The Colonials capture medals in a strong showing of synchronized skating at the Dr. Porter Classic in Ann Arbor Michigan

(December 3, 2006; Ann Arbor, MI and Boxborough, MA) Following a successful season opener at the Thanksgiving Classic, the Colonials Synchronized Skating teams continued to demonstrate their talent and skill at the 2006 Dr. Porter Classic held at the Ann Arbor Skating Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan this past weekend (Dec 2-3).

After finishing first at the Thanksgiving Classic, the Intermediate team captured the silver medal against a deep field of twelve competitors from the West, Mid-West and East sections. Both the Junior and Senior teams skated in the Short and Free Skate events. In a very close and exciting competition, the Junior team finished second in the Short Program. In their Free Skate, the Juniors finished fourth.

Representing the Colonials for the first time, the Senior team finished ninth in the Short program and sixth in the Free Skate. The Colonials are thrilled to add a Senior team to their lineup and anticipate terrific skating from them this year.

The results are significant because of the strength of the competition. The Intermediates took second behind Fond du Lac Blades, who are two-time National Champions in the Intermediate Division. In the Junior division, both Gold medals were won by Gold Ice, Canadian Junior World Team members (Bronze medalists in 2005 and fourth place in 2006). In the Free skate, the second place team was Les Supremes, also from Canada. Our new Senior team, of course, had to hold it’s own again against world competitors – the Haydenettes and Les Supremes from Canada.

This means that the Colonials Juniors were the top U.S. finishers in the Short competition and the second U.S. finish in the Free Skate. And the Intermediates went head to head with National Champions.

The Intermediate Program

The theme for the Intermediate team is Superman. Fittingly, they wore red and blue dresses with silver accents. They skated to music from the movie Superman Returns, and Five For Fighting's Superman. The choreography highlighted interacting lines, traveling wheels and circles, Ina Bauer lines, and a final Move in Isolation that features flying camels and spread eagles that send out the message of “truth, justice, and the American Way.” The Superman theme of their program inspired the Intermediate team to support the Christopher Reeve Foundation for Spinal Cord Research by purchasing the Foundation's Superman Tags. The Intermediate program was choreographed by Merita Mullen and coached by Merita Mullen and Nancy Schricker.

The Junior Program

The Junior team skates both a short and long program. The theme of the short program is Celtic Tiger with a musical selection from Michael Flatley's title cut of the same name. They wear green and amber dresses with amber beads. Choreographic highlights include a traveling circle that covers half of the ice, spread eagle intersection, and an intricate block footwork section. The flavor of the entire program and costume is “harsh,” and intense. The short program is choreographed by Anu Oksanen and Merita Mullen and coached by Merita Mullen.

The theme for the long program, or free skate, is the age old battle of Good versus Evil, and ultimately being true to yourself. Music is from the broadway musical Wicked composed by Stephen Schwartz. Their dresses are aqua and dusty rose with dark pink beads – just like Galinda the Good Witch. The long program is choreographed in compliance with the International Judging System with well traveling wheels and circles, pivoting lines and lots of twizzles. The Moves in the Field are a highlight, with long sustained Spirals, Spread Eagles and Ina Bauers performed to "For Good" which details the special bond between Galinda the Good, and Elfie the Wicked. The Block and No Hold Block are favorites of the team, as they build their power and energy to show how in the end, one must "defy gravity" in their own way and be true to themselves by refusing to accept the limits imposed on all of us by others. The long program is choreographed by Merita Mullen and coached by Merita Mullen and Nancy Schricker.

The Senior Program

The Dr. Porter Classic marked two debuts for the Colonials. Our new Senior team skated for the very first time. And Nancy Rossi also made her debut as a member of the Colonials coaching staff. Nancy and Merita Mullen are choreographing and coaching the Senior team in a completely cooperative effort.

The Senior team skates both a short and long program. The theme of the short program is learning to love again after heartache and is accompanied by I Will Love Again as performed by Lara Fabian. They wear pale coral and yellow dresses with fluid layered skirts. The choreography features traveling circle within a circle, gentle, lingering side bent spins and a fast intricate block that ends the program.

For their long program, the Senior team celebrates the acceptance of individuality and personal creativity and are inspired by music from the original production of the Broadway musical Rent by Jonathan Larson. They wear black velvet dresses with bias cut velvet skirts, blue accents and blue with black beading. The program content is compliant with the International Judging System and features Moves in Isolation with strong spread eagles, and flying spins as well as Ina Bauers and Spin Combinations. A rapidly traveling three-spoke wheel and a “playful” tango line are designed to engage the audience, just like a good Broadway musical should.

About the Dr. Porter Classic

Celebrating the fiftieth year of synchronized skating at their home club, the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club hosted the annual Dr. Porter Classic. The competition is named after Dr. Richard Porter, the founder of synchronized skating. Year after year, many skating teams from all over the United States travel to Ann Arbor to open their new season at this competition. With 144 teams skating in sixteen different events, the Dr. Porter competition is one of the biggest synchronized skating competitions in the United States.

After the Dr. Porter Classic in Michigan, the Colonials Synchronized Skating Teams will host the Colonial Classic at the Tsongas Arena from January 5-7, 2007. All five Colonial teams (Juvenile, Intermediate, Junior, Senior and Masters) will skate at the Colonial Classic.

About the Colonials Synchronized Skating Teams

Based in Boxborough, Massachusetts, the Colonials skate out of the Colonial Figure Skating Club. The Colonials will field Juvenile, Intermediate, Junior, Senior and Adult Masters teams during the 2006-2007 skating season. Being one of the elite teams in the eastern region, the Colonials are frequent competitors at US National and International competitions.

The Colonials Synchronized Skating Team's mission is to train and develop teams that will be national and international competitors, encouraging teamwork and sportsmanship, and supporting individual skaters as they seek to achieve their unique potential, and teams of skaters as they seek together to achieve their full potential as a team.

Merita Mullen (Wayland, MA) is the Director of Synchronized Skating at the Colonials. She is joined by Assistant Coaches Nancy Schricker and Nancy Rossi as well as Intern Coaches Lindsay Howie and Colleen Rafus. Jane Gruber is the Physical Therapy and Fitness Coach. Amy Boucher coaches the Adult Masters team.

The Colonials Synchronized Skating teams recently launched a new website at www.ColonialSynchro.org . The website is an excellent source of breaking news about the Colonials. It also features information about each of the teams, the staff and the sport of synchronized skating. The new website incorporates the Adults Masters website, which was previously separate. New content, including action photos, will be added on a regular basis so visitors are encouraged to return on a regular basis. Members of the media may request permission to re-use any of the content on the website from the Jeff Sokolov at Publicity@ColonialSynchro.org .

About the Sport of Synchronized Skating

Synchronized skating is the newest discipline of figure skating, having started 50 years ago by Dr. Richard Porter in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is a specialized branch of skating distinct from figures, free skating, ice dancing or pair skating. It involves eight to twenty skaters on the ice at the same time, and is characterized by intricate formations and maneuvers, footwork, changing arm and hand holds, deep edges, sharp changes of direction and absolute uniformity.

Programs are judged for technical difficulty and presentation (artistic impression). On the junior and senior levels, teams are required to perform a short program and a free skate. At all the other levels, teams only perform a free skate. In the U.S., synchronized skating teams compete in U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned competitions in 15 levels. The levels are differentiated by the age, skill level and the number of skaters on each team.

Jeff Sokolov
Publicity Chair ( Publicity@ColonialSynchro.org )
Colonials Synchronized Skating Teams