins the Worlds with a lead of 0.12 points!
Mid-April, in the mountainous landscape of Colorado in the United States, was held the senior world championships. After a great competition, Team Paradise, already leader after the short programs, had won its second world title. The performance performed with 15 skaters on the ice raised some fans to a wave of revolt and they left the rink before the results. The competition also allowed Les Suprêmes from Canada to present a very emotional free program after the injury of one of their athletes during the short program. The public will not forget either the Rockettes' disappointment after their free program where the team had dropped several times finishing 5th.
7. The new season begins in Espoo with the Finlandia Trophy
After a few summer months, the first international competition of the season, the Finlandia Trophy, took place in early October and brought together six senior teams who presented their short program. The best performance was that of Rockettes skating "Tiger!" for the first time.
8. A new competition in Spain
The first Autumn Cup was held in early November in Andalusia. The Belgian Team Phoenix had won gold the senior competition. In junior and novice, the victory went to the British teams.
9. Five teams competed for the Shanghai Trophy
At the end of November, the famous Shanghai Trophy competition hosted five senior teams from around the world on invitation. It was with a lead of more than 11 points that Team Paradise won the competition in front of the Marigold IceUnity. This was one of the first opportunities for fans to discover the new free programs of the best teams in the world.
10. Dream Edges win the first Finnish qualifications!
With a psychedelic program in which the athletes interpret "Escape from the Mental Asylum", the "Dream of a psychiatric asylum", the Dream Edges team emerged victorious from the first qualifications in Finland. About ten years ago, a team from outside Helsinki did not win such a major junior competition. In the second qualifying round mid-December, the team finished second behind Team Fintastic. The next steps in 2018 promise to be just as exciting for juniors as for seniors.
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Very soon, and to start the year 2018, the Berlin Cup will be organized in the German capital. This same first weekend of January, the North American teams will participate in the famous Winterfest to be held in Mississauga, Canada.
