The coaches of Finland's Helsinki Rockettes and Poland's Team Ice Fire Senior talk about their start to the season. (Credits: Roy Ng - 2024)

After an intense start to the synchronized skating season at the Shanghai Trophy, coaches from top teams like the Helsinki Rockettes (FIN) and Ice Fire (POL) shared their thoughts on their teams' performances. This first international competition provided valuable experience and feedback for the season ahead.

Competing early in the season always presents unique challenges, especially with the pressure to deliver two programs. Kaisa Arrateig, the coach of the Helsinki Rockettes, shared her thoughts on participating in the international circuit so early:

How do you feel about participating in an international competition early in the season?

Kaisa Arrateig: "I think it's a good challenge for the team. Preparing two programs for competition this early is a bit risky, and mistakes can happen. But at the same time, we receive valuable feedback from both the judges and the audience. So overall, I believe it's excellent preparation for the rest of the season."

What did you think of the execution of the Short Program?

Kaisa Arrateig: "There were a few mistakes, but the team enjoyed the performance, and that made me really happy. There were also some strong elements executed. I was watching the Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance events, and even the top athletes made mistakes. It’s human to make mistakes, and I’m not worried about it. What I’m most pleased with is that the team enjoyed themselves and showed great emotion while skating, so I’m very happy."

Helsinki Rockettes have competed at the Shanghai Trophy before. How does this time compare to previous years?

Kaisa Arrateig: "This is the first time we’ve had to perform both programs at the Shanghai Trophy, which changes our preparation because it used to be only the Free Skate, where we could focus on those 10 elements. Now, with 15 elements to prepare, there’s more to work on. But it's nice to be back here, and coming to a familiar place makes things a bit easier since we know what to expect. We’ve been enjoying it a lot."

For Team Ice Fire Senior (POL), this season’s Shanghai Trophy was a significant milestone. With many new skaters joining their ranks, their third-place finish in the Short Program was particularly emotional for the coaching team.

How did the team perform for the Short Program?

Agnieszka Filipowicz: "We are so pleased and emotional about getting the third position. Actually, we had a few mistakes, some were big ones. But overall, the performance was okay. It was really a ‘mission impossible’ to get here. It’s a dream come true because we have 7 new skaters this season, and they worked so hard. We are now more confident for the coming season and can work harder based on the feedback."

Assembling a team with so many new skaters and delivering a solid performance must have been a big challenge.

Agnieszka Filipowicz: "We have 5 single skaters who had never skated synchro before. They worked hard to learn different holds, spinning in pairs, intersections, and more."

Marcin Miedlarz: "It was a very new beginning for them, so I am really happy about it."

Can you tell us about your Free Skate program?

Agnieszka Filipowicz: "It is called Messengers of the Nordic Gods. I enjoy the music very much and hope you will like it too. We have interesting costumes for it as well. Right now, the elements are at lower levels because they’re not as ready as they should be, but I want it to look good, and that is our main goal."

Marcin Miedlarz: "The Free Skate has a different style that is not typical for us."

Marcin Miedlarz, who coaches various teams from different age categories, shared how he manages his time between Senior, Junior, and younger skaters.

How do you find the balance among the teams?
Marcin Miedlarz:
"It is difficult to find time because sometimes we have concurrent practices for seniors, juniors, and small kids. As coaches, we have to decide what is the most important at that moment. Of course, I have other coaches to help me. It’s a teamwork effort."

For both the Helsinki Rockettes and Team Ice Fire Senior, the Shanghai Trophy has provided invaluable experience as they head into the rest of the season. With early feedback from judges and the chance to refine their programs, these teams will no doubt continue to evolve as the season progresses.