ABOUT SYNCHRO | victoria-synchro

Why Synchronised Skating?

Synchronised ice-skating is a team sport in which 9-16 ice-skaters perform a program together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs, and ice-dance and is characterised by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior levels perform a short program consisting of required elements.

Elements in synchronised skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, moves in the field, creative elements, no-hold blocks, spins and pairs moves. The variety and difficulty of elements require that each team member is a highly skilled individual skater.

There are so many benefits to participating in a team sport, and synchronised skating is a great way for figure skaters to compete in a sport they love while enjoying all of the aspects of working with others in a team-oriented sport.

If you're looking for something different that is social, fun and challenging, synchronised skating may be for you. We have teams to suit all ages and abilities. Once you know the basic skills of skating, you can join the Aussie Skate synchro class and recreational teams at O'Brien Group Arena and Olympic Ice Rink The rink currently has two programs: My First Team and Synchro Basic Skills which build synchro skills and deliver performance through the term time programs.

Vic Synchro provide on and off ice time, coaching and competitive opportunities at local, state, national and international events for their current teams which are:

Eclipse - Junior/Senior Division

On Edge - Adult Division (over 18 team)

Harmony - Basic Novice & Mixed Age divisions

The Coaches

Amber Williams

Bachelor degree in sport and exercise science (Deakin University)

Level 2 coach (in singles and synchro)- National Coaching Accreditation Scheme and member of the Australian Professional Skaters Association.

I grew up competing in all disciplines of figure skating (singles, pairs and synchro) but synchro was always my favourite. It allowed me to share my love of skating with my friends and I loved the thrill of stepping onto the ice to compete together and achieving our goals.

After many years of reaping the rewards of skating at a high level representing Australia in synchro I turned to coaching and decided I wanted to give back to the sport.

My goal is to provide synchronized skating pathways for skaters of all levels and ages in Victoria. I want my teams to be able to experience all that synchro has to offer – fun, friendships, discipline, skill development, teamwork, and so much more.

Michelle Coetzee

Level 2 coach certified by the Australia Professional Skaters Association.

My focus is in helping skaters achieve excellent basis skating skills. I have been skating since the age of 9 and have represented Australia as the Team Captain at five World Synchronised Championships. I have also skated for France at International Synchronised events and on televised Christmas specials. I have been coaching ice skating since the age of 14 and have taught in both Australia and France.

My main area of expertise lies with Synchronised / Team skating which requires skaters to have a high level of skill in turns and stroking. I enjoy coaching adult skaters as well as skate school students focusing on excellent basic technique from the start.

Jasmine Harrison

Community coach

As a young, motivated ice skater I strive to improve all divisions of skating and provide a positive and rewarding experience to all skaters.

The opportunities offered to me as a skater have allowed me to further develop my skills surrounding teamwork and personal motivation which I aim to transfer into my coaching. I have been a nationally competitive figure skater since 2009 and an internationally competitive synchronised ice skater since 2016, currently skating with the senior team, Eclipse.

My predominant goal is to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for skaters in all levels and to assist the development of skating skills, technique, and teamwork. My love and admiration for the sport from an early age has inspired my objective to give back to the community and ensure others can have the chance to experience all that I have and more.

Kate May

Community coach

As a competitor in both the figure and synchronised ice-skating disciplines I am passionate about giving back to the sport and ensuring that all our skaters have as positive experience as I have had throughout my years of ice skating, dating back to 2011.

Skating on Team Eclipse for most of my life, I have competed at both national and international competitions representing Australia. I also have experience skating on a synchronised ice-skating team in Moscow, “Olympic unity”. Travelling to different cities in Russia and being coached by some of the most respected coaches in the country. I aim to provide an environment where skaters can not only develop their skating skills, but also key skills that the sport has to offer such as teamwork, discipline and confidence.

Emily Ye

Community coach

Through skating, especially through synchronised skating, I have made
unforgettable memories and have had amazing experiences that I will forever treasure. These experiences have driven me to be passionate about ice skating and foster a desire to give back to the sport through
coaching.

I began synchronised skating through the Aussie skate program in 2015 and then progressed to skate on numerous teams at different levels within Victoria. I currently skate for the senior team, Eclipse.

With my team, I have competed at state and national level as well as represented Australia at international competitions.
My aim is to promote a fun yet hard-working environment that allows skaters to develop important skating skills and techniques necessary in all disciplines of figure skating. In addition, synchronised skating has improved valuable life skills such as my teamwork and leadership skills, which I hope to help skaters develop further.