Anu Oksanen (right center) will bring her extensive experience to Team Unique, joining head coach Mirjami Penttinen (left center) this season.

In an exciting development for synchronized skating, Anu Oksanen, former head coach of Marigold IceUnity, is joining the coaching team of Team Unique under the leadership of Mirjami Penttinen. This partnership marks a significant change in the Finnish synchronized skating scene, with both famous coaches aiming to bring their combined experience and vision to the ice.

Anu Oksanen's transition to Team Unique comes after a long and successful career with Marigold IceUnity, where she established the team as one of the most formidable forces in synchronized skating globally. Anu's contract with Marigold IceUnity concluded at the end of the last season. According to Mirjami Penttinen, Anu's addition to Team Unique was driven by mutual respect and a shared vision for excellence. "I have been in contact with Anu quite a lot last season," Mirjami Penttinen shared. "I felt bad about how she was treated and wanted to help her. When I heard that she was leaving Marigold IceUnity, I asked her to join our coaching team."

Mirjami Penttinen, the head coach of Team Unique, expressed her admiration for Anu Oksanen, highlighting her achievements and resilience. "On paper, Anu is the most decorated coach in the world. That tells more than a thousand words. Keeping a team at the top for over 20 years is incredibly challenging and speaks volumes about her abilities as a coach," Miru stated. She also dismissed the notion that veteran coaches might be outdated, asserting, "I want to show everybody that this is definitely not true."

Anu Oksanen's role with Team Unique will be primarily focused on coaching and refining their programs. Although the structures for the short and free programs were largely established before her arrival, there is still ample opportunity for her to contribute creatively. "In our team, everyone is allowed to 'touch' the programs. If Anu sees something that should be changed, she has the freedom to make those changes," Mirjami Penttinen explained. This collaborative approach is designed to ensure that the final programs reflect the diverse skills and perspectives of the entire coaching team.

Anu will exclusively coach Team Unique and will not be involved with other teams within the organization. Her full-time job remains with Tikkurilan Taitoluisteluklubi, where she oversees all their teams, including the junior team, Ice Infinity. Her coaching schedule with Team Unique will be flexible, allowing her to contribute as much as her time permits and as needed by the team.

Anu Oksanen joined the team after the summer holidays, and her presence has already been warmly embraced by the skaters. "Team Unique is really grateful for all the help they get. They call Anu a legend," Miru remarked.

The team's preparations for the upcoming 2024-2025 season are well underway, with the short program nearly competition-ready and the free program fully choreographed but still requiring refinement.

Reflecting on the team's prospects, Mirjami Penttinen expressed confidence. "This year's Team Unique is really strong. All 20 skaters from last season stayed, and we have added four more. The team is big, and there is a lot of competition for spots."

The team has received valuable feedback from judges following the World Championships and has conducted its own internal analysis to identify areas for improvement. "We are making a lot of progress based on the analysis we made and feedback we got," she added.

Team Unique's upcoming season includes participation in the Santa Claus Cup in Brno, the French Cup, and the Boston Classic.