Dear Skyliners,
Wow!!! In a season full of so many triumphs, Skyliners Junior has taken our team - and Team USA - to a historic milestone for our country with the
first U.S. Worlds Junior Synchro medal ever
- the Silver - at the 2018 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Zagreb, Croatia! Their emotional Three Tenors "You and I" short program and intense Black Swan free skate enthralled the audiences and impressed the judges.
"Even though this is the team that won the medal, all of the past Skyliners helped pave the way," said Coach Josh Babb. Read more about our incredible achievement by
clicking here
.
And find out how it felt to be a part of this historic moment in our Junior Worlds Diary, in this issue of SkyBlast.
Skyliners Senior also reached an important milestone for our team - earning Skyliners first spot ever at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, April 6-7, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden! They will represent Team USA alongside the Haydenettes. Make sure to livestream the event
by clicking here.
And this year, Skyliners was a tour de force at Nationals - the only team to take only Gold and Silver medals at the 2018 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Portland, Oregon. A big congrats to our National Champions - Skyliners Junior and Novice, and our National Silver Medalists - Skyliners Senior, Intermediate and Juvenile. The Senior line's
“Cleopatra” free skate also earned them the PSA Best Performance Award.
As our team continues to thrive, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of our Skyliners family. Effective for the 2018-19 season, we will field new lines in New Jersey representing the Essex Figure Skating Club. More on that in this issue, along with Summer Splice registration information; Boot Camp dates; our latest team photofest; a great Q&A from Skyliners strength & conditioning coach, Sandra Shakalov; and team round-ups including Nationals diaries from Novice, Intermediate and Juvenile. Go Skyliners!!
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Skyliners Senior is chosen alongside the Haydenettes to represent the U.S. at Worlds!
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Don't miss out on registration for this two-day intensive camp taught by world class coaches.
CLICK HERE
for the early bird pricing, available until May 1. Splice skaters need to be 10 years old and to have passed Preliminary MIF or higher. Younger skaters 5-9 years old are invited to register for "A Slice of Splice," a half-day clinic with top Team USA coaches.
Registrations are already rolling in from around the country, and with Skyliners clinics in full swing in CT, NY and NJ, we expect spots will fill up. Last year we reached capacity, so don’t get left out!
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Coach Josh Babb at 2017 Splice
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Team Unique coach
Miru Penttinen
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U.S. National Champion John Coughlin
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SKYLINERS
EXPANDS
TO NEW JERSEY
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Skyliners is excited to give a new group of skaters the opportunity to train as a part of the Skyliners family at New Jersey rinks. We are excited to represent the Essex Figure Skating Club and welcome Lori Zimmerman as our Assistant Director and Coach of the Skyliners in New Jersey. Additional coaches will be hired once tryouts are over. This expansion represents an opportunity for Skyliners to develop additional non-qualifying line skaters early in their synchronized skating careers, which will help feed our talent pool for our qualifying and Team USA lines.
We are currently holding clinics and planning an April 27th tryout at the Clary Anderson Arena in Montclair, NJ for skaters ages 5-15.
Click Here
for New Jersey clinic and tryout info.
Skyliners remains committed to finding the appropriate place for all qualified skaters who want to join or continue to be a vital part of our organization. We welcome the members of Essex Figure Skating Club and look forward to a successful future. Please join us in welcoming these skaters and coaches to the Skyliners family!
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SKYLINERS MANDATORY
BOOT CAMPS
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SENIOR: August 3-8 (Lake Placid, overnight), December 27-31 (local)
JUNIOR: August 10-15 (Lake Placid, overnight); December 27-31 (local)
NOVICE: July 30-August 2 (Lake Placid, overnight); December 27-31 (local)
INTERMEDIATE: August 16-19 (Lake Placid, overnight); December 27-31 (local)
JUVENILE: August 23-26 (Chelsea Piers Stamford); December 27-31 (local)
PRE-JUVENILE: August 26-28 (Chelsea Piers Stamford); December 31 (local)
PRELIMINARY, PRE-PRELIMINARY & BEGINNER: December 31 (local)
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This Saturday, March 24, 6-10pm
Hyatt Regency Greenwich
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Celebrate the Skyliners 2017-18 season with your teammates, fellow parents and coaches! A fantastic evening of dinner, dancing, presentations, prizes and the End of the Year Party video! Last chance to buy your tickets online now by
clicking here!
Online ticket sales end at midnight this Friday - and tickets prices increase by $10 on the day of the event.
**For those attending - free parking is available in the back lot of the Hyatt. You will get a validated parking ticket at the party check-in desk.
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Win a big prize at our EOY Dance Contest!
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See all of our fantastic EOY presentations!
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2018-19 CLINICS & TRYOUTS
**Try-outs are free for returning Skyliners**
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SKYLINERS
NATIONALS
& WORLDS
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Juvenile wins Silver at Nationals!
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Novice wins Gold at Nationals!
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Senior wins Silver at Nationals!
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Intermediate wins Silver at Nationals!
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Junior wins Gold at Nationals!
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Junior wins Silver at Worlds!
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Central Park Intro
The Central Park Intro line has had a great season! They learned the basics of synchro and made great friends along the way. The line performed at an exhibition at Wollman Rink on Sunday, March 11 followed by the Wollman End of the Year Exhibition on Wednesday, March 14. With the season over, tryouts have already taken place and the line is excited to move on to next year!
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Central Park Beginner 2
The Central Park Beginner 2 line had a very successful season! Their commitment to practice and hard work was rewarded, as they received the Silver medal at the SCNY Synchro Classic and a well-deserved Gold medal at the CT Classic. The line had a lot of fun together and is looking forward to next season. Everyone is excited for new music and dresses!
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Intro, Beginner & Pre-Juvenile End of the Season Party
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Pre-Preliminary & Preliminary End of the Season Party
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Juvenile Line - Nationals Diary
by Abigail Cohen
The Juvenile team had an amazing experience in Portland, Oregon. On our first day, Tuesday, we had a very successful unofficial practice with Intermediate - so much fun already. After the practice, both Juvenile and Intermediate went to an arcade followed by the movie Pitch Perfect 3.
On Wednesday, we started with hair, make-up and breakfast. We all love doing our make-up and we found this part very joyful and a good team bonding experience. Next, we went to the rink to do floor. We were all very excited and pumped for official practice. After official practice, we had a team lunch and went to a different rink for another unofficial practice. We had a team dinner at the hotel, curfew, and off to bed to rest up for an exciting day ahead. The busyness of the day helped calm our nerves and relax us.
Thursday morning, we started at 7:45 am on the bus to go to another unofficial practice. We had very good run-throughs and felt confident after that. The reality then hit us that this was competition day, the last day that we would be doing hair & make-up together and skating as a team. At 3:25 pm, we took the ice and had a magnificent skate. We were confident that we got the job done, happy that we skated our best and made our coaches proud, and hopeful that we would get on the podium. We were in the kiss and cry when we heard that we got a score of 48.07 and that we were in 2nd place. At the awards ceremony, the entire team was very excited. We loved being on Nationals ice and we held onto that moment in our hearts. These are the moments which we will all cherish for a lifetime.
Friday, we had our last team activity with Intermediate: breakfast and roller skating. We all had such a great time. Last bus ride back to the hotel, for one last Juvenile team activity, a pool party. Happy to be together, and yet sad that the season was ending. We knew we would see each other soon, but it would never be quite the same. This 2017-2018 juvenile year was a very special year and will be missed by all 24 skaters. Thank you Coach Natalie and Coach Nikki for working your magic and helping us to reach our potential and Sk8Gr8! And a big thank you to our line moms, Alice and Carolyn, who helped us bring our bling each and every time. We love you all to the moon and back, and will miss you!
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Intermediate Line - Nationals Diary
by Catherine Babcock
On Monday, February 19th, Skyliners Intermediate headed across the country to Portland, Oregon. Along with our usual luggage, we also brought the cold New England snow with us. We were so excited to compete at the 2018 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, but we would have to wait until Wednesday’s official practice to see the competition rink. Upon entering, we realized that the ice was both on the small side and lacked the lines we were used to. Thank goodness for our unofficial practice. It gave us the opportunity to work everything out. By the time competition day arrived, we were confident and ready to take the ice. After a great skate, we earned a score of 60.28 and a Silver medal. Our third year in a row on the podium! Then, it was time to cheer on the other Skyliners lines as they competed. It was so exciting watching Novice and Junior win the Gold as well as watching Senior qualify for Worlds for the first time.
While in Portland, we also got to enjoy the city. We watched Pitch Perfect 3, played arcade games and went roller skating with Juvie. On our last day, we visited the Portland Zoo to truly get a feeling for what Oregon is like. We had so much fun watching the elephant doing “yoga” and the penguins swimming around. But as much fun as we had, our favorite part was definitely eating Portand’s favorite food: Voodoo Donuts. As the rain and warmer temperatures returned, we boarded our bumpy red eye and headed home.
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Novice Line - Nationals Diary
by Jillian Saloma
What an exciting competition! We started off our trip by taking a night flight and arriving in Oregon very late. On Wednesday, we had only one unofficial practice, so this left us a lot of time to do homework and hang out with our teammates. The next day was time for official practice! Our official had a few mistakes, but nothing that could not be fixed. Luckily, we had an unofficial practice that night. This was the best practice of our season! We were confident and so driven to do amazing things the next day. Competition day had finally arrived! We were happy to have a practice before competition because it gave us an opportunity to warm-up and run through our program. After this, we took the bus back to the hotel, where we did our hair and make-up for the last time. Arriving at the rink, we were focused and positive that our training had prepared us for this moment. After doing floor, we went into the locker room where we played all of our favorite songs (mostly Kanye) to pump us up. Our coaches, Pam and Natalie, told us to trust our skating and skate how we do at our practices. During our performance, it was very encouraging to hear the roaring cheers of our parents and other lines. After we made it through the whip intersection, the screams of our fans boosted our confidence for the rest of the program. We were proud of our skate, but nervous while waiting for our scores. We earned a score of 72.11, which was our season's best! Although we were so proud of our performance, we still had two teams skating after us that were strong contenders. After anxiously waiting for our placement, Coach Pam told us that we were the 2018 Novice National Champions! The excitement and joy in our locker room was incredible. For a treat after competition, we got donuts. A lot of donuts. We also got to celebrate with our Junior and Senior teammates on Saturday night with wings and pizza! This has been such a memorable season. We worked really hard to prove that we belonged on top of the podium. As a team, we learned that it takes confidence to do what we are capable of.
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Junior skaters reaction at Kiss & Cry (above), Alexis Bolner (below)
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Junior Team USA - Worlds Diary
by Alexis Bolner
What a memorable week for Sky Junior! Our journey together started last Sunday when we had a strong practice at Chelsea Piers from which we went directly to the airport to fly to Zagreb. Upon arriving in Croatia on Monday, we were introduced to our supportive team leaders, Robin Greenleaf and Lesley Graham. We began enjoying the Croatian landscape on our drive to the practice rink, where we had a series of pre-competition practices and worked on sections of both our short and long programs to ensure that they were at their full potential when it was time for competition. With helpful feedback from our coaches and team leaders, our practices leading up to competition were very productive and increased our confidence and expression on the ice.
On Tuesday, our TEAM USA teammates - the Lexettes - arrived, and we continued to support each other throughout the week; Go Team USA! That morning we went into town and spent a few hours soaking up the sun and taking lots of pictures with the beautiful Zagreb Cathedral, outdoor market, and cute souvenir shops that line the streets. We ended our excursion at one of our favorite restaurants in Zagreb before heading back to the hotel to prepare for practice. On both Wednesday and Thursday, we had two unofficial practices, one at the competition rink and one at the practice rink. Thursday night ended with the draw, which all of our team members attended and cheered for our representatives choosing the position that we would skate. We were very happy with our draw and headed back to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for short program day!
Friday morning began with a solid official practice, followed by our competition day routine of resting before doing hair, make-up, and warm-up. One of our competition day traditions is standing in a circle and belting “Defying Gravity” together. Friday’s “Defying Gravity” was particularly strong as we sang our lungs out, drowning out the music of our competitors in nearby warm-up areas, and shed tears as we knew our season was almost over and it would be the last time we would skate our beautiful short program together. Stepping onto the ice for competition on Friday night felt incredible. The crowd was supportive as we poured our hearts onto the ice and embraced every moment of our performance together. As the lyrics to our short music say, “We stand as one,” and we certainly stood together in confidence and strength as we skated our emotional short program. We were incredibly excited to be in second place after the short, but knew to remain focused as there was still another day of competition ahead.
Saturday’s routine was very similar to Friday’s, as we remained focused and prepared to perform our sharp and powerful Black Swan free skate. Determined and emotional as we took the ice for the last time together, we all had the same goal in mind and were ready to give our all in this performance. We are beyond proud to announce that we are the 2018 World Silver Medalists!! We skated second to last in the free skate, and our kiss and cry reaction to seeing that we were currently in first place after our performance was certainly a moment that none of us will ever forget. We jumped up and down, embracing and crying, for we knew that our World medal would be historic for Skyliners and U.S. Figure Skating. We wholeheartedly congratulate the Gold and Bronze medalists - Team Junost and Crystal Ice of Russia - for their outstanding performances this weekend as well. Also, congratulations to the Lexettes for their sixth place finish; we are proud to represent the USA alongside you. We are so thankful to all members of Sky Junior, past and present, for their hard work and dedication that has built the team into what it is today, making it possible for us to achieve one of the highest honors in synchronized skating. It is hard to express in words how proud we are to bear this title and make our dreams come true. This week of competition felt surreal, and we would like to thank our coaches Josh and Pam for pushing us to our fullest potential. You never stopped believing in us, and we could not have gotten here without you! Lastly, we would like to thank Jen Sais and Joy Marshall for their unwavering dedication to the well-being of our team. Competitions would not be the same without your endless supply of Tic Tacs and Starbursts, in addition to your spirit and encouragement! As each medal was placed around our necks and our flag rose alongside those of the other medalists, we were filled with joy and pride; absolutely nothing else mattered in that moment! After awards, we went back to the hotel for dinner and the competitors' party.
One of the special aspects of Worlds is that all the competitors stay in the same hotel and eat meals together there. This environment creates a unique atmosphere where everyone is constantly reminded to remain focused as competition approaches, and it also breeds opportunities to make new friends from around the world who you can cheer for during the competition! This made the competitors' party all the more fun, as we celebrated our achievements with members of other teams and enjoyed the final night of competition together!!
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Juniors tour Zagreb together
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Senior
The Senior line had a memorable Nationals with two emotionally-charged performances in both their short and long programs. The competition was intense as all teams in the Senior division gave their best with clean skates and exhilarating performances. The Senior line was thrilled with their first-ever Nationals Silver medal and their selection as the second World Team - the first time ever for Skyliners Senior! They are excited and honored to be joining the Haydenettes for the World Synchronized Skating Championships on April 6-7 in Stockholm, Sweden. They are busy preparing for this amazing opportunity and look forward to performing for the crowds at Worlds. Go Skyliners Senior!
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SANDRA SHAKALOV has been the Strength & Conditioning Coach for Skyliners qualifying lines since 2015. She trains our skaters every Sunday during the competition season at Chelsea Piers Stamford.
Where did you grow up?
I am a Stamford native, although I lived in Buffalo for a year and sometimes the girls tease me for my leftover accent. I have a sister who is two years older and a brother who is nine years younger than me. He is a rink operator at Terry Conners Rink.
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Did you come from an athletic family?
My sister was also a figure skater, back in the “precision” days. We skated on a team with five sets of sisters. It was crazy and needless to say, there was a bit of bickering.
What sports/athletics did you do when you were a kid?
Cheerleading was my favorite in-school sport as it involved dancing, jumping and stunts. Synchro has been a lifelong sport that I have been able to participate in from the time I was eight until last year… and hopefully again in the future.
What have been the highlights of your athletic career?
My synchro goal was to get to Nationals in the Senior division, which I did in 2001 on Team Esprit. In cheerleading, I made it to the professional level and was an NFL cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills during the 2004-2005 season.
What has been your most challenging setback?
The biggest setback I had was when I first tried out for cheerleading, I didn’t make the cut. I was so upset and then I realized I would simply try again. I already heard “no” once and I survived, so why not go for it again. The second time, I made the squad and that became the origin of how I face challenges. The worst that can happen is I hear "no" again, and move on. Fear of that word shouldn’t derail my future.
Tell us about college.
I attended Norwalk Community College and completed my Associate Degree of Science in Exercise Science, which led to running the conditioning program under Peter Burrows and Mary Lynn Gelderman. I returned to school 10 years later to become a PTA - Physical Therapy Assistant - as I wanted to be able to work with athletes regardless of their injury or post-injury state. I have recently completed my Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy Assistant and am starting my Masters in Education.
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Sandra at the 2009 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in the Adult Masters division with Ice Magic
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How did you decide fitness would be your profession?
I was skating on a team and started choreographing the warm-up dances. That led into creating fitness programs to improve flexibility and strength to complete our on-ice programs. It was perfect as it drew from my knowledge of skating and my passion for fitness. Just as a choreographer would hear music and imagine movements, I would see a skating skill and in my head break down the biomechanics to find a way to prepare the body for it.
What kind of training did you do to reach you current position?
I completed the traditional college education to become a board certified PTA as well as certifications through the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) and Fascial Stretch Therapy. This gave me the knowledge base in biomechanics and anatomy which I blend with my background in movement and skating. I attend PSA (Professional Skaters Association) conferences as well as skating techniques seminars.
Besides skaters, what types of athletes do you work with?
I work with high school and college athletes that play baseball, football and soccer. I have also worked with professional rowers and NFL players (for fascial stretch therapy).
Is Skyliners the first synchro team you have worked with?
I worked with Team Esprit, Team Image (when they were merged with Team Esprit in the senior division), Gotham City Synchro and the Southern Connecticut teams. I started working with the Skyliners in 2015 when I started working at Chelsea Piers. Prior to working with synchro teams, I worked in Monsey with a group of 24 figure skaters for five years, as well as at the Ice House in Hackensack, NJ.
Describe the kinds of programs you design for Skyliners skaters? What types of activities do you emphasize to help them achieve more endurance, flexibility and strength for their ice skating?
My goal with the synchro skaters is to create a foundation of strength as well as an understanding of how their bodies work to get the most flexibility possible. As I work with the teams prior to their on-ice training, I don’t push for the hardest workout, rather for a smart workout. I want them to understand good form and how it feels to properly engage a supporting muscle group or how to find correct posture in a power movement. Working on stability and mobility is crucial as flexibility and strength need to have a balanced relationship so skaters can execute their on-ice skills.
How are the programs designed for skaters different than what you design for other athletes from other sports?
The largest difference is the range of motion that figure skating requires in comparison to other sports. There is a functional range that is specific to each sports movement and biomechanics, but skating is by far the most extreme. Each skater brings a unique scenario of how their joints move, so it is like a puzzle to me to find the right way to create the position they are striving for, such as a Biellmann. Another big difference is the way athletes generate power and speed, as skaters are in boots utilizing pressure against the ice with limited ankle motion and other athletes are in sneakers.
How do you adjust the skaters' fitness program over the course of the season?
I start the season with fitness testing, so I can make sure everyone has a concept of the proper form and I am aware of any injuries or modifications that need to be made. This also helps to identify individual goals of each skater as well as the cohesive team. Then we proceed with pre-season training using fitness videos via Facebook as a way to establish a foundation of strength and flexibility. Some skaters work with trainers on their own, which is great, but I want to remotely offer a way for everyone to get physically prepared for the season. With the foundation established, we progress forward during the regular season to more program and sport-specific training including balance, coordination, positions and lifts. As the skaters have fitness prior to on-ice training, I try to prepare them for their practice by increasing their neuromuscular connection, balance and balance recovery, as well as preparing the range of motion required for spread eagles, spirals, 135’s, 180’s and Biellmanns.
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Having fun with fitness at Lifeplex
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How do you describe your style as a fitness coach and trainer?
Fitness should not be a chore, but a part of the sport. Just as you work on moves, freestyle and dance, you should also put time into your fitness. I am easygoing as long as you do the task at hand. I want the skaters to know what they are doing and why. There will be a time for me to instruct them and push them, but as they grow I want them to learn enough that they can do productive and safe workouts independently.
Outside of the Skyliners fitness regimen, are there things you recommend that skaters do or not do to enhance their fitness? Should they lift weights or run?
The skaters should perform cardiovascular activities on their own, which is done best in variety including running, biking, and skating. Performing calisthenics - body weight exercises - is a great way to strength train on your own as there is less of a risk for injury than lifting weights. They should also listen to their bodies. If something is hurting, they should get it addressed quickly to resolve it.
Do you have any catch phrases or mantras that you use when training skaters?
I can make it work. Meaning, I can modify anything: any training situation, soreness, or injury, I can make it work. I don’t want the skaters to ever feel defeated when they are challenged. We just have to train smarter and we can get the job done. Haha, this might be something I say to myself more than I do out loud.
How do you adjust the program for skaters who are injured?
I try to continue working on the same muscle group or function as the team, but I might approach it differently, such as non-weight bearing or in a smaller range of motion.
What are the biggest challenges when working with skaters?
The biggest challenge is time. There is so much to accomplish during each phase of periodization; from the preparatory, competitive, to transitional phases. It takes 2-3 sessions a week to make physiological changes, so getting that many workouts in while skating and completing school work is very challenging.
What is the most rewarding thing about working with skaters?
Watching them grow. You can see them cheer each other on, challenge one another, and celebrate and console each other. I am able to help them as their skills advance, their strength increases and they overcome obstacles. Every workout and practice is one step closer toward their dreams, I am just happy to be a part of it.
What are the most important things you have learned from your work that apply to other experiences in your life?
Nothing goes as planned, so I would say staying flexible. When my day gets flipped upside down and everything I had prepared is no longer applicable, I just think to myself – I can make it work and adapt. I keep my focus on the goal even though I might take a different path to get there.
Describe your life outside of Chelsea Piers.
I have three cats and I love them!!! My phone is full of their photos.
My husband Alex (who many Skyliners work with for ice dance) and I became friends while he was training as an ice dancer and I was teaching at Terry Conners Rink. We were married in 2010 at the start of his last competitive season, and I was able to go to Nationals in Ukraine with him and meet his family. He coaches skaters on ice, and I work with them off ice. It is amazing being able to work with my best friend and share our work stories and successes together. It is really funny as we try to work on choreography or lifts for our students in the middle of our living room!
What are some things people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am a professor at Norwalk Community College instructing a therapeutic exercise class. I work at Burke Medical Research and Neurology Clinic on a per diem basis with patients who have experienced a stroke or traumatic brain injury by assisting them to walk using a robotic Ekso suit. And I skated on a Collegiate team under Josh Babb years ago at Chelsea Piers in NYC, where our practice started at 1am!
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Skyliners was established in 2001 by a group of parents who wanted to create the most competitive synchronized skating club in the tri-state area. In that first year, the team had three lines - Preliminary, Juvenile and Intermediate. Seventeen years later, Skyliners has grown into one of the top synchronized skating teams in the country, now 12 lines and 220+ skaters strong. While the majority of the skaters reside in the tri-state area, we also have skaters from Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. Our resume of achievements includes 25 Eastern championships, 12 National championships, 8 International gold medals, a Junior Worlds Silver medal...and 10 years designated TEAM USA.
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SKYLINERS!
Download the SI PLAY app
Parents & Skaters - We encourage you to download the SI PLAY app on your smartphone or tablet. It works in conjunction with League Athletics, offering schedule, team chat, roster, photo & video uploading capabilities. Use the same account information as you use for League Athletics, and you can link in to your line's information.
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