WPCNR RINKSIDE.  January 11, 2008: The Skyliner’s, Westchester, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey’s synchronized skating Junior, Novice and Juvenile skating teams compete for national recognition this weekend in the valley of synchro – Fraser, Michigan, just outside Detroit in the 2008 Mid-American Championships Junior World Qualifier. The Junior team, with two first place finishes in the Junior level in the Cape Cod Classic and the Thanksgiving Classic in Plymouth in November, face the most even competive Junior field this reporter has ever seen in Fraser this weekend. The queenpins of synchro will be there:  the Chicago Jazz, the Colonials, the Starlights, Fond du Lac Blades in what promises to be the most demanding and close junior competition in years.

Skyliners are shown Skating their Short Program Above and their Long below at Bryant Park in NYC in December.

The Skyliners, aged 14 to 18 from around the tri-state area,  under Coach Josh Babb just missed finishing fourth in the Nationals last year, after winning the short program and have hopes of moving up to challenge for metal. They skate their short program Friday evening at 7 in Fraser Michigan when the elite Junior teams take the ice.  The Skyliners will be competing in Zagreb, Croatia this spring against Europe’s elite and look forward to the high level of competition this weekend.