REDHAWK CHAT: Carla DeGirolamo

Miami Synchronized Skating Coach Carla DeGirolamo stopped by our chat room on Wednesday. Here is a transcript of what she had to say.

MURedHawks.com: Coach DeGirolamo is here, so we will begin our chat in a few moments.

Cathy (Oxford): What is the difference between the senior, junior and collegiate teams and how do you decide who is on which team?

Carla DeGirolamo: We have 52 athletes on our roster, divided among the three teams. The senior team competes at the highest level of competition both domestically and internationally. We take our 20 strongest skaters onto the senior team each senior, regardless of age or year in school. The collegiate team competes against strictly other university teams. It is primarily comprised of upperclass skaters. The junior team also competes domestically and internationally, but there is an age restriction on the division. Skaters cannot be 19 years old before July 1 of the competition year, so this team is primarily comprised of freshmen.

Sue (Camden): Once they've made a team, do the skaters have to try out every year after that?

Carla DeGirolamo: Yes, skaters have to tryout every year. In the hopes of fielding the three strongest teams we can, each athlete tries out for the teams each year. Even if a skater has been on the senior team for her first three years, she will still be required to tryout her senior year.

Dan (Cincinnati): How are competitions scored? Do the judges score with same format as figure skating?

Carla DeGirolamo: Synchronized skating events are scored on the same system as the singles, pairs and dance events. They use the international judging system, which is comprised of two components. The first is the technical element score. This score is made up of a base level for each element, which is determined by the technical panel. Base values are on a scale of difficulty that varies from element to element. In addition, the judges award grades of execution for each element, which gives teams credit for how well they execute the elements. The second component of the overall score is the program component score, which is determined by the judges. Teams are graded on five different components: skating skills, transitions, performance/execution, choreography and interpretation.

Rosie (Piqua): What kind of training do the skaters do to prepare for the season?

Carla DeGirolamo: In preparation for the season, we started our team training on the basics of skating. We worked on different stroking drills, turning drills and really put an emphasis on not only technical execution but also synchronization and unison of body position and power. The teams also train off the ice both with strength and conditioning and off-ice dance. Our goals for off-ice conditioning have been to increase strength and flexibility and also improving core stability and range of motion. Once the teams were selected in September, we started working on program choreography. We had Sarah Kawahara come in to set our senior team's long program. Scott Brown came in October to help add choreography to our junior and collegiate programs as well as the senior team short program.

Jim: What does it mean to have such a nice facility like the new Goggin Ice Center and has that helped with recruiting at all?

Carla DeGirolamo: Having use of an amazing facility such as the Goggin Ice Center has definitely made a positive impact on the synchronized skating teams. From a recruiting perspective, just the building itself makes a very strong impression on athletes visiting the campus. The resources and facilities we have--locker room, training room, etc.--are unlike anything most other programs have.

Kelly (Troy, OH): I see on the schedule you're traveling to Switzerland and Sweden this year. What is your favorite place outside of the U.S. you've been able to travel to because of skating?

Carla DeGirolamo: My favorite place we have been to for a skating event is Prague, Czech Republic. The city itself has so much history but also has modern amenities. I love looking at the architecture and seeing the castle, and I think it was a great experience for the athletes as well to see so much history that we don't have in the United States since we are a younger country.

MURedHawks.com: We have time for one more question ...

Mike (Oxford): What are some of the highlights on this year's schedule?

Carla DeGirolamo: Some of the highlights for this year's schedule would be the trip to Neuchatel, Switzerland for the senior and junior teams. They will be competing against some of the top teams from Sweden and Switzerland, who we will see again on the world stage. The national championships, which are held in Minneapolis this year, is always one of the highlights. It's one of the few events where we are able to bring all three teams and celebrate all of the hard work they have put in during the season. Having the world championships in the United States this year, for just the second time in the history of the event, will be a highlight for the two teams who will represent the United States ... we hope to be one of those teams.

MURedHawks.com: We would like to thank Coach DeGirolamo for stopping by and chatting today. This is the final chat of 2009. We will return in January with a new Thursday format. Thank you for view RedHawk Chat this year!

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