Blog

Miami University of Ohio’s Synchronized Skating Team is an entity unlike any of it's fellow collegiate programs. This program is made up of three unique teams which cover all altitudes of skating abilities at post-secondary level: Junior, Collegiate, and Senior. The University is able to recruit skaters from across the country for it's many teams, creating a one-of-a-kind program for skating.

Head Coach Carla DeGirolamo talked to us about their top-leveled Senior Team who recently went to the 2016 ISU Worlds Figure Skating Championships for the second year in a row. Only two teams from the United States are able to go each year, proving this Miami University to be a power-house for our National Synchronized Skating programs! Coach Carla's biggest challenge? Getting this team ready for their competition season in a very short period of time. With this team being able to compete at the national and international level, it is clear that her and her athletes rose to the challenge and made their season a successful one!

When it comes to synchronized skating practice wear it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Black skate dress, black jacket, embroidered logo. Looking for something new to shake things up? How about trying mix and match pieces instead!?

Use three items – a stand-alone leotard, a detachable skirt, leggings - to create 2 very different looks:

• Look #1: A detachable skirt over a leotard has the grace and elegance of a classic skating practice dress look.
• Look #2: Leggings over a leotard gives a more streamlined look, emphasizing legwork.

Team USA 2: Miami University of Ohio    Photo credit: ISU World Synchro Gallery

Not only was it a big weekend for college dance, but for the synchronized skating world as well! Some of the best teams from all over the world represented their country at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championship in Budapest, Hungary. Twenty six teams entered, representing 21 nations at the highest level of synchronized skating. (Fun fact: in 2000, the first World championships was organized of 17 countries in Minneapolis, MN!) We are proud to have outfitted two teams who competed this past weekend: Team USA 2 (Miami University of Ohio) and Team Switzerland (Cool Dreams Senior). Check out their gorgeous dresses below and a few others we love too!

This past weekend, synchronized skating teams from all over the country came together in Kalamazoo, Michigan to compete at the 2016 US National Synchronized Skating Championships.

This event is filled with amazing choreography, energy, and (our favorite!) dresses! One thing that can be said about all synchronized skate teams: they know how to commit to their theme with choreography and costuming, while always maintaining a feminine and glamorous edge! One trend we noticed this year? Accessorizing skate dresses with black leggings or tights, which really puts an emphasis on the leg against the white ice!

Check out some of our amazing customers who competed - what a great way to end the season!

University of Delaware Collegiate, with a Dirty Dancing theme

This year has been full of new and exciting challenges for the Wisconsin Edge Intermediate Synchronized Skating Team. They moved into the national-qualifying division, which meant they needed to take everything up a level, from the music to the dresses!

The Music

Coach Sally-Anne told us a little bit about how they choose their music: “We play a variety of songs with different tempos, speeds, etc. during our clinics, tryouts and first few practices, and more often than not, the skaters end up helping pick their theme based on their reaction to what we play!” This year, the winner was a Bruno Mars medley! Now that they had the music, it was time to think about choreography and dresses.

Chicago Radiance Skating Club is ready to heat up the ice! This season, Coach Nicole contacted and shared with us her design ideas to style her Beginner, Pre-Juvenile and Intermediate synchronized skating teams. She had a tall order: 4 new competition dresses. Let's take a look at the results!

The prestigious prep school Shattuck-St. Mary's is well-known for their hockey, golf, and figure skating programs, but did you know they recently added a synchronized skating program into the mix? Tucked away in beautiful Faribault, MN, Shattuck-St. Mary's synchronized skating team has worked hard to perfect their lines, footwork and spins.

The first time I attended a Synchro Nationals competition, I remember being struck by 3 things: how bright colors transformed and popped on the ice, the way a fluttering skirt seemed to increase a skater’s velocity, and – most significantly - all of the matching team apparel. It seemed there was an unwritten rule that jackets, scarves, luggage, and even socks must coordinate - team spirit in full representation!

Who doesn't love a good theme?! From retro-themed numbers to military-esque routines, let your imagination run wild!

Many of these costumes are inspired by classic designs, adding a new twist to a throwback look: Fresh, new designs based on traditional themes like princesses and the production of Grease. And, much to our delight, what about a look back to the retro 1980's aerobics craze - which is close to our hearts because that's how The Line Up got its start 25 years ago. Yep, it all began with leos and leggings. We had a lot of fun working with those patterns and designs!

And now, without further ado, here are a few of our favorite hot themes of the season!