With the World Synchronized Skating Championships in our back yard in April and Denver Figure Skating Club's exciting development of a Senior-level synchronized skating team, many extraordinary opportunities for Colorado skaters are just around the corner. One of those is an opportunity for Colorado's skaters to compete at an elite level with the amazing rewards that come with competing at the national, international, and possibly world level.

Like any other discipline of figure skating, it is a tremendous honor and accomplishment to compete at the elite level of synchronized skating. Members of Senior teams are accomplished, driven, and high-level athletes, many of whom have achieved one, two, or even three gold tests. Each skater works incredibly hard to grow and accomplish their personal skills to ensure the strength, power, unison, and beauty of their team performance. Senior teams compete at the national level to earn the privilege of competing internationally for the U.S. The chance to compete for your country in countries such as France, Italy, Croatia, and Switzerland is an experience that not many figure skaters have.

Teams at this elite level perform two programs that require high-level skills, footwork, group lifts and team elements at tremendous speeds in complete unison. It is thrilling to watch and even more exhilarating to participate! Imagine trying to perform the step sequence from your free skate program with 15 of your friends, while maintaining all of the required edges, posture, arm positions, and head movements, and keeping complete unison with each other and the music. The sport of synchronized skating requires skaters to be the best they each can be while working toward and achieving their skating goals with friends and teammates who share the same aspirations.

Being a member of a Senior synchronized skating team is like no other experience for an athlete who has a love for skating, a drive to compete, and a vision of competing for their country. Being a member of a Senior team is full of opportunities; it is an amazing outlet for skaters to reach their competitive dreams while making lasting friendships and memories with their peers.

-- Tryouts for DFSC's new senior team are coming in April. Skaters who have passed Novice moves or above (Junior preferred) are eligible to tryout for the Senior team. Stay tuned to www.denversynchro.org for more information. Please contact Alicia Carr for information about Denver Synchronicity's teams (alicia@denversynchro.org, 719-332-0197).