If you’re anything like me, the thought of ice-skating will fill you with a complex mixture of the anticipation of fun, and nerves for falling over onto a slippery frozen surface surrounded by orbiting blades. This means it’s actually quite fun when you get past the first few nervous strides and begin to glide over the ice with renewed confidence.
Until you fall.
The good news is that even after that first fall you realise that it isn’t all that bad, all fingers are still firmly attached and injuries are minimal. It is because of the casual difficulty that ice skating represents to most people that when you see people with outrageous amounts of talent, it can be truly awe-inspiring.
And if you think seeing one person skate with skill is amazing, you should see how jaw-dropping a group of sixteen synchronized skaters can be.
I present to you, the number 1 ranked synchronized skating team in the world, Russia’s team “Paradise”.
Team Paradise are a truly incredible group of skaters, with nearly supernatural precision.
If you need proof of their prowess, this video of their World Synchro Helsinki competition is just that. After they take their places in the center of the ice, they begin their amazing routine. Even from the very beginning they move in complete synchronicity, each skater moving precisely in time with every other skater.
It must have been no small feat to choreograph this magnificent spectacle.
You’d have to direct the skaters from a crane, as the only way you can fully appreciate the formations and the synchronicity would be from above and from some distance.
I don’t even want to think how much rehearsal this takes!
The skaters seem effortless in their moves, and they are tricky moves indeed! Whole lines of spinning skaters merge with others without touching, and hey all seem to glide across the ice as if it’s second nature. They are all so truly elegant that the effect is that of complete control and skill.
The choreography will often diversify.
Sometimes they split up into smaller groups who synchronize within themselves, or the whole group of sixteen skaters will all move in unison. They attempt some rather high-flying moves as well! They do lifts and swings and spins, and all sorts of mind boggling moves. If you think skating is hard just by yourself you should try holding someone up above your head while you do it.
And the audience agrees too!
They all begin clapping in time with the music, goading the skaters on in support. It’s clear that this team has a huge amount of support from their crowd. Even thought they are in Helsinki, Finland and not in their home country, it is obvious that they have the global recognition they deserve.
No wonder they are three time world champions!
Such elegance and control with everything they do! They sometimes seem to be not so much a group of people, but an undulating symmetrical pattern of incredible coordination.
Watch the full video below to enjoy this fantastic display of skill!
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