Synchronized Figure Skating
By: Alana Courier
Many people don’t know about figure skating and the different kinds of skating there are. My name is Alana Courier, and I have been a figure skater for 10 years. When I was 6 years old, my mom wanted to put me into a sport, so instead of playing soccer or gymnastics, I became a figure skater. Obviously, when I first started out I was terrible; but I kept at it. I fell in love with the sport in midst of all the falling and ice burns. I was a singles skater for about 5 years and then learned about synchronized figure skating. I started out doing singles and synchro at the same time, but eventually drifted off into the world of synchro. I made so many great friends and memories along the way. My first official synchronized skating team was the Ice’Kateers and I was on the open juvenile team. The year after that, I joined the Intermediate team on California Gold. I skated on that team for about four years and quickly worked my way up to the top. Now I am, once again, on the Ice’Kateers senior team. It has been such a privilege skating with so many wonderful and experienced skaters. This 2012-'13 season, we skate two programs. The Short Program music consists of Staying Alive and My Boogie Shoes and the Long Program music is to the theme song at Sea World. Our practices are on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Each morning I wake up at 3:45 am, and on Wednesdays I train with a coach after school. Though waking up is tough, I get to look forward to being with people that I love and I look forward on getting to see the world. We travel domestic and international. I have been on Team USA for 3 years, and with that title, I get to spend a week anywhere in the world once a year. This year, my team and I are going to Rouen, France to compete in the French Cup. We will be competing against top teams from all over the world. Being on Team USA is hard work and it’s earned, not issued.
Many people don’t know about figure skating and the different kinds of skating there are. My name is Alana Courier, and I have been a figure skater for 10 years. When I was 6 years old, my mom wanted to put me into a sport, so instead of playing soccer or gymnastics, I became a figure skater. Obviously, when I first started out I was terrible; but I kept at it. I fell in love with the sport in midst of all the falling and ice burns. I was a singles skater for about 5 years and then learned about synchronized figure skating. I started out doing singles and synchro at the same time, but eventually drifted off into the world of synchro. I made so many great friends and memories along the way. My first official synchronized skating team was the Ice’Kateers and I was on the open juvenile team. The year after that, I joined the Intermediate team on California Gold. I skated on that team for about four years and quickly worked my way up to the top. Now I am, once again, on the Ice’Kateers senior team. It has been such a privilege skating with so many wonderful and experienced skaters. This 2012-'13 season, we skate two programs. The Short Program music consists of Staying Alive and My Boogie Shoes and the Long Program music is to the theme song at Sea World. Our practices are on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Each morning I wake up at 3:45 am, and on Wednesdays I train with a coach after school. Though waking up is tough, I get to look forward to being with people that I love and I look forward on getting to see the world. We travel domestic and international. I have been on Team USA for 3 years, and with that title, I get to spend a week anywhere in the world once a year. This year, my team and I are going to Rouen, France to compete in the French Cup. We will be competing against top teams from all over the world. Being on Team USA is hard work and it’s earned, not issued.