Steel City Blades ~ Workshops & Tryouts ~ June 2012

RMU Island Sports Center & Steel City Blades are proud to welcome Vicki Korn, World Synchronized Skating Coach as a consultant to our Synchronized Skating Team this season!  Vicki will assist with team development at the SCB workshops & tryouts, assist with program choreography and will consult with our head coaches with the throughout the 2012/2013 season.  Vicki brings extensive experience as a national, international, and world synchronized skating coach. She served as the Head Coach for the Synchronized Skating Program at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and was associated with the university’s skating program for 25 years. During her tenure, Miami University teams earned 11 national championships in the collegiate division, three national championships in the senior division, and were the World Silver Medalists in 2007. She was also the Professional Skaters Association (PSA Coach of the Year in 2007. We are so fortunate to have her expertise and vision for our upcoming season.

2012 SCB Workshop & Tryout Brochure

Parent Fund Raising Opportunities - ARAMARK TRAINING

Schedule and Fees • Steel City Blades Workshop & Tryouts

GENERAL PRACTICE SESSION:  Friday, June 15 • 4–6:50 PM
The General Practice Session will go over various skating skills and focus on individual skill development necessary for synchronized team skating

Workshops: Saturday, June 16 • 8–10:50 AM
Workshops will focus on team development with synchronized skating elements, formations and footwork.

Tryout: Monday, June 18 • 4–6:20 PM
Teams for the 2012–13 Steel City Blades will be determined by the Coaching Staff.  Team placement and positions will be posted no later than one week after tryouts.

Workshop & Tryout Fee:
$90 on or before May 15; $104 after May 15

Parents’ Information Meetings

The parent meeting with the Skating Director & SCB Board will discuss tentative practice and competition schedules, and seasonal fees associated with joining the Steel City Blades synchronized skating teams. The Steel City Blades Board will discuss with parents the role of the SCB organization, fund-raising opportunities to defray team costs.

The parent meeting with Vicki Korn will address her role as the SCB synchronized skating team coordinator; USFS team levels, individual skater requirements and future opportunities for synchronized skaters.

From the Steel City Blades Parents to Prospective Parents:

Synchronized skating is an awesome sport that our kids love, and we love watching them learn new skating skills and develop into a synchronized team.  To help offset some of the costs of synchro, many of us earn credits by volunteering at concession stands at Pirates baseball games, Pitt and Steelers football games, and concerts at Heinz Field and First Niagara Pavilion through the Aramark Company......and we'd like to invite you to join us.  The credits you earn can be used for your own skater's synchronized skating expenses, such as ice time, coaching fees, and competition entry fees & hotels.  Plus, we'll have a lot of fun together! 

Why are we telling you this now, even before tryouts? 

In order to be eligible to earn the credits this year, you need to attend an Aramark training session in May or June.  Even if you are not sure right now whether your skater will join the team, please consider taking the training, since these are expected to be the last opportunities of 2012.  You'll then be eligible to earn credits this summer and fall (though you will be under no obligation to do so if you change your mind).  Many of us are able to use this volunteer program to offset 50% or more of our child's cost of synchro. 

Check out the dates, times and locations below.  You need to attend only ONE of the sessions listed.  There are a limited number of spaces available, so if you are interested, please contact Dana at dana.wettergreen@gmail.com for more information or to sign up. 

Training Dates, Times & Locations

Sunday, May 6th, Noon to about 3:30pm                              Location:  Heinz Field

Saturday, May 12th, 11:30am to about 3:00pm                   Location:  First Niagara Pavilion

Saturday, May 19th, Noon to about 3:30pm                         Location:  Heinz Field

Saturday, May 26th, 9:00am to about 12:30pm or 1:00pm to about 4:30pm           Location:  Heinz Field

Saturday, June 2nd, 9:00am to about 12:30pm or 1:00pm to about 4:30pm            Location:  Heinz Field

Saturday, June 16th, 9:00am to about 12:30pm or 1:00pm to about 4:30pm           Location:  Heinz Field (This one is during the synchro workshops)

What Is Synchronized Skating?

Synchronized skating is the fastest growing segment of figure skating. Best described as "Rockettes on Ice," it is the least expensive form of competitive figure skating. A synchronized skating team consists of 8 to 20 members skating in unison to a choreographed program set to music. Programs are performed in front of judges during competitions.

Synchronized skating is a fun and rewarding experience for skaters of all ages. It is the newest and fastest growing discipline in the sport of figure skating. Since team skating first appeared in the late 1950s at the University of Michigan, synchronized skating has now become an international sport. U.S. teams now compete with teams from around the world. Synchronized skating is slated to be an Olympic sport in future Winter Games.

Synchronized skating is all about teamwork. A synchronized skating team consists of 8 to 20 members, skating various formations and steps in unison to a choreographed program set to music. The objective is for the team to skate as one unit rather than as individuals. Programs are performed in front of judges during competitions and in ice show exhibitions.

Synchronized skating also benefits figure skaters in the development of their singles skating by enhancing on-ice performance and overall skating development.

Synchronized skating offers you the opportunity to participate in a group activity and make new friends, while sharing in the experience, energy and camaraderie of a team sport.

Team skating is not just for beginners. Many top U.S. athletes are also team skaters. Team skating provides conditioning along with additional skills not taught in normal figure skating sessions. Skaters become stronger while improving posture and style.

The RMU Island Sports Center's Steel City Blades are Greater Pittsburgh's first competitive synchronized skating teams. In addition to competitions, the teams skate in exhibitions and ice shows, and perform during intermission at hockey games and other events.

Skater who wish to join the Steel City Blades must meet the skating level prerequesites for tryouts and joining the team. 

Steel City Blades Skater's Requirements
Skaters with little or no synchronized skating experience should be at least 7 years old and have passed the ISI Delta Level and/or USFS Pre-Preliminary Field Move Test and/or have permission from the synchronized skating director. Skaters will be placed in groups based on the listed prerequisites for the red and blue groups.  Group placement will not determine or guarantee the team on which the skater will be placed following tryouts. It simply assists the coaches in evaluating skaters to determine the best team placement.

Steel City Blades Practice Schedule
The Steel City Blades practice at the RMU Island Sports Center on late Sunday afternoons, from September 2012 through March 2013. The Steel City Blades Teams practice two additional evening per month, plus one or two Saturday mornings per month when necessary.

Steel City Blades web site:    www.steelcityblades.org