by Figure skating is often thought of as an individual sport yet there’s a whole other world they don’t show you at the Olympics.
Synchronized skating is a team sport where skaters work together when they perform and this year the University of Minnesota and some surrounding colleges such as St.Thomas University and Augsburg University, are gearing up to join the competitive ranks.
The Northernettes were founded in 2017 by Alana Christie. The team already has multiple non-collegiate teams but Christie wanted to expand the group this year by adding a collegiate team.
She explained the benefits of joining a team like the Northernettes saying “I always tell everyone that synchronized skating is just the best because you get to do what you love with teammates and there’s really nothing better than being out there competing with 15 other skaters who are your teammates and have your back”
On February 19 the Northernettes’ non-collegiate teams performed a national competition send-off exhibition which was followed by a synchronized skating workshop for skaters who were interested in the collegiate team.
Potential recruits for the collegiate team included graduating high school seniors and current college students.
While some had only ever skated individually they were excited to learn new skills and continue their skating career with a team of their peers.
“It’s been really special because it’s genuinely really hard to find these teams and outlets to continue skating but it’s been so wonderful to have such a great organization and great teammates to keep skating at a high level,” explained Taylor Gish, a University of Minnesota junior.
Auditions will be held on March 11 at Breck Ice Arena and at Ridder Arena on March 18 starting at noon. Practices will begin in the summer a few days a week for about two to three hours a day.
This new opportunity to continue the sport that has been a part of these athletes’ lives for so long is already creating buzz and like any team, they seem to already be forming an unbreakable bond with lots of spirit.
