RedHawk Synchronized Skating Competes in U.S. National Championships
2/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Synchronized Skating
Feb. 21, 2005
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Miami Takes Third at Spring Cup in Italy: The RedHawk senior synchronized skating team finished third at the Spring Cup in Milan, Italy, after taking second in the short program on Saturday, Feb. 12, behind Team Surprise from Sweden, and third in the long program on Sunday, Feb. 13, after Team Surprise and Team Berlin 1 from Germany. Miami finished ahead of the Hot Shivers team from Italy, Cool Dreams from Switzerland and Team Storm from Great Britain.
U.S. National Championships: On the line this week for the senior squad is a berth at the ISU World Championships in April, and both RedHawk senior and collegiate teams are at the same meet this weekend for the first time since the Dr. Porter Classic on Dec. 4-5, 2004. The collegiate squad skates in a qualifying round on Wednesday afternoon. The senior team competes in its short program on Thursday at 6:24 p.m., while both teams are off Friday. Saturday, the collegiate squad performs its long program at 3:29 p.m. and the senior team skates its long program at 8 p.m.
Miami's Senior Short and Long Programs: The RedHawks designed their short program to a scene from the movie The Italian Job called "The Chopper Chase." It lasts two-and-a-half minutes. The long program was designed by choreographer Sarah Kawahara and is called "A Venetian Fantasy." It lasts four-and-a-half minutes.
The Venue: This weekend's competition takes place at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Mass. The arena is home to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell ice hockey team as well as an American Hockey League franchise.
Last Year's U.S. Nationals: Last year in San Diego, Miami's senior squad was in third place after the short program at the U.S. National Championship and finished fourth after the free-skate event.
Storylines:
1. After competing regularly in January and February, both the senior and collegiate teams are off from competition until April. The collegiate squad hosts the National Intercollegiate Championship, April 8-10, and the senior team plays for a berth at the International Skating Union World Championship in April when they skate this week at the U.S. Nationals.