Olympics month continues! The 2018 Winter Games kicked off on February 9 in Pyeongchang, South Korea with plenty of exciting competition still to come. Today, we’re continuing our series on the talented figure skaters and hockey players who call the Kettering Ice Arena home. We talked to Christy Lemoine, a coach of Ice Force Synchronized Skating Team!
When was Ice Force started?
Ice Force has been skating at KIA for more than 20 years. In the beginning there was one adult team and one youth team, but they had different coaches. In 1999, the teams unified under a single coach and over the years grew into (as many as) four competitive teams. We have had teams compete in the following US Figure Skating divisions: Introductory, Beginner, Synchro Skills, Pre-Juvenile, Open Juvenile, Intermediate, Open Junior, Open Adult and Masters.
How many skaters are on each of the teams? How old are the youngest and oldest skaters?
This season, we have hosted four teams, three of which are competitive teams. The teams are Introductory (six members), Synchro Skills 3 (16 members), Open Juvenile (16 members) and Open Adult (10 members). The youngest skater is a member of the Introductory team at three years old; the oldest is a member of the Open Adult team at 35 years old.
Have many Ice Force skaters gone on to upper level/college synchro teams?
We have had more 20 skaters go on to compete in synchro at the following colleges: Ohio University, Ohio State University, Miami University, University of Michigan, Adrian College, Syracuse University, Liberty University, Lindenwood University and University of Illinois. Our current adult team is comprised of skaters who participated in synchro in college and have come back to form a team of veteran competitors.
As a coach, what do you enjoy most about working with Ice Force?
Many of our team skaters start on our youngest team and continue with the program through high school graduation. I love watching these young skaters grow as both skaters and people.
Do you think synchronized skating could become an Olympic sport in the future?
I would love to see synchronized skating become an Olympic sport someday. There is a movement in the skating world, hashtag WhyNotSynchro, pushing for this goal!
