Rockettes Rock at 2010 World Synchro Championships, Finn's Strike Gold in Colorado Options

[IFS Photos]

Finland’s Rockettes Capture 2010 World Synchro Crown

Photos by Elina Paasonen

Twenty-three teams from 18 ISU member nations, representing five continents, contested the 2010 World Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., last weekend.

Finland claimed the top two steps of the podium. The Rockettes, (Finland 1) claimed gold ahead of Marigold Ice Unity (Finland 2) and America’s Haydenettes were ecstatic to claim the bronze medal.

The Rockettes won the short program with their performance to the music of “Harem´s Secret,” scoring 81.4 points. The team’s free program to ”Catch Me If You Can” earned top program component scores, including a mark of 9.15 for presentation. With a combined score of 223.90 points the Rockettes skated away with the gold medal.

Heading into the free program, Marigold Ice Unity, the three-time World champions, were in a distant fifth place. But their performance to “Les Miserables” which featured beautiful spread eagles, butterflies and transitions, touched the audience and the judges. Their total competition score of 216.98 points flipped them into second place.

Skating to “What a Wonderful World,” the Haydenettes placed second in the short with a score of 78.62 points. The team’s free program to “West Side Story” was their best performance of the season, with great lines in the no hold block and a stunning circle element. The total competition score of 216.48 put them in third. “We are in disbelief right now,” the team captain later told the press. “We have been so close to the medals but never got one, not until today. We are very happy.” Haydenettes coach, Saga Krantz, a native of Finland, was a member of the Rockettes team that claimed silver at the 2001 World Championships.

Canada’s second ranked team, Black Ice, finished fourth with 210.90 points, ahead of the national champions, Nexxice.

Team Surprise from Sweden was fourth after the short but a number of falls in the free skate proved costly and they could do no better than sixth.

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