The iceSheffield Ice Arena has been announced as the venue for an international synchronized skating competition to be held in South Yorkshire!
Hosted by the rink’s own Sheffield Synchronized Skating Academy (SSSA), the inaugural Steel City Trophy is set to attract world-class teams from far and wide as they compete in up to 15 different categories.
Head Coach Amanda Hembrow-Jones explains more about the competition, and why this is such an important event for Sheffield:
“Synchronized skating is a worldwide sport, but there is currently only one other international competition during the season that’s held in the UK. If synchro skating is ever to make it into the Winter Olympics, we need to raise the profile of the sport on the worldwide stage... and where better to do it from than Sheffield?
“Sheffield is the ideal location for visiting teams – it has good airport links and accommodation options, is close to the beautiful Peak District and has a wide range of things to do outside of the competition itself. We love our home city and hope our visitors fall in love with it too!
“The iceSheffield Ice Arena is a great venue, with an Olympic-sized competition rink and spectator seating for up to 1,500 visitors. Home to the Sheffield Steeldogs Ice Hockey team and the Steelkings sledge hockey team, it already hosts a wide range of skating competitions – so we thought it was about time we put synchronized skating on the map!
“Synchro is such a beautiful sport to watch, with teams of between 8 and 16 skaters working in unison to perform intricate moves and shapes. Our own Sheffield teams are working hard as we enter the new season, and it’s great to be able to host our very own international competition, with the support of the venue management team and SIV.”
Amanda continues:
“The SSSA is a not-for-profit sports club, so everyone involved with organising the competition is volunteering their time. We have a great committee and parental support within the team, and when I floated the idea of the competition at our AGM earlier this year, I was overwhelmed at the positive response.
“Our aim is for the Steel City Trophy to become a regular date in the synchro calendar for teams all over the world, as it’s an ideal lead up to the World Synchronized Skating Championships, which are held in April each year.”
There are other benefits to hosting a competition which includes teams at the top of their game, as Amanda explains:
“I love seeing the faces of our own team members, especially the younger skaters, when they are able to watch world-class synchro teams perform – it’s truly inspirational and gives them something to aspire to themselves. Synchronized skating is an art form; when teams are perfectly in time together, it can be mesmerising to watch.”
Amanda is hoping this event also captures the imagination of the local Sheffield community:
“Members of the public will be able to buy tickets to the event, which will be held over two days on 8th and 9th March 2019. We’re also looking for local companies to get behind the competition – we have a range of sponsorship opportunities and their support will help us to cover the substantial costs involved in arranging such a competition.
More information about the Steel City Trophy can be found on the SSSA website at www.sheffield-synchro-skating.co.uk/steel-city-trophy or by contacting the Committee by email at steelcitytrophy@sheffield-synchro-skating.co.uk. You can also join the event on Facebook – search Steel City Trophy.