Lauren Baron
BRANT NEWS

After eight years working toward the goal, the Brant Crystal Formations synchronized skating team took home home its first ever gold.

“It was a big achievement for us,” said team member and founder Judy O’Donoghue. “We were all crying. It felt really good. When we watched the video (replay) it was impressive.”

The team won gold at the Synchro Capers competition in Newmarket in January with their program Disco Divas, skating to a mashup of disco songs including the Peaches and Herb hit Shake Your Groove Thing. The competition was open to skating clubs from across southwestern Ontario.

The Crystal Formations beat out nine teams to take first place.

“It was exciting,” said team coach Taina Lickers. “I have pride in the team and their work ethic and determination over the years to push themselves. They are successful because they are committed.”

The team will compete at the Ontario regional championships in Kingston next weekend, when they will test their program against teams from across the province vying for a qualifying spot in the national competition, to be held in Prince Edward Island.

“I’m feeling confident,” Lickers said. “Normally, I’m a very nervous coach, but going into the last competition I slept well and didn’t have any nerves. I’ve never felt that way before. With the provincial competition, I’m not nervous. I know they can perform.”

While she hopes the team will qualify for nationals, it’s likely it will not attend the national competition due to the expense involved in travelling to Prince Edward Island. But getting that qualifying spot is still the No. 1 goal.

“Now that they’ve had a taste of winning, it’s very important to carry on with that,” said team manager Janet Clarke. “Qualifying for nationals is a goal for us.”

Synchronized skating is a team sport consisting of eight to 20 skaters on the ice at one time, skating as one. Brant Crystal Formations is made up of 16 women aged 25 to 48 from Brantford and County of Brant. The team practices two hours a week from September to November, upping the practice hours to four hours a week from December to February.

Leading up to the regional competition, the team has upped it’s practice time to seven hours a week to ensure members are in top shape.

“They are all former skaters,” Clarke said. “They do this to carry on with skating because once you’re a figure skater it’s in your blood and you can’t let go.”

For Lesley Stouffer, the camaraderie synchronized skating offers is what keeps her going.

“I truly love it,” Stouffer said. “I just like spending time with the girls. It keeps me young and it keeps me in shape. It’s a team sport. It’s not just you out there. Everyone has to work together to make it work.”

The Brant Crystal Formations will hold a Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Night Fundraiser to help cover team costs on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Best Western Brant Park Inn. Tickets are available from any member, at the Best Western or any Scotiabank branch in Brantford.

Visit www.crystalformationssynchro.weebly.com for more information about the Brant Crystal Formations.