Team USA Kicks off Synchronized Skating Season with Two Silver Medals at California Cup 2019

Team USA earned two medals at California Cup 2019 in Irvine, California, the inaugural event of the Challenger Series Synchronized Skating. The Haydenettes claimed the silver medal in the senior competition while the Skyliners captured silver in the junior competition on Saturday night at Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena.

The Haydenettes kicked off the competition with a first-place short program, scoring 72.77 points. In their program to "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion, the 2019 U.S. champions earned Level 4 marks for three elements and received positive Grades of Execution over 1.20 points across the board. In their ‘80s-themed free skate, the Massachusetts-based team earned 130.83 points with four Level 4 elements to secure the silver medal with 203.60 total points. Their performance was highlighted by a Level 4 no-hold-step sequence combination.

Also in the senior competition, the Skyliners finished fifth with a total score of 182.22 points. The 2019 U.S. runner ups finished fifth in the short program receiving 61.25 points for their warrior-themed skate and earning a Level 4s for their no-hold element and traveling circle. They went on to score 120.97 points in their free skate to a Queen medley, which included two Level 4 elements.

The Helsinki Rockettes of Finland grabbed the senior title with 211.57 points and Canada’s Les Supremes earned bronze with 191.58 points.

Coming off a third-place finish at the 2019 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships, the Skyliners kicked off the 2019-20 season with a silver medal in the junior competition. The 2019 U.S. junior champions won the short program with their performance to “Memories” from Cats, earning a Level 4 mark for their no-hold element and all positive Grades of Execution to notch 62.63 points. The New York-based team went on to finish second with their Moulin Rouge free skate, earning 118.54 points for the program for a total score of 181.17. They were awarded Level 4s for four elements, including their synchronized spin.

Also in the junior competition, the Starlights finished fourth overall with a total score of 132.25. Skating to two Cinderella-themed programs, the Chicago-based team earned 55.25 points and finished third in the short program. Their free skate received three Level 4 marks for their move element, synchronized spin and no-hold element to tally 77.00 points.

Finland’s Mystique earned the junior title with 185.24 points and Canada’s Nexxice claimed the bronze medal with 154.35 points.

The full junior and senior competition will be available on-demand on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone.

Results