Get ready to lace up your skates Mt. A! A new club sports team was founded this month, bringing figure skating to the forefront. Synchronized skating is a sport that was first practiced in 1956, and has grown significantly more popular since the 2000s. It involves a team of 12 to 16 figure skaters who must perform a routine together, moving in perfect synchronicity. During their routines, they must execute elements such as blocks (skating as a unit in a square formation), intersections (skating in linear formations towards each other, just nearly avoiding a collision) or footwork (various turns and steps performed in quick succession with precise technique), among others. It is a performance sport that combines artistic ability with athleticism, highlighting both grace and strength.
Mt. A students Breagh Smith and Sophia Green are the co-presidents and founders of this team. Smith, who has been skating since age three and has been a competitive synchro skater for nine years, describes why it was so important to them to take on this challenge: “I have done synchro since I was about nine years old, and since moving to Sackville I just really missed it a lot. I knew of a few other retired figure skaters who were interested in getting back into skating, and into a team environment […] Sophia and I thought about it, and we felt having a synchro team in Sackville would be really fun, and give skaters an opportunity to get to know each other.” With the support of the Sackville Skating Club, they were able to get their dream of connecting with other skaters on campus off of the ground, and onto the ice.
For some athletes, this was their first time back on skates in several years. Figure skating is a sport that often has an expiration date, as there are barriers to competing and fewer opportunities to participate after skaters graduate from high school. There are other club teams in Atlantic Canada that allow skaters to continue their love of the sport in university, such as the Acadia Axe-Elles synchro team or the St.FX Skating Club. But, for most athletes who have aged out, their only options are training for their coaching or judging certifications, or attending recreational public skating sessions. Now that Mt. A has its own team, formerly retired skaters have the chance to lace up their skates once more, changing the status quo around continuing the sport as an adult.
The team’s first practice took place on October 27, 2024 at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre, and involved getting each skater comfortable on the ice again. It featured some basic stroking and footwork exercises, while incorporating the holds necessary to move as a unit. This was a refresher for some and a novelty for others. Despite all of the team members being figure skaters, some have only competed solo, meaning synchro is uncharted territory. Yet, it did not take long for the skaters to develop team chemistry and get the hang of these skills. According to Smith, the team is looking to foster love for the sport and correct technique before looking to compete. “By next season, we are hoping to make a program [routine] and go competitive. We are going to keep getting to know each other, keep getting to know our coaches, and develop our skating skills this year.” This more relaxed approach is a means of establishing themselves as a team, so that they can enter the 20252026 competitive season,ready to give the opposing teams a run for their money.
Have any questions, or interested in becoming a member? Contact the team on Instagram @mtasynchroskating, or via the Facebook group ‘Mount Allison Synchro Skating 2024–2025.’ As well, the team will have a featured place this year in Sackville Skating Club’s annual ice show in February, which gives them a chance to show off all of the hard work they have been putting in this season. Stay tuned for updates about future performances, or ways you can support these athletes as they begin their collegiate synchro journey!
