Starlight teams from Switzerland crossed the Atlantic to take part in this year's Boston Classic. (Credits: Jaime Fernandez del Río)

In Helsinki next weekend, the senior team Starlight Elite aims to captivate with a bold artistic statement: becoming their own instrument on the ice. As they represent Switzerland at the World Championships 2025, their programs combine precision, emotion, and innovation to offer a truly immersive performance.

With just a few days to go before the World championships, Starlight Elite, who trains in Zurich, Switzerland, is in good shape, despite an atypical season. According to the team, the season has been atypical in terms of structure. With no competitions in January but a packed February that included a trip to Boston, careful planning and preparation were key.

“As a team, we prepared well for this intensive time together and benefited both athletically and in terms of team spirit,” they shared. Illnesses during December and January, particularly a severe flu, temporarily impacted several athletes. However, the team reports that everyone is now healthy and fully ready to compete.

In this final phase before the Worlds, the coaching team is emphasizing precision and performance quality. “We are focusing on getting the final routine into the elements and working a lot on unison in the elements and connections. Additionally, we have placed an emphasis on performance to create a unique atmosphere in both programs.”

This attention to detail reflects a broader artistic ambition for the season, as each program carries a strong conceptual identity.

The short program, titled Make Noise, is described as an energetic and powerful composition. “Music, movement, and pure energy come together,” the team explains. “Our idea is for the team to become the instrument itself, using the connection between sound and dynamics to deliver an amazing show to the audience.”

The free program, River of Life, is more introspective. “The team takes the audience on an emotional journey through the story of life, with all its ups and downs.” A specially written and recorded voice-over guides the performance, creating an immersive narrative experience. “The words, movements, and music flow together like a river – sometimes gentle and calm, sometimes turbulent and powerful.”

Both programs were shaped in collaboration with external coach or artist. The short program was choreographed with Kaisa Arrateig, whose creative experimentation on ice was key to its development. The free program was built alongside performance coach Matthew Sanders, who co-wrote and recorded the original voice-over. “We are more than satisfied with the final result,” the team commented.

Throughout the season, the team has used competition feedback to fine-tune both technical and artistic elements. “After each competition, we analyzed our performance and defined new focal points for the upcoming training sessions.” Their efforts focused on enhancing speed and flow, without neglecting fundamental skating skills. “It is also important to us that we don't just practice our programs but continuously work on the athletes' basics and skating skills.”

Rather than chasing a particular placement, the team is entering the World Championships with a process-driven mindset. “Our goal for the World Championships is to have a great time with the team and for all the athletes to enjoy the incredible atmosphere in Helsinki,” they stated. From a competitive standpoint, internal benchmarks are guiding their goals. “We set our own target scores and are satisfied when we achieve them.”

Ultimately, the team emphasizes focusing on elements within their control. “The final results will be determined at the end of the competition… so we focus on what we can control, and that is delivering two strong programs ourselves.”

In parallel, the Starlight Junior team recently celebrated a major achievement with a 9th place finish at the 2025 World Junior Championships. “We are very satisfied with the performance of our junior team and proud of how hard they have worked over the past few years for this success,” said the coaching team. They highlighted the determination and talent of the athletes and acknowledged the broader impact on Swiss synchronized skating: “This is an extraordinary development for the sport, as next season, two teams will be able to compete at the Junior World Championships.”

Discussions are already underway regarding the 2026 season. “We gratefully received the congratulations from the federation, and both we and the federation are in the process of preparing for the new season,” the team shared. Looking ahead, the outlook is optimistic: “We are confident that next season, two strong junior teams will represent Switzerland at the Junior World Championships.”