Our synchronized skating teams have been performing in ice shows and competing in regional and nationally based competitions every season since 2010. Participants develop skating, teamwork and leadership skills. Fun and friendship are at the heart of every practice, show, competition and trip.

• Aspire 2 -Dawn Feest
• Aspire 4 - Delaney Gross
• Open Juvenile - Gary Shortland

Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a program together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs and ice dance, and is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior level perform a short program consisting of required elements.

There are so many benefits to participating in a team sport and synchronized skating is a great way for figure skaters to compete in a sport they love while enjoying all of the aspects of working with others in a team-oriented sport.

Team tryouts are held in Spring. Main and mini camps are held over the summer to develop team unity and learn choreography for the program of the coming season. From September through February, teams practice one to two times per week. Teams compete at three to five USFS sanctioned competitions held in North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states named by USFS as competition locations. Teams perform in three to five ice shows and exhibitions at the Pineville Ice House. Skaters and families enjoy social events such as our annual Carowinds trip, Meet Charlotte Synchro and an end of season banquet.

• Synchronized skaters continue with an active individual training and competition schedule throughout the synchronized skating season. Skaters are required to take skating classes and/or private lessons outside of team practices.  There are many levels at which synchronized skating teams compete. Higher level teams have minimum Moves In The Field test requirements.  A full list of all competition levels and more information about the sport is available on the US Figure Skating Synchronized Skating web page. 

Moves in the Field test requirements:

• Open Juvenile - Preliminary or higher (for the 2024-2025 season)
• Aspire 4 - No higher than Preliminary
• Aspire 2 - No higher than the Pre-preliminary

• Exhibitions
  • Once per month during Saturday Public Skating sessions.
  • November, December, January, and February.  Dates TBD.
• Winter Show
  • Figure Skating Club of Charlotte annual Winter Show is held the second Saturday of December.  Two Performances.

Weekly Saturday morning practices are held for all teams from June through February.  Some practices may be skipped due to holidays, performances and competitions.

• Aspire 2 -  Saturday mornings 90 minutes on ice followed by 30 minutes of off ice choreography, conditioning and video review.
• Aspire 4 -  Saturday mornings 90 minutes on ice followed by 30 minutes of off ice choreography, conditioning and video review.
• Open Juvenile -  Saturday mornings 90 minutes on ice followed by 30 minutes of off ice choreography, conditioning and video review.

Additional practices on Sundays or weekdays may be added for all teams as ice time and coach schedules permit during competition season.

Charlotte Synchro Mini and Main Camps are for skaters that have joined teams for the upcoming season.  Camps are used to develop team skills and learn choreography for the upcoming season.

• Mini Camps -  June 8-9   &  August 10-11
  • Saturday from 7:00 AM to 9:45 AM. Both weekends.
  • Sunday from 7:00 AM to 9:45 AM 
• Main Camp -  July 29 - August 2 | All teams. 
  • The detailed schedule will be listed on Sports Engine.

• Dr. Porter Synchro Classic, December 1-3, Ann Arbor MI. All Teams.
• Colonial Classic, January 5-7, Lowell MA. All Teams
• Reflections Synchro Invitational, February 17-19, Hershey PA. All Teams.

There are approximately 525 synchronized teams registered with U.S. Figure Skating, and nearly 5,000 athletes participate annually in the Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships. Many synchronized skaters continue competing on one of over 125 collegiate teams. Charlotte Synchro alumni currently skate for collegiate teams at Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Trine University (Indiana) and Miami University (Ohio).

• The Deposit is due within 72 hours of receiving an offer to participate on a team.
• Until the Team Fee is paid in full, skaters must have a Visa, MasterCard or Discover card number on file with the rink.  This card will be charged according to the payment schedule above.   Families may make the team payment with cash, a check or an alternate credit card, but this payment must be made 48 hours before the payment date to avoid the automatic charge.
• Skaters with past due balances may not be eligible to participate in team activities.
• Skater and family travel expenses are NOT included in the Team Fee.  Expenses typically include transportation, hotels and meals.  Skaters are required to stay in the same hotel as directed by Charlotte Synchro.  Skaters may be required to use group travel options such as flights or charter buses.

The Aspire Preliminary and Open Juvenile teams may designate Swing Spots per team.  A team with seventeen skaters, for example, may choreograph for and compete with sixteen skaters.  Like an understudy in live theater, the Swing skater ensures that a performance is not jeopardized in the event of an illness, injury or absence.  As a synchro team is only as strong as its weakest skater, the Swing spot also creates competition within the team and drives accountability for attendance, conduct during team practices and events, learning and executing a program, and training outside of team practices.  Swing spots are commonly and extensively used in synchro programs from beginner to elite levels.

The Swing skater may change throughout the season and may be named as late as immediately before taking the ice for a competition.  A Swing skater is required to travel to a competition since he or she could be called on to skate at any time.