(January 26, 2004)

It was a successful two days of competition for Canadian synchronized skating teams at the 2004 Skate Canada International Synchronized Skating Competition.

The event, which was held Jan. 15-16 at Mississauga, Ont.’s Hershey Centre, featured some of the top senior and junior-level synchronized skating teams in the world.

In the senior event, Marigold Ice Unity, of Finland, who won the silver medal at the 2003 World Synchronized Skating Championships, took home the gold medal. Marigold Ice Unity skated two impressive performances, winning both the short program and the free skate. They were awarded marks ranging from 5.5 to 5.7 for technical merit and 5.7 to 5.8 for presentation for their free skate.

Capturing the silver medal were the reigning Canadian Synchronized Skating Champions, Les Suprêmes. Les Suprêmes, who won the bronze medal at the 2003 World Synchronized Skating Championships, also skated well, placing second in both the short program and the free skate. The judges gave them marks ranging from 5.2 to 5.4 for technical merit and 5.3 to 5.6 for presentation for their free skate.

Another Finnish team, the Rockettes, won the bronze medal.

Two other Canadian teams, Fusion and black ice, also competed in the event, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the junior event, the 2003 Canadian Synchronized Skating Junior Champions, Gold Ice, placed first in both the short program and the free skate to capture the gold medal.

Team Fintastic won the silver medal, while another Canadian team, Ice Image, took home the bronze medal.