why northernettes synchro?

"Something I love most about synchronized skating is the opportunity to share my passion for the sport of figure skating alongside 20+ other high level skaters in a competitive team setting. Synchro brings a whole new challenge and commitment to skating, and I have loved every single second of it. After only skating individually for so many years, it has been such a great experience getting to skate as a team with all of my new friends and reaching goals together. Also, I love seeing how much progress we have made since the start of the season, and it just makes me more excited to see where all of our hard work will take us! Alana has helped shape my passion for the sport in so many ways, one being that she works so hard to make us the very best skaters and teammates that we can be. Alana pushes all of us to come to every practice ready to work hard and improve. She has also helped create a very positive environment both on and off the ice by holding productive and enjoyable practices and putting together fun, inclusive team-bonding events. Seeing her passion and dedication for synchronized skating and the Northernettes organization makes us all more appreciative of the sport and everything she does for us.
 For me, being a Northernette means getting to be a part of something so much bigger in the figure skating world than just skating to accomplish personal goals. You become part of this special synchro family where everyone encourages and supports one another, as you all learn and grow together as a team. As a Northernette, we are all dedicated, responsible individuals both on and off the ice. All of us are proud to represent our team name, we work together to set goals, and we work hard and challenge each other in practice. We have fun and look forward to experiencing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The most rewarding part of being a Northernette is seeing how all of our hard work unfolds throughout the season!" 

alison

---

"Previous to joining the Northernettes, I spent nearly ten years testing and competing individually. Even with all of the achievements and lessons I have learned through my individual training, nothing has compared to the things I have experienced and accomplished as a part of the Northernettes Junior Team. Being on such a close-knit team taught me how to be more efficient and responsible in a group setting. The team has also pushed me to rely on and completely trust the people around me, helping me grow as a teammate and as a skater. I have become much more outgoing and confident in myself, and I am no longer hesitant to be a leader both on and off the ice. It is such an amazing opportunity to be able to take the lessons I have learned from being on the Northernettes and apply them to my everyday life."
 
Alana has fueled my passion for synchronized skating to lengths that I did not even know were possible. Over the past two years I have become completely captivated by the sport and what it has to offer. Alana helped make my introduction into synchronized skating as incredible and memorable as possible, teaching me not only about how the sport works, but about all of the incredible lessons of unity and love that come with it. She creates the perfect balance of being a caring and helpful coach while also pushing us to be the best we can be. Her work ethic is unparalleled, as she stops at nothing to help us go above and beyond our standards. She is truly one of my biggest role models, and I have never loved and cherished skating more than I do now, thanks to Alana.​

The Northernettes organization is incredibly welcoming to new athletes coming from all backgrounds of skating. Soon after joining the organization, I began to look forward to every practice and event because of how much fun it was trying new things skating with my team. Throughout my first year, I realized that I was no longer only skating for myself, but for each and every one of my teammates and coaches who had, over the season, become my family. There is no better feeling than stepping on the ice at the U.S. National Championships and being so proud of everything you have done as a skater and as a team to get where you are. Together, as one, we push through our challenges and celebrate our victories, and we do it purely for each other, our coaches, and the people who support our organization. I am so glad I joined synchro, and I would not trade it for the world." 

Ava

---

"Competitive synchro and being on this team has really shown me how many people share the same love as me. Being on the ice with everyone is like being surrounded by your own little support system. Everyone is so supportive of each other both on and off the ice. 

From the little time I've known Alana, she has already taught me so much. She's taught me what a team truly means and how fast they become like your second family. She's taught me to never settle for average and to keep pushing to improve your singles skating as well as your synchronized skating skills. Her passion for synchro only pushes the team more and more to become better. Seeing how much time and effort she puts into her synchro teams it seems unfair of us to not give it our all and hold ourselves accountable to high standards. Not only that, but Alana's passion towards synchro just radiates and makes you want to better yourself. 

I just want all those accomplished skaters out there wondering about synchro to know how fun synchro is and how worth it it is. It's not like single skating where it's just you, you're a part of a second family. I drive over an hour to every practice and it has been SO worth it! Being on a competitive team and having the opportunity to travel all around the world makes the practices worthwhile. I'm so grateful for the team and how much support they give you no matter what!" 

paige

---

"Competitive synchronized skating has impacted my life is so many ways on and off the ice. Synchro has given me the opportunity to be part of a team in a sport I really love and enjoy doing. This sport has made me fall in love with skating in a different way than with individual skating because I get to skate for a team and I have more purpose to skate for my friends/ teammates. I have taken so many life skills away from synchro.

Alana has taught me how to work together with a team. She has also helped me become a part of an amazing sport that I continue to love more every year. Her passion for the sport, along with my other coaches, has made me strive to continue to improve my synchro skills. Their passion has also inspired me to want to work my hardest so our team can continue to improve and meet our goals.

I have enjoyed every minute of being a Northernette. The teams all have amazing people and they are all so kind. I have made so many friends and I am so happy to be on the Northernettes. The coaches are great and they push us to constantly improve and make corrections. They really want us to succeed and there passion for the sport is really inspiring and makes the team work hard to make them proud." 

anika

---