Skyliners Skate To 2020 Britannia Cup Win

From Skyliners Synchronized Skating

NOTTINGHAM, UK - Skyliners Synchronized Skating Team traveled across the Atlantic representing Team USA at their second international competition, the 2020 Britannia Cup, Jan. 11-12. Competing against teams from Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Great Britain, Skyliners Junior earned the top spot on the podium during the two-day event.

“I’m very proud of our team’s accomplishment,” said Josh Babb, Skyliners Head Coach and Director of Synchronized Skating. “We’ve worked hard, and we’ll continue as we head into some of the biggest competitions of the season - the French Cup and Nationals.”

Coming off their Gold medal at the 2019 Porter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan in December and their Silver medal at the California Cup in Irvine in November, Skyliners Junior headed to England with high hopes. The first night of the Britannia Cup, they performed their emotional short program set to “Memory,” and finished with a season high score of 63.87. The next night, they dazzled the crowd with their “Moulin Rouge” free skate, earning a total score of 176.15, putting them in first place.

Next up, Skyliners Junior will compete in Rouen, representing the United States at the French Cup, and then Providence, Rhode Island for the 2020 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. Their scores will determine if they will earn a spot at the 2020 World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in March. In the last two years, Skyliners Junior earned historic back-to-back World Medals - Silver in 2018 and Bronze in 2019.

Skyliners Synchronized Skating Team was established in 2001 by a group of parents who wanted to create the most competitive synchronized skating club in the tri-state area. In that first year, the team had three lines. Over the last 19 years, Skyliners has grown into one of the top synchronized skating teams in the country - now with 14 competitive lines, and 240+ skaters ranging in age from 5 to 26. While the majority of the skaters reside in the tri-state area, Skyliners also draws members from California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Finland. The tremendous growth and success of the team are attributed to the dedicated athletes, talented coaches and devoted Board members and parent volunteers who make Skyliners possible season after season.

About Synchronized Skating:
Synchronized skating consists of 8-20 highly skilled athletes performing a program on ice together, moving as one flowing unit at high speeds. It is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. There are approximately 600 synchronized teams and nearly 5,000 synchronized skaters in the United States alone, with elite competitions at both the national and international level. Although not currently an Olympic sport, there is significant movement toward including it at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Visit the Skyliners at www.skylinerssynchro.com to learn more about this successful team.