This was the first post I wrote for my other blog, Skating Scene in 2010
I loved my synchro days, formerly called precision, plus the added bonus of the medals. This is one of my favourite posts. I mean, “Antics on Ice” is gold. Even though that season was silver.
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Yesterday, when I should have been studying for upcoming exams, purely by accident, I stumbled upon coverage of the 2010 World Synchronized Figure Skating Championships.
I couldn’t believe the changes in the sport since skated precision – now called synchronized skating.
It used to be a sport were parents could expect not to go bankrupt. But the costumes alone looked as though Vera Wang had a hand in the design.
They were breathtaking.
When our first competitive coach came to Arborg, she proposed the idea of starting precision teams – which wasn’t a new concept. Most of the older girls in private lessons were on the Arborg precision team. However, these teams would be competitive – and open to the skaters in CanFigure.
Arborg hadn’t competed since the early-80s. Plus, every skater had the chance. Not just the older girls in private lessons.
I was part of the oldest team, and we were a mighty team of eight – ranging in age from 12 to 14 years old. Two sister acts made half the team. Including my sister and me.
To prepare for competition, our coach Joanne had our team guest star at ice shows around the Interlake.
But first – costumes. The younger groups wore all black with gold sequence. However, our team chose a different direction. Looking back at photos, they were definitely memorable.
Rather than a dress, we wore black bodysuits. With a detachable black half-skirt, hot pink cumber belt, silver lapels and – to finish of the ensemble – black leotards and a hot pink bow tie.
It reminded me of my jazz dancing costume – we were only missing the black top hat, tails, and white gloves.
At the time, I loved the outfits. But when we competed at our first competition – the 1989 Interlake Precision Competition – we didn’t have team jackets. The judges marked our compulsory elements while we skated in jersey and cable-knit sweaters.
To our surprise, we won silver. Watching the footage of the medal ceremony is humorous. We looked ridiculously out of place, shivering and standing amongst the other teams, who wore beaded bold skating dresses and warm woollen team jackets.
However, our costumes garnered the local media’s attention. There was a story in our local paper, the Interlake Spectator, about the competition. And we graced the front page of the Spectator rather than a team who won a gold medal.
The journalist dubbed us “Antics on Ice.” Earlier that week, we skated in the Riverton Ice Show – and we were in the sports section. Later, we made an appearance for the 1989 Winter Games. Mind you, all the precision teams were in the photo, however, we were closest to the camera.
Another photo followed with our ice carnival and Winter Ice Revue during the Arborg Winter Carnival with only the CFSA skaters.
While the exposure caught us off guard, it was awesome.
The next season didn’t start how we wanted, but our first-year out of the gate? Clearly, we were noticed.
Hot pink bow ties and all!
29 then 40 