FINLAND HOLD TOP 2 POSITIONS AFTER THE SHORT PROGRAM
Skating last, Helsinki Rockettes (FIN) delighted the home crowd with an assured performance that brought the house down at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2025. They scored a new season’s best of 79.49 points. Their routine to Laponie and Ma Terre Promise roused the packed arena with each successive element. In the end, there was no doubt that they would be in first place.
Aava Levijärvi and Vilma Lindström commented:
“It was our best performance – the best Rockettes routine – and just as we’ve been training recently. We managed to bring the same energy onto the ice. It was definitely the best performance of the season and the highest score of the season.
“There was a bit of nervousness in the air beforehand, but it did not affect our mood or what we brought to the competition ice. We were able to stay really relaxed and enjoy the day.
“We brought exactly what we had been training and we were able to do what we know how to do. We got to show that in front of our home crowd, which was absolutely amazing.
“The lead in the short program was definitely the position we were aiming for in this competition. We’re looking forward to tomorrow. I believe we’ll be able to maintain the same good atmosphere within our team.”
Team Unique (FIN) also managed a new season’s best of 77.31, despite a deduction because of a fall at the end of the traveling element and a slight stumble during the synchronized spin to take second place. Their short program to music by Eminem had the audience clapping in unison throughout.
Emilia Balistreri and Peppina Snygg commented:
“It was really focused and we were living in the moment. We were present on the ice and in our own bubble. In the end, there was an unfortunate fall, but otherwise it went really well.”
Team Haydenettes (USA) scored 76.53 to lie in third place with a very clean skate also achieving the highest levels in all their elements. The big upset was that the reigning World Champions, Team Les Suprêmes (CAN), which was arguably the favourites, could only manage 5th place with 68.50. They had an uncharacteristic fall right towards the end of the move element when one of the skaters lost her spiral position. This allowed their compatriots, Team Nova Senior (CAN) to take 4th place with a score of 69.27.
Going into the Free Skate tomorrow it looks as though Finland has a strong possibility to regain the title that has eluded the country for 7 years and it could end the 14 year hiatus for Team Helsinki Rockettes which last held the title in 2011. The dream of Team Les Suprêmes taking an unprecedented 4th consecutive title is now a remote possibility as they are 11 points off the lead and they may well struggĺe to make the podium.