News

Competing this season: yes, but where and how?


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Synchro fans at the Mozart Cup 2018. (Credits: Ru-Pho)

The coronavirus pandemic is plunging many countries and synchro teams into uncertainty. Due to the health situation, many competitions have already been postponed to the next months or even next season, leaving little opportunity for athletes to present their programs.

Santa Claus Cup in the Czech Republic, Riga Amber Cup in Latvia, and more recently, the Lumière Cup in the Netherlands... Several international synchronized skating competitions, in Europe or elsewhere, have been forced to cancel their events due to the COVID situation.

"Postponing [the competition] is the only option. Your health and safety are priorities for us!" wrote a few days ago the Riga Amber Cup 2020 organizing committee. The event could be postponed in March, depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation.

The absence of major international events complicates the organization and the season of teams who are limited in their possibilities and face the uncertainty of travel.

However, some on-site competitions are still maintained. This is the case, for example, with the Mozart Cup in Austria or the Hevelius Cup in Gdansk, Poland. "We are ready to organize the competition. The current situation in the country allows the competition to be held without the participation of the public. The ice rink is open, practices are taking place," explains the organizing committee that is still waiting for confirmation of arrival from foreign teams. The deadline to register is on November 20, 2020.


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Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy 2019 - Junior competition (Credits: Ru-Pho)

As for the Neuchâtel Trophy in Switzerland, the organizing committee has lived the recent months with many questions and uncertainties but remains confident that it will be held in the spring. "Our committee meetings at the end of the summer were rather optimistic with, it is true, a lot of questioning as to the measures that will have to be put in place for the good running of the Neuchâtel Trophy, both in a sport and healthy way," explains Jenny Szymanski, responsible for the communication.

"We had to designate two people responsible for COVID for our event. In recent weeks the cases are increasing, and the uncertainty is still there... but February is still far away! And we still believe in it!" she continues.

The registration deadline for the Neuchâtel Trophy is set for December 1, and the organizing committee indicates that it has already received several teams' registrations. Currently, the option of organizing a virtual event has not been considered.

Avoiding the disinfection problems of changing rooms, masks, and sanitary rules, the Porter Classic has relied on a 100% virtual event in the United States. The event is also open to foreign teams.

The competition announced last weekend to have a total of 97 entries from seven countries for the "team events" and 77 entries from four countries for the "Best of Elements", another option for teams who want to submit up to two synchro elements. These will then be evaluated by judges, who will give them a score and feedback.

Today, Colonial Classic announced that the event would also be held virtual, with the same format as the Porter Classic. Entries have just opened and will close on December 15th.

Virtual or not, synchronized skating competitions are shaken up by the Covid pandemic. Every opportunity to compete, showcase the programs, or get ice training allows athletes to stay active and motivated until events can run safely again.

Your competition is maintained and you want to talk about it on Jura Synchro? Do you have a question regarding the competition season? Do you have any information to give us?

Contact the Jura Synchro newsroom by email at info@jurasynchro.com !

Results - TOP 3

5th Hevelius Cup
Gdansk (POL)
DEC 17, 2020 - DEC 20, 2020

Junior
TEAM Score
1Team Ice Fire (POL)138.58
2Le Soleil (POL)103.10

Novice A
TEAM Score
1Ice Fire (POL)48.71

Mixed Age
TEAM Score
1Ice Fire (POL)55.29
2Team Skadi (POL)34.05
3Team Ice Fire Young (POL)32.27