23 teams from 18 Members (from 5 continents) participated in the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2010 in Colorado Springs, USA this week. Team Finland 1 and 2 took gold and silver respectively with Team USA 1 grabbing the bronze medal.
Finland 1 got off to a great start in the championships after skating an excellent short program to the music of Harem´s secret. They led the short program with a segment score of 81.4 points. The team skated with great speed making all the elements flawless. For their free program Rockettes (Finland 1) skated to the movie music ”Catch me if you can” receiving the highest scores in all program components with the top mark of 9.15 points for presentation. The total competition score was 223.90 points, which was enough for the gold medal.
The five top teams in the short program all skated one of their best skates of this season making the points close and the competition wide open with a span of just more then five points between number 2 and number 5.
Going in to the free program Finland 2, Marigold Ice Unity , 3 times world champions, were in 5th place. They skated to ”Les Miserables” making the entire audience come alive and help cheer on the Finnish team. Marigold Ice Unity had remarkable spread eagles and butterflies, transitions whilst keeping the crowed on their toes. Finland 2 received a total competition score of 216.98 points and the silver medal.
Arena favorites, USA 1, skated beautifully to the music ”What a wonderful world” earning second place in the short program with a segment score of 78.62 points. Team CAN 2 were in third position after the short program with 76.26 points, less then one point more then SWE 1 and FIN 2.
Haydenettes, USA 1, skated a free program to the West Side Story. The team did their best performance of this season with great lines in no hold block and a stunning circle element. ”We are in disbelief right now” said the teamcaptain of Haydenettes at the press conference. ”We have been so close to the medals but never got one, not until today. We are very happy.” The total competition score for USA 1 was 216.48 only a small from margin from the silver medal.
Canada 2, Black Ice, also skated one of their best skates for the season and finished forth with 210.90 points in total. Beating their national competition Nexxice with a minimal margin as well.
Canada 1, Nexxice last years world champion, was in 6th place going in to the free program where they skated to Carmen making exquisite moves in the field and earning a total score of 209.90 points.
Sweden 1, Surprise, was 4th going in to the free looking for a medal. They started the last group with their cops and thieves theme. They got off to a great start but then came a fall in the line, an other in one transition and then 2 falls in the last transition, clearly it wasn't Swedens day. After a great short program to the ”They don´t care about us” by Michael Jackson Surprise had to accept their first placement outside of the podium at worlds, and it became a 6th place with a total of 200.90 points.
In 7th place were Team Russia, Paradise, the only team to make twizzles holding their blades. Their flexibility it maximised in the 135 spiral when they hold their skate with to hands going in to a split. Team Paradise got a total competition score of 190.58 points getting revenge from last years 10th place.
Team Germany 1, Berlin 1, had several enjoyable moments with such emotions showing in their faces during the entire skate making the small details count. Berlin 1 got 179.80 points and a 8th place.
Newcomers to the worlds, Crystallettes, represented the USA with honors doing great transitions with both wheels and lifts getting the 9th place with 169.36 points.
In 10th place we find another newcomer, Team Japan, who proved highly popular with the synchro fans.
Next year the event will be hosted in Finland, the country of the 2010 champions.
