2025 ISU World Synchronised Skating Championships - Helsinki - 4th & 5th April

[Karen-W]

Team Helsinki Rockettes... Well, that's going to win the SP.

 

[Karen-W]

SP standings - https://results.isu.org/results/season2425/wsysc2025/SEG001.htm

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	CO	PR	SK	Ded. -	StN.
1​	Team Helsinki Rockettes	FIN	79.49​	41.49​		38.00​	9.50​	9.61​	9.46​	0.00​	#20​
2​	Team Unique	FIN	77.31​	41.82​		36.49​	9.18​	9.11​	9.14​	1.00​	#18​
3​	Team Haydenettes	USA	76.53​	40.03​		36.50​	9.11​	9.29​	9.04​	0.00​	#17​
4​	Team Nova Senior	CAN	69.27​	35.97​		33.30​	8.43​	8.43​	8.18​	0.00​	#13​
5​	Team Les Supremes	CAN	68.50​	36.49​		34.01​	8.71​	8.36​	8.50​	2.00​	#19​
6​	Team Ice on Fire	ITA	64.99​	34.31​		30.68​	7.82​	7.71​	7.54​	0.00​	#14​
7​	Team Berlin 1	GER	64.93​	34.19​		30.74​	7.79​	7.75​	7.57​	0.00​	#16​
8​	Team Passion	HUN	59.84​	31.77​		29.07​	7.43​	7.25​	7.18​	1.00​	#15​
9​	Team Skyliners	USA	58.57​	30.22​		29.35​	7.61​	7.21​	7.25​	1.00​	#12​
10​	Team Jingu Ice Messengers	JPN	56.63​	32.88​		24.75​	6.36​	6.07​	6.18​	1.00​	#6​
11​	Team Olympia	CZE	55.10​	28.54​		26.56​	6.75​	6.79​	6.43​	0.00​	#8​
12​	Team Ice Fire Senior	POL	52.62​	26.49​		26.13​	6.61​	6.68​	6.36​	0.00​	#11​
13​	Team United Angels	GER	51.15​	25.56​		25.59​	6.46​	6.46​	6.32​	0.00​	#9​
14​	Team Ice United	NED	49.87​	27.22​		22.65​	5.82​	5.75​	5.46​	0.00​	#5​
15​	Team Zoulous	FRA	48.58​	24.55​		24.03​	6.11​	6.07​	5.89​	0.00​	#7​
16​	Team Starlight Elite	SUI	48.08​	24.24​		24.84​	6.39​	6.14​	6.14​	1.00​	#10​
17​	Team Icicles Senior	GBR	41.39​	21.45​		19.94​	5.14​	4.96​	4.89​	0.00​	#4​
18​	Team Unity	AUS	34.78​	18.81​		16.97​	4.50​	4.11​	4.14​	1.00​	#2​
19​	Team Zagreb Snowflakes	CRO	30.79​	16.59​		16.20​	4.36​	3.89​	3.93​	2.00​	#3​
20​	Team Fusion	ESP	29.10​	14.75​		15.35​	4.00​	3.75​	3.79​	1.00​	#1​

 

[jlai]

I feel like the top two could have been a bit cleaner. I remember in the past the top scores were over 80.

 

[just tuned in]

Free Skate / Long Program.

So. Many. Voiceovers. Like, entire parables.

Switzerland program will not shut up. Lol. "You're wild and complex!"

 

[Karen-W]

Fantastic program from Team Ice on Fire of Italy to Stravinsky's "Firebird".

 

[jlai]

Team Unique is head and shoulders above everyone so far. Challenging for the gold here
eta: oh, tes dropped, that is likely not gold then

 

[Karen-W]

Very cool "Cell Block Tango" program from Team Unique.

 

[jlai]

I don't like the Rockettes' program as much but this is well skated and will win

 

[Karen-W]

Team Helsinki Rockettes molesting the judges to end their program - will it get them the win?

 

[jlai]

Team Helsinki Rockettes molesting the judges to end their program - will it get them the win?

The tes is almost a tie, so that should do it given the sp lead

 

[just tuned in]

Unique was better than Rockettes IMO.

 

[Karen-W]

I don't like the Rockettes' program as much but this is well skated and will win

The tes is almost a tie, so that should do it given the sp lead

Probably, unfortunately

Unique was better than Rockettes IMO.

Unique was more interesting & held their intensity throughout the entire program. Rockettes weren't as interesting until the last 45 seconds or so.

 

[just tuned in]

Haydenettes was very lucky here.

Pbbbth to Skyliners in 8th. I wonder how Miami would have done.

 

[Aceon6]

Happy to see Hayden/SCoB hold and nice that Skyliners moved up a bit.

 

[Karen-W]

Haydenettes was very lucky here.

Pbbbth to Skyliners in 8th. I wonder how Miami would have done.

I doubt Miami would have been better. They got beat by Skyliners twice internationally this season - in both the SP & FS as well as overall at both competitions where they faced off. Based on the international results, I can see why the USFS chose the teams they did.

It's been a down season for US senior synchro across the board. The Haydenettes did, indeed, get lucky here, but Les Supremes could have not fallen twice in the SP too...

 

[Karen-W]

FS Results - https://results.isu.org/results/season2425/wsysc2025/SEG002.htm

Pl. Name Nation TSS = TES + PCS + CO PR SK Ded. - StN. 1​ Team Unique FIN 156.98​ 79.84​ 77.14​ 9.64​ 9.79​ 9.46​ 0.00​ #19​ 2​ Team Helsinki Rockettes FIN 155.88​ 78.82​ 77.06​ 9.61​ 9.68​ 9.57​ 0.00​ #20​ 3​ Team Les Supremes CAN 150.91​ 75.67​ 75.24​ 9.46​ 9.43​ 9.29​ 0.00​ #16​ 4​ Team Haydenettes USA 148.24​ 74.32​ 73.92​ 9.29​ 9.29​ 9.11​ 0.00​ #18​ 5​ Team Nova Senior CAN 139.80​ 70.75​ 69.05​ 8.61​ 8.79​ 8.46​ 0.00​ #17​ 6​ Team Ice on Fire ITA 131.27​ 69.19​ 62.08​ 7.82​ 7.86​ 7.57​ 0.00​ #15​ 7​ Team Skyliners USA 127.83​ 65.48​ 62.35​ 7.89​ 7.82​ 7.64​ 0.00​ #12​ 8​ Team Berlin 1 GER 126.95​ 65.14​ 61.81​ 7.79​ 7.75​ 7.61​ 0.00​ #14​ 9​ Team Jingu Ice Messengers JPN 123.44​ 65.94​ 57.50​ 7.29​ 7.29​ 6.96​ 0.00​ #11​ 10​ Team Passion HUN 116.71​ 59.85​ 57.86​ 7.46​ 7.07​ 7.14​ 1.00​ #13​ 11​ Team Olympia CZE 111.62​ 57.64​ 53.98​ 6.75​ 6.93​ 6.54​ 0.00​ #10​ 12​ Team Ice Fire Senior POL 104.60​ 53.47​ 51.13​ 6.54​ 6.43​ 6.18​ 0.00​ #9​ 13​ Team Ice United NED 102.71​ 53.46​ 50.25​ 6.50​ 6.32​ 6.00​ 1.00​ #7​ 14​ Team Zoulous FRA 100.52​ 51.86​ 49.66​ 6.43​ 6.21​ 5.96​ 1.00​ #6​ 15​ Team United Angels GER 99.81​ 53.24​ 49.57​ 6.32​ 6.11​ 6.14​ 3.00​ #8​ 16​ Team Starlight Elite SUI 99.53​ 52.80​ 46.73​ 6.00​ 5.89​ 5.61​ 0.00​ #5​ 17​ Team Unity AUS 82.59​ 48.25​ 36.34​ 4.79​ 4.39​ 4.43​ 2.00​ #3​ 18​ Team Icicles Senior GBR 82.09​ 42.89​ 39.20​ 5.04​ 4.82​ 4.82​ 0.00​ #4​ 19​ Team Fusion ESP 67.12​ 36.74​ 31.38​ 4.04​ 3.89​ 3.82​ 1.00​ #1​ 20​ Team Zagreb Snowflakes CRO 64.20​ 33.45​ 31.75​ 4.07​ 3.96​ 3.86​ 1.00​ #2​

Final Standings -

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Team Helsinki Rockettes	FIN	235.37	1	2
2	Team Unique	FIN	234.29	2	1
3	Team Haydenettes	USA	224.77	3	4
4	Team Les Supremes	CAN	219.41	5	3
5	Team Nova Senior	CAN	209.07	4	5
6	Team Ice on Fire	ITA	196.26	6	6
7	Team Berlin 1	GER	191.88	7	8
8	Team Skyliners	USA	186.40	9	7
9	Team Jingu Ice Messengers	JPN	180.07	10	9
10	Team Passion	HUN	176.55	8	10
11	Team Olympia	CZE	166.72	11	11
12	Team Ice Fire Senior	POL	157.22	12	12
13	Team Ice United	NED	152.58	14	13
14	Team United Angels	GER	150.96	13	15
15	Team Zoulous	FRA	149.10	15	14
16	Team Starlight Elite	SUI	147.61	16	16
17	Team Icicles Senior	GBR	123.48	17	18
18	Team Unity	AUS	117.37	18	17
19	Team Fusion	ESP	96.22	20	19
20	Team Zagreb Snowflakes	CRO	94.99	19	20

 

[Aussie Willy]

I only got to watch the SP last night. I will have to finish it off this week when I get time.

Personally I thought the Haydenettes were sensational in the SP. What a gorgeous program. Also loved the Swiss team. The Finnish teams of course were excellent.

 

[Ikari]

I don't really know much of this discipline (either), this was second World Champs I watched. Compared to last year, Finnish teams looked faster and more precise. They were clearly ahead in the game to other teams, with only Haydenettes somewhat managing to achieve same level. Other North American teams appeared to have regressed, I don't know if they have had roster changes or what, but Les Supremes didn't appear competive with top3 even discounting the falls.
Italian team had great looking programs, maybe not as technical as higher ranked teams, but certainly captivating. Also their costumes were gorgeous.

I don't know, but looking those lower tier teams, seemed to me their programs were often too difficult for them? Often they looked messy and ragged on ice. Only most elite teams could make those no-hold formations and pivoting blocks look good.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Italian team had great looking programs, maybe not as technical as higher ranked teams, but certainly captivating. Also their costumes were gorgeous.

I don't know, but looking those lower tier teams, seemed to me their programs were often too difficult for them? Often they looked messy and ragged on ice. Only most elite teams could make those no-hold formations and pivoting blocks look good.

The Italian team had a gorgeous SP. Haven't watched their FS yet.

I can speak about the Australian team. They battle here to get the same training opportunities that other teams would. There are currently only three rinks in Sydney that has to be shared between all the ice sports. And one of those rinks is not even full size. They were based at Canterbury which is out of action and not sure when it is going to be rebuilt. And Maquarie is undergoing renovations and all the ice sports have pretty much been put on hold. Not sure if they go to the other rinks outside Sydney which are probably over a couple of hours away. So considering what they have to go through, they have actually done really well to win Australian Nationals and to even get to Worlds.

And this is the same problem that all the Australian teams go through. Having to share the limited ice time with all the other sports. You can only do so much with what you have.

If there is anyone here from Sydney who has more information about the team or the Synchro scene there would appreciate it.

 

[Ikari]

I can speak about the Australian team. They battle here to get the same training opportunities that other teams would. There are currently only three rinks in Sydney that has to be shared between all the ice sports. And one of those rinks is not even full size. They were based at Canterbury which is out of action and not sure when it is going to be rebuilt. And Maquarie is undergoing renovations and all the ice sports have pretty much been put on hold. Not sure if they go to the other rinks outside Sydney which are probably over a couple of hours away. So considering what they have to go through, they have actually done really well to win Australian Nationals and to even get to Worlds.

And this is the same problem that all the Australian teams go through. Having to share the limited ice time with all the other sports. You can only do so much with what you have.

Wow, didn't know rink situation is that dire there. Scandinavia has it easy, as public ice halls are usually built to support local ice hockey team, and then they are only too happy to accommodate other ice sports to maintain utilization for that expensive investment. I just learnt that Finland alone has over 200 registered synchro teams.

Australian team suffered some serious injury during practice, one skater was standing in k&c with a crutch. They had good music in their FS, but to me they looked like one of the teams which might have benefitted from different program structure. Particularly their lift early in the program looked awkward with some of the skaters just kinda standing around with nothing to do. I suppose that element was included for points, even though it didn't really serve overall flow of the program.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Wow, didn't know rink situation is that dire there. Scandinavia has it easy, as public ice halls are usually built to support local ice hockey team, and then they are only too happy to accommodate other ice sports to maintain utilization for that expensive investment. I just learnt that Finland alone has over 200 registered synchro teams.

Australian team suffered some serious injury during practice, one skater was standing in k&c with a crutch. They had good music in their FS, but to me they looked like one of the teams which might have benefitted from different program structure. Particularly their lift early in the program looked awkward with some of the skaters just kinda standing around with nothing to do. I suppose that element was included for points, even though it didn't really serve overall flow of the program.

I heard from someone last night that there had been a bad injury with the Australian team.

Yeah our situation in Australia is not great. Where I live in Tasmania we have no rink. Our skaters have to travel interstate to train (which considering Tasmania is an island it involves flying). Thankfully this winter we will have a temporary rink for about 6 weeks as the local entertainment centre brought ice equipment so at least it will give skaters some training time. For me it is just down the end of my street

Glad you got to watch it. It generally doesn't get as much coverage as the other disciplines. As a sport it is so much better than it used to be (nicknamed Marching Girls on Ice). It has become incredibly creative and really shows excellent presentation and fantastic skills. I enjoy it so much more than what I used to.

 

[kwanfan1818]

The ISU is publishing some non-geoblocked programs to Skating ISU. I've been sampling. I was astonished by the twizzle sequence from Team Helsinki Rockettes in the FS. I loved, loved, loved the Italians in both programs. I liked that the Haydenettes wore difference colored costumes, but I don't like the style of choreography where they all break up into couples and little groups and are all over the ice. I know it's a thing, but I find synchro most powerful when they are moving as a hive or two interacting groups.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Currently watching the FS. So far The Netherlands team really impressed me. Those pairs spins were excellent.

 

[Ikari]

Icebear -account has published quite a bunch of fairly good quality audience videos from the performances:

World synchro 25

Sound sometimes cuts off though, apparently due to audience noise.