(January 17, 2007)

black ice, the current Canadian synchronized skating senior national champions, is in Turin, Italy, to compete at the 2007 Winter Universiade, the World University Games. This will be the first time synchronized skating is included in this event and will be presented as a demonstration sport. The short program will be held on Saturday, January 20, and the free skate on Sunday, January 21.

Only university athletes are allowed to compete at Universiades. Winter and Summer Universiades are the second largest international sporting event in the world, and take place every two years. The event brings together the top athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 from universities around the world. The 2007 Winter Universiade opening ceremony took place today.

Synchronized skating fans will be happy to know this discipline's national championships are rapidly approaching. The 2007 BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Synchronized Championships will be held February 22-25, 2007 at the Centre Georges-Vézina in Chicoutimi, QC. Click here for the list of regional festivals of synchronized skating events held prior to the national championships.

Synchronized skating will also be getting additional attention later this year as Skate Canada will proudly host the 2007 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships March 28-31 in London, Ontario. This visibility will certainly attract more synchronized skating fans across the country and help the development of this discipline

black ice was crowned Canadian synchronized skating senior national champions in 2005 and 2006. Skate Canada wishes black ice good luck in Turin!

Skate Canada also wishes good luck to Gary Wong, the only Skate Canada singles skater, from the Vancouver Skating Club, and a student at Simon Fraser University, who is also in Turin competing in the men's category at the 2007 Winter Universiade.

Photo by Mark Jackson www.markjackson.ca