This past weekend, 21 teams representing 16 nations battled for top spots at the 2018 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships (JWSSC) in Zagreb, Croatia. Similar to years past, the top ten teams hailed from Canada, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States of America.
TEAM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Team United States of America 1: Skyliners – 2nd overall
Leaving everything on the ice, the Skyliners soared to their first-ever podium finish, claiming second in both the short program and free skate for an overall silver medal. The team tied Crystal Ice for the highest scoring Travel Wheel 4 in the short program, valued at 7.50 points. In the free skate, the Skyliners showed off their strong edge quality, turns, and twizzles by earning the highest valued No Hold Element at 7.57 points.
Team United States of America 2: Lexettes – 6th overall
The Lexettes improved from seventh at last season’s JWSSC to sixth this year. Even though the team had falls in both programs, the Lexettes had two incredibly fun, energetic skates. They were only one of three teams to earn the highest call for the No Hold Element, a NHE4, in both the short program and free skate.
TEAM CANADA
Team Canada 1: Les Supremes – 4th overall
Les Supremes claimed fourth in both the short program and free skate to end in fourth overall. The team was right on the heels of third place but was just 4.15 points shy of the podium. Les Supremes had two fantastic skates, and the intricate choreography of their chess-themed free skate was a highlight of the night.
Team Canada 2: Nexxice – 8th overall
Nexxice claimed eighth overall after finishing eighth in the short program and free skate. The team’s Rise Up short program was one of the most emotional skates of the night. The program is dedicated to one of their teammates battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and the team added lime green ribbons to their dresses to support her battle.
TEAM FINLAND
Team Finland 1: Team Dream Edges – 7th overall
Team Dream Edges claimed seventh in the short and fifth in the free skate to finish in seventh place overall. In the free skate, the team earned the highest Creative element out of the entire field valued at 4.10 points, using the element to showcase the energy and terror of their ‘escape from the mental asylum’ program.
Team Finland 2: Team Fintastic – 5th overall
Even though Team Fintastic has a combined 13 medals from the Junior World Challenge Cup and JWSSC, the team missed the podium this year and landed in fifth. This is the first year since the inception of the Junior World Challenge Cup and JWSSC in which Finland has not made the podium.
TEAM RUSSIA
Team Russia 1: Team Junost – 1st overall
Team Junost put out two clean, powerful skates and defended their world title by 4.76 points and were crowned junior world champions. The team led in both the short program and free skate. Highlights of their Whitney Houston short program include a Spin 3 that earned all +3 and only one +2 Grades of Execution and the highest scoring pivoting block and no hold element. In both programs the team had the highest valued intersection, earning a massive 8.57 points for the element in the short and 8.14 points for the element in the free skate. They truly defined grace under pressure.
Team Russia 2: Team Crystal Ice – 3rd overall
After finishing eighth at last season’s JWSSC, Team Crystal Ice fulfilled their redemption season with a third-place finish in both the short program and free skate to claim third overall at this year’s event. In their Game of Thrones free skate, they were the only team to achieve the highest moves in the field call, a ME3+fm3, and received the highest Technical Element score.
TEAM SWEDEN
Team Sweden 1: Team Spirit – 10th overall
Team Spirit rallied back from a thirteenth place finish in the short program to a ninth-place finish in the free skate. The team had five falls in the short program, but a clean free skate allowed Team Spirit to round out the top ten teams.
Team Sweden 2: Team Nova – 9th overall
At their JWSSC debut, Team Nova claimed ninth overall in their second season as a junior team. This newer junior team went in with the goal of finishing in the top ten and successfully did so with two solid skates.
The 2018 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships showcased the top junior teams as they continue to push the sport in terms of athleticism, complexity, and grace. Next year’s event, held in Neuchatel, Switzerland, will be another truly exciting event to watch as athletes and coaches continue to push synchronized skating to be the best sport it can be.