WPCNR PRESS BOX. By "Edges" Bailey. January 5, 2007 UPDATED WITH NEW PIX 2:15 PM EST UPDATED January 7, 2007 10:45 P.M.: The Skyliners, Westchester- New Jersey and Connecticut’s Junior Synchronized Skating team compete in the Colonial Classic synchronized skating competition this weekend, Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at the Junior World Cup Qualifier at the fabulous Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachussetts with the class of the eastern and midwestern teams.
The Skyliners Junior Team putting on a great skate Saturday evening after their Friday evening short program, finished 4th in the country of the 11 Junior synchronized skating teams competing in the skate-out to determine which team would represent the United States in the World Synchro Championships in Nottingham, England in March. The Junior Skyliners skated to a 4th place finish behind the elite Chicago Jazz (1st), The Colonials of Massachussetts(2nd), and Team Braemar of Minnesota (3rd).
The Juniors competed in the short program again Saturday evening in the Colonial Classic portion of the competition, finished first, easing out the Skokie Valley (Illinois) Starlights by less than a point in a splendid rematch. The Skyliners Novice Team finished fourth in their highly competitive division, while the Juvenile team skating Sunday finished third behind The Colonials (1st) and the Skokie Valley Starlights. Details later on WPCNR.
Skating for the Governor! The Skyliners, the tri-state Junior Synchronized Skating Team sponsored by The Skating Club of New York, skating their Spread Eagle Splice in the very friendly confines of the Executive Plaza Rink, wowing the crowd to Proud Mary at the Albany Statehouse Monday afternoon as part of Celebrate New York. Photos, WPCNR Sports
The team is fresh off a flawless performance on the Executive Plaza Rink in Albany at the Inaugural of Governor Eliot Spitzer Monday afternoon. They participated with 18 other performing groups across the state in the Celebrate New York entertainment extravaganza to honor the Governor and entertain some 8,000 estimated guests.
The Skyliners -- Rockettes on Skates --Skating to Proud Mary--at the Statehouse.
The Skyliners, sponsored by the Figure Skating Club of New York, finished 7th at the Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan of 13 teams, but less than a point out of fourth place. The team followed that debut performance up with a first place at the Bourne Cape Cod Classic the second week in September against a strong eastern field. They have also made two public skates at The Pond in Bryant Park, entertaining crowds of holiday shoppers and skaters and followed that up with their performance at the New York State Inauguration.
The skating exhibition was put together by Ice Theatre of New York, at the request of the Inaugural organizers. Ice Threatre had only three weeks before the Inaugural and contacted the Skyliners. Josh Babb, Skyliner Director of Synchronized Skating and the Skyliners Junior team Coach with Jenny Gibson. Babb, who performed with Ice Threatre in 2001, accepted the short-notice invitation and the team gave up their New Years Day for the Governor and to spread the synchro “gospel,” skating’s fastest growing sport.
The only hitch was the Albany rink on the Executive Plaza is almost square, only 120 x 100. Babby reworked the Skyliners Proud Mary short program, slowing it down and fitting the team’s spread eagle splice, ladders, pinwheel and spiral glides to the limited surface. The team had one week before Christmas and one week after to prepare for their “condensed” skate.
Leaving from Westchester Skating Academy in pouring rain on New Year’s Day by luxury bus, the Skyliners did not know whether they would skate or not. The arrived in Albany at 10:30, and discovered the rink was smaller than expected. Coach Babb cautioned them “not to push,” and they practiced.
The New York National Guard Field Artillery Troop from Jamaica, Queens, on hand at the Inauguration to fire off the Spitzer 19-gun salute, precisionists themselves stopped when they saw The Skyliners practicing and watched and watched with respect.
When The Skyliners skate, people watch. Even the U.S. military. A contingent of the New York National Guard from Jamaica, Queens saw the girls practicing and watched attentively, respectively, appreciating the precision and the spectacle.
The Skyliners made new friends for synchro! The Girls with their new fans -- the Field Artillery contingent from Queens!
After the Inaugural Ceremony the skating spectacle began the Celebrate New York program as crowds were walking across the plaza. Individual skaters came first in the show.
The Skyliners were last to go on, following "got it" skates by the amazing 10 year old Olivia Serafini to Can Can and 14 year old Michaelee Scarincio of South Glens Falls New York to Sentimental Waltz, the Finland Ice Dance Champions, Jessica Huot and Juha Valkama skating to Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu. They were followed by Rye's Katrina Hacker, the 16 year old 2007 U.S. Figure Skating North Atlantic Divisional Champion, skating divinely to Con Te Partiro sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
Olivia Serafini, 10 years old and she owns the ice!
Micjaelee Scarincio, Glens Falls, 14 year old Phenom
The Ice Dance Champions from Finland Honor the Governor: Jessica Huot and Juha Valkama
The immaculate 16 year old Katrina Hacker. 2007 USFSA North Atlantic Divisional Champion
The Skyliners took the ice for the finale, receiving the most applause and wining new friends and fans of synchronized skating.
The Skyliners double line in the Shadow of The Capitol.
The Big Pin Wheel Spread Eagle slow to a stop closing the Show.
