News

Junior Worlds 2024: Here Are the Participating Teams (1/2)

  • By Jura Synchro
  • MAR 11, 2024

Image

Team Zagreb Snowflakes will represent Croatia on the world stage. (Credits: Synchro Skating Moments, Eva Rosta - 2024)

This weekend, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, becomes the epicenter of synchronized skating, welcoming many of the world's most talented junior teams to the ISU Junior World Championships. The competition will captivate synchro fans worldwide. But first, find out more about the participants!

ADV picture
Team Australia
Team Australia's Majestic Ice, coached by Elizabeth Mayers and founded in 2010, are the 2023 Australian champions. Ranking 21st last year, their best was 16th in 2017. Their short program is "La La Land".
Team Austria
Team Austria's Colibris Vienna, coached by Sabine & Susanna Konrath, bested at 17th at the last Worlds. Their programs this season explore the four seasons, starting with spring and summer for the short program.
Teams Canada
Les Suprêmes Junior, under Marilyn Langlois, Pascal Denis, and Laurie Désilets, train over 10h weekly in Saint-Leonard, Montreal. Their season-best is 198.65, winning the Marie Lundmark Trophy in February in Finland. 5th at the 2023 Worlds in France, the Canadian national champions aim for the gold medal in Neuchâtel.
The other Canadian Team is Nexxice from Burlington. Coached by Trish Perdue-Mills and Julia Mills-Bolton, the team skates this year to "Hit the Road Jack" (short program) and "From Darkness to Light" (free skate). Last year's junior world runners-up, they secured silver at the French Cup and bronze at the Trophy d'Ecosse, with a top score of 177.39. They are Canadian vice-champions.
Team Croatia
Zagreb Snowflakes is the team of Natasa Bahat and is based in Zagreb. Their programs this year are "Hunger Games" for the short program and "La La Land" for the free program. They often feature choreography by Pascal Denis of Canada's Les Suprêmes. Last year, they ranked 22nd in France, with their best World placement being 16th in 2020. They've competed internationally this season at the Dresden Cup and Budapest Cup. 
Team Czech Republic
Team Harmonia, based in Prague and coached by Katerina Urbanova and Frantz-Michaël Rouffanche, achieved their best at 11th in the 2023 Worlds. Season's best score is 114.93 at the Hevelius Cup. Did you know that Sherlock Holmes inspired their free program?
ADV picture
Teams Finland
Team Fintastic, the junior champions of 2022 and 2023 from Helsinki, is coached by Laura Spiridovitsh, Kaisa Arrateig, and Nina Sandsund. Training about 10 hours weekly, they've scored over 200 points this season, with a best of 200.39 at the Budapest Cup. Their programs are "The Call" and "Glamorous 1920s." The little sisters of the Helsinki Rockettes will be determined to defend their title again this year. 
What a pleasure to welcome a new Finnish team to the Worlds stage! Valley Bay Synchro from Espoo, Finland, coached by Anna Karjalainen, Henriikka Latva, and Jenni Rahko, are recent Finnish champions. Making their Worlds debut, their programs are "Another Dimension" and "The Little Mermaid".
Team France
Training in Rouen, Team Jeanne d'Arc, coached by Clara Levieux, Camille Fleury and Yoann Gilet, are the junior champions of France. Their season-best is 118.86 at the Lumière Cup 2024. Their best Worlds result was 14th in 2018 and 2019. They will begin the competition with a short program to Bjork's bachelorette.

Image
The French team Jeanne d'Arc Junior is ready to compete! (Credits: Synchro Skating Moments, Eva Rosta - 2024)

Team Great Britain
Solway Stars, based in Dumfries, Scotland, and coached by Molly Coxon and Philip Carter, achieved their season-best score of 125.77 at the Trophy d'Ecosse. They placed 7th at the French Cup with 137.61. Last year, they were 15th at Worlds. Their short program is a version of “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile, and their free program features an interpretation of “Eleanor Rigby” by Cody Fry.
Team Germany
Team Berlin Junior, from Berlin and coached by Marco Derpa and Vanessa Henke-Hahn, trains around 8 hours weekly on ice. They placed 14th in 2023 and won bronze at the Dresden Cup 2024 with a score of 120.37. Their short program, “Fight Song,” embodies courage and self-confidence.
Team Hungary
Team Magic, based in Budapest and coached by Barbara Maros-Zenezini and Michael Zenezini, won the Dresden Cup 2024 with a score of 130.21. This is their fourth World appearance; their best result was 13th in 2022 in Austria. They are the national champions. If you like Jessie J, you'll love their short program.
24 teams from 20 different nations
See the following of the teams (part 2)
ADV picture