Synergy History

Synergy History - From a Christmas Show to Team Synergy

Synergy is a new team and its own story is brief but as the senior team from Brisbane it inherits the history of one of the most dominant teams in Australian synchronized skating, the 'Corps de Patineurs'.

This is a brief history from the beginning.........

After a conversation with the then President of the Ice Skating Association of Australia, Kathy Hammond decided to have a look at this 'new' sport of precision skating...

More...

	1983 - The first half dozen or so kids took to the ice in public sessions in September and so began the first precision skating 'team' in Australia. The big debut was a Christmas Show routine. Soon precision had gathered a small crowd and was able to pay for its own ice time. Proposals for a national competition were in the wind. The team had by now a full compliment of keen skaters and was dubbed the "Corps de Patineurs". An unusual step was taken and the Queensland Precision Skating Club was formed solely for the purpose of supporting the "Corps de Patineurs".
	1984 - By now other teams in the major skating centres had come into existence and Australia's first national precision competition was held in Brisbane in conjunction with the National Figure Skating Championships. Brisbane's home team the "Corps de Patineurs" coached by Kathy Hammond won the inaugural competition. The team still contained a most of those kids who stepped out to 'skate precision' a year or so ago in a crowded public session. More on this Team
	1985 - It was now evident that the sport was not only growing in Australia but the standard was accelerating. In February the "Corps de Patineurs" as the first international precision team outside the North America competed in two events in both the USA and Canada. The team did very well and surprised many. The novelty of a team from 'down under' drew a lot of attention and drew standing ovations at all events. The first National Precision Championship took place in Melbourne later in the year. 1st place "Corps de Patineurs". More on this Team The International Tour
	1986 - Australia Day Competition, Canberra, mid summer in 35C heat but a cool 10C on the ice. It probably marked the beginning of Australian precision skating's hotest rivalry between Brisbane's "Corps de Patineurs" and Melbourne's "Ice Cadettes". The Cadettes later embarked on their first international tour with competitions in Canada and the US. A second national championship later that year in Adelaide confirmed the Corps ascendancy. More on this Team
	1987 - Nationals in Brisbane, a sellout crowd, home town advantage and another National Championship. By now the traditional skating public was taking more than just a passing interest in precision. They were coming to watch! This was the beginning of preparations for the North American tour. This time the team knew what they were getting into. Going international was not confined to Australian teams. The Tokyo Women's College made the first of its many tours to North America. More on this Team
	1988 - Off to the USA and Canada with competitions and exhibitions in Buffalo, Unionville, Fraser and Vancouver and a much better showing at all the events narrowly missing the finals on a couple of occassions. The novelty of teams from far away places in the USA and Canada still got peoples attention even though a Japanese team was becoming a regular visitor as well. Later in the year a 5th national title at Macquarie in Sydney. More on this Team The International Tour
	1989 - The 'Ode to Joy' skate in Perth at the National Championship is rated by the coach as probably the best unison the team had ever achieved to date (1999 ed.). It blitzed the oppostion and scored 5's at the state championships. These still stand as the best marks seen by the team. More on this Team
	1990 -Let's go Latin! Ice dance style became the rage with the Rhumba. Canterbury in Sydney gave the team its 6th National Championship. The tradition of a team 'anthem' started this year with Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath my Wings" dedicated to the coach by the team. Although its dedication got the team into trouble, but that's another story. More on this Team
	1991 - Gene Kelly eat your heart out! "Singin' in the Rain" in Canberra. The big two teams continued their rivalry with narrow margins in the scores. The "Corps de Patineurs" skates it's 7th National Championship victory and just as a bonus added the New Zealand National Ice Skating Championships as well. More on this Team
	1992 - After an amazing undefeated run of eight national wins the day finally came. The "Ice Cadettes" defeated their arch rivals. Ironically the "Corps de Patineurs" staged its most radical and innovative long program yet, "The Mission". The costume from that performance has become something of an icon for those who skated. Love it or hate it they still talk about 'that' program. More on this Team
	1993 - A home town advantage for the big fight back with "Mars, The Bringer of War" as the theme that set the scene for an emotional return to the winner's podium and their 8th National Championship. All the sweeter for the club as its Novice team, the Iceskateers, grabbed their first National Championship. More on this Team
	1994 - The unthinkable! No team. After the departure of some of the veterans it became clear there was not the experience nor the numbers to field a quality team and the hardest decision a coach ever has to make was made. There is always next year. In the meantime the club's new Junior Team "Espirit de Corps" made it's second appearance at the National Championships having debuted in 1993.
	1995 - The "Corps de Patineurs" survive to re-emerge this year in an effort to regain the Australian title. Still working to rebuild themselves it wasn't to be. The "Ice Cadette's" reaped the rewards of thos years of persistence and also enjoyed the experience of overseas competition. More on this Team
	1996 - The long trek west to Perth on the other side of Australia with the biggest team ever of 29 skaters. A well deserved second place but the writing was on the wall. The style and character of the Corps had to change in order to remain competitive. More on this Team
	1997 - With a new approach and a new style it was time to go international. The Spring Cup and the French Cup were big comps which would pit the Corps with the rapidly developing European teams. The first of the new breed of experienced young synchronized skaters made their debut on this tour. The team culture which had stood for over a decade was beginning to change forever. More on this Team
	1998 - The end of an era. The"Corps de Patineurs" had its last outing at the National Championships in Melbourne with an almost completely new line up. Most team members were now much younger and were long term synchronized skaters brought up through the club's skater development system. Never again will Australian competition announcers mispronounce the name "Corps de Patineurs!" It was almost a tradition in itself. Yee hah! More on this Team
	1999 - Synergy is happening! A new team, a new approach, new ideas....... fitter, younger, faster and more disciplined skaters. They train almost every day on and off the ice. The 'new' team regains the Australian Championship and earns a nomination to the 1st World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2000. No less than fourteen skaters from all over Australia auditioned to join Synergy for Worlds. Four 'interstaters' were finally selected to join the team. More on this Team
	2000 - Synergy placed 19th at the 2000 World Synchronized Skating Championships, Minneapolis, USA in April. A good performance for the team at its first world championships. At the 'Synergy Reception' celebrating the successful season it was announced Synergy had been awarded a scholarship by the ISU to support its continued development. The team were again successful at the Nationals gaining yet another title and another nomination to represent Australia. Three interstate skaters were subsequently selected to join the team. In a bold move by the club a skater from Canada was invited to join the team. More on Synergy 2000 Team Australia
	2001 - Helsinki, Finland played host to the 2001 World Synchronized Skating Championships. Life would not be normal on a synchro team without losing skaters and other things that conspire to make life difficult. Unexpected, falls in both programs left the team disappointed. They retained 19th position. Back to Australia for new programs, a guest spot in the Goodwill Games and preparation for the national Championships in December. The 2001 Awards night was a big affair and Synergy again qualifies and gains a nomination for the World Championships ahead of mounting competition. More on Synergy 2001 Team Australia
	2002 - Rouen, France is host to the 2002 World Synchronized Skating Championships and familiar ground for the team having competed in the same rink in 1997. Life would not be normal on a synchro team without losing skaters and the various other things that conspire to make life difficult. Unexpected, falls in both programs left the team disappointed. They retained 19th position. Back to Australia for new programs and preparation for the national Championships in December. Synergy again qualifies and gains a nomination for the World Championships ahead of mounting competition. Team Australia

� Synergy Synchronized Ice Skating Club Inc. of Brisbane, Australia.
Images and text published on this site are the property of SSISC Inc. or its members unless otherwise acknowledged.
Your are welcome to link to this site as you wish.