The AquaStars Blog - BSC AquaStars Synchronised Swimming

What do I Wear?!

14/9/2015

Competition costumes are not exactly found on the high street... or are they?
Synchro costumes come in all shapes/sizes/colours/materials/price points.
Similar to a costume worn on stage, they should be in good moral taste, vibrant, thematic and essentially help tie in the elements which get judged under Artistic Impression - choreography, music interpretation and especially manner of presentation.

Here at the AquaStars we have been fortunate enough to find our "costume lady" just around the corner and she has made our two competing teams bespoke competition costumes for the 2015 season.

I have done a bit of research and found a variety of other sources for competition costumes should anyone like to have a nosey round varying from custom made options to online shops and not to mention all the usual high street shops which sell swimming costumes that might fit your routine theme.
(hint: click on title and it will take you to the website)

UK

Selkie Swimwear
-          Custom made synchro costumes by coach at Henley synchro

Mr Frog Dance Wear
-          Custom orders but also carry a stock range of synchro costumes

Fit4Swimming

SwimShop

Pro Swim Wear

Speedo Store

Simply Swim

US

Dolfin Swimwear
-          ships worldwide – free with orders over $75

Action Fit
-          custom made

Dazzle It Designs
-          custom made by lady in California who does it as a hobby

Queen of Spandex

Swim Outlet.com

Bonus: Triflare
-         The company which is currently sponsoring/outfitting the US National Team with their 2016 Rio competition costumes

Let me know if you found any others or perhaps you make synchro costumes and want to be included!

Lenka x

Synchro Reads

11/8/2015

The below is a compilation of synchro related blogs/websites for a nice dose of summer reading. Enjoy!

The Online Synchro Coach
Written by Vanessa Keenan
WEB: http://theonlinesynchrocoach.ca/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheOnlineSynchroCoach?fref=ts

Lenka’s Notes: Canadian based Vanessa’s blog has been around since 2013. Her posts are really useful certainly from a coaching perspective but also for breaking down different skills/techniques etc.

Synchronized Swimming Channel
Written by Leilani Torres
WEB: http://synchronizedswimmingblog.com/blog/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/synchroblog

Lenka’s Notes: Leilani is from Puerto Rico but has lived almost everywhere doing/coaching synchro! She also regularly interviews the best synchro swimmers in the world.

ESynchro
Written by Carol Valles, Duke Zielinski, Karen and Sarah Josephson
WEB: http://esynchro.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/esynchro?fref=ts

Lenka’s Notes: ESynchro is based in the US and is a one-stop shop for synchro resources including digital CDs on improving figures, synchro merchandise and coaching tools. The website updates weekly with useful tips and tricks called “Tuesday Synchro Tips” and “Friday Sync Fun”. There are LOTS of useful pictures found here!

What Should Synchro Swim Call Me
WEB: http://whatshouldsynchroswimcallme.tumblr.com/

Lenka’s Notes: A fun tumblr of synchro related photos and topics.

Synchro Fitness
Written by Jessie Fox and Liz Fitzsimons
WEB: http://synchrofitness.com/blog/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/synchrofitness

Lenka’s Notes: Founded in 2014 by Jessie and Liz, synchro fitness is a water fitness class based around synchro aimed at older swimmers (aka 20+). They started near Brighton but have an academy for instructors to learn and teach these sessions all across the UK.

Aqualillies
WEB: http://www.aqualillies.com/blog
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aqualillies/315260815022

Lenka’s Notes: The “Lillies” were already mentioned in my post about professional synchro groups, but they also have a cute little blog of activities/parties they are up to. A very glamour filled look at the sport.

CLUB SPECIFIC BLOGS

ANA Synchro (USA)
WEB: http://anasynchro.org/COOL-STUFF/BLOG/
FACEBOOK: http://anasynchro.org/COOL-STUFF/FACEBOOK/

Lenka’s Notes: Includes explanations about things like tech duets, gelatin, combo routines etc. Also includes useful tips for training.

Lenka x

PS - I hope to update a bit more regularly... promise!

Skill Level 2

1/4/2015

Hi Everyone,

Last weekend we had 2 of our AquaStars successfully pass their Skill Level 1... which means they will want to start training for their Skill Level 2!

Here is a list of all the current Skill Level 2 Skills:

1. Travelling Eggbeater w/ trailing arm up
2. Kick Pull Kick Over (10metres)
3. Fishtail showing Support Scull
4. Inverted tuck to Vertical (w/ bottles)
5. Reverse Scoop Scull into Pike
6. Ballet leg
7. Split position to Vertical at ankles
8. Back Layout to Surface Arch showing Split Scull
9. Front Pike to Fishtail to Vertical (w/ bottles)
10. Head First Dive
11. Split (Right or Left) = compulsory
12. Prone Plank Position (on land)

Click HERE to read a breakdown of what the Skill Assessor is looking for and (hopefully!) ticking off for EACH of the above Skills.

Next week I'll explain all the FIGURE groups!

Lenka

12Under FIgures / 13-14-15 Figures

4/3/2015

Hi Everyone,

I have been a bit belated in writing this post, and it's because I have been distracted reading various synchro blogs which seem to be have been popping up recently! They are all worth a read, so I will collate the ones I find and pop a list in a different post on here.

But onto Age Group Figures!
Figures are usually performed individually at a Figure Competition mainly within the Competitive Strand. Therefore, as our AquaStars are so new to competing in this sport, it is unlikely we will be entering the competitive strand in this competitive year. However, it's never too early to work on figures, which is why we currently spend at least a part of our Sunday and Thursday sessions training them.

So what is a FIGURE?
According to the FINA Handbook a figure is "a combination of basic body positions and transitions, performed in a manner and order as prescribed by the FINA handbook rule descriptions".

How do we train FIGURES?
There are 8 figures under each Age Group. The Age Group breakdown is as follows:
1) Senior, Junior, Age Group 16-18yrs old
2) 13-15yrs old
3) 12&Under

What FIGURES do our AquaStars need to train?
12Under Figures:
1) Ballet Leg Single (Compulsory)
2) Barracuda (Compulsory)
3) Oceanita (Group 1)
4) Surface Prawn (Group 1)
5) Kip (Group 2)
6) Walkover Front (Group 2)
7) Tower (Group 3)
8) Swordfish Straight Leg (Group 3)

13-14-15 Figures:
1) Ariana (Compulsory)
2) Barracuda Spinning 360 (Compulsory)
3) Heron (Group 1)
4) Catalina (Group 1)
5) Porpoise Spin Up 180 (Group 2)
6) Flamingo Bent Knee (Group 2)
7) Albatross 1/2 Twist (Group 3)
8) Side Fishtail Split (Group 3)

3) What are COMPULSORY FIGURES?
When swimmers compete at a Figure competition, only 4 of the 8 figures are performed individually in front of a panel of judges.
Amongst the 8 Figures trained are 2 Figures which will be performed at every Figure competition (aka compulsory) and then 6 other figures which are divided into three groups with two figures in each group.
For Example: At one competition you might do 12Under compulsory figures (Ballet Leg Single and Barracuda) and 12Under Group 2 figures (Kip and Walkover Front). At a different competition you might do 12Under compulsory figures (Ballet Leg Single and Barracuda) and 12Under Group 3 figures (Tower and Swordfish Straight Leg).

For a specific breakdown (with visuals!) of what each figure is... click HERE... pages 48 to 51.

Lenka x

Skill Level 1

17/2/2015

Hi Everyone,

We are now in the thick of training hard for competitions and for Skills, and since the coaches keep throwing around various names of figures and skills elements, I wanted to do a little blog post clarifying which is which!

SKILLS - All AquaStars are currently classified as Skill 0 and we are all together working on our Skill Level 1.
There are 12 total skills within Skill Level 1 that each swimmer is training and will need to individually demonstrate before a Skill Assessor at a Skill Assessment Day.

1. (Right or Left) Split on land - This is a compulsory pass which means if you can't do your split you can't pass your Level 1!
2. (Right or Left) Ballet leg with bottles
3. Stationary back layout (5secs) and then head first travel on back for 5 metres
4. Back tucked somersault
5. Hanging vertical
6. Straight arm back crawl to music 1 width, max 10 metres
7. Front layout followed by prone position travelling 3 metres using rev scoop scull
8. Support scull on side of pool or with woggle
9. Long sitting against a wall demonstrating fully extended knees
10. Stationary eggbeater
11. Torpedo scull 8 metres
12. Pike fall

Click HERE to read a breakdown of what the Skill Assessor is looking for and (hopefully!) ticking off for EACH of the above Skills.

Next week I'll explain all the FIGURE groups!

Lenka x

Synchro as a Profession

27/1/2015

I am SOOOO happy to say that the physical skills of synchronised swimmers are being utilized more and more in a professional (aka PAID) capacity. When I was growing up, the prospects for former synchro swimmers were either to continue swimming recreationally as Masters synchro swimmers, to go into coaching, or to leave behind the sport altogether.
I have been very fortunate recently to have been cast in a TV advert for Kuoni Travel because they needed the skills of a synchro swimmer.
Not only did I get a nice little paycheck, but I was also given the chance to travel to the beautiful Maldives to film the advert.
Before my Kuoni "fame" :) my synchro skills were also utilized professionally on an episode of Celebrity Come Dine with Me, at a Hair Magazine award show and at a private party.

There are now professional groups of former synchro swimmers popping up everywhere, including the UK! Take a look at some of them below and let me know if there are any others I'm missing out.

Aquabatix (London, England)
Aqualillies (started in Los Angeles, but now have Lillies in Miami, New York, Las Vegas and in Canada!)
AquaBeauties (Las Vegas, USA)
AquaArtist (started in Los Vegas, but now have Artists in Los Angeles, San Francisco, but also Italy, France, China, Japan!)
AJ Show (Russia)

You never know AquaStars... you might just end up travelling the world thanks to your synchro skills!

Lenka x

Girl Power!

22/1/2015

Let me just start by saying that the AquaStars welcome girls and BOYS into our team, but I just wanted to highlight a couple of campaigns that have launched recently which are all about that beautiful thing called GIRL POWER!

Glamour Magazine "Say No to Sexism" campaign.
These are the three main aims of the campaign... and how brilliant would it be if they achieved this!?

Raise the profile of women's sport
Lobby for more coverage in mainstream media
Increase the number of women involved in sport at every level - from those who watch it, to those playing it, all the way to those in the boardroom

http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/news/features/2014/12/glamour-campaign-say-no-to-sexism-in-sport
#GlamourSport

Sport England's "This Girl Can" campaign
Aimed at older girls/women, this campaign is a celebration of active women up and down the country who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets.

www.thisgirlcan.co.uk
@ThisGirlCanUK

Inspiring Women in Sport
This campaign wants to connect professional sports women whether athletes or working within sport to connect with girls in state schools about how to start a professional career in sport.

www.inspiringthefuture.org

Lenka x

ROUTINES - A Breakdown of the Different Types

9/1/2015

A synchronised swimming routine combines a series of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music. Swimmers use gelatin to set their hair in place and secure it with hair grips. A headpiece is worn to match a sparkly/themed costume.

Athletes perform routines that can be anything from two and a half minutes to five minutes long, depending on whether they perform alone or part of a team. The different types of routines are:

SOLO - Performed by 1 swimmer and they need to be synchronised with the music.
DUET - Performed by 2 swimmers.
TEAM - Performed by a minimum of 4 swimmers, but up to 8 swimmers.
- In the Team event, clubs lose points for every swimmer under the full complement of 8. This is because it is harder to synchronise with more swimmers
COMBINATION TEAM or "COMBO" - Performed by a minimum of 4 swimmers, but up to 10 swimmers.
- During a Combo routine, there are sections whereby a solo, duet or trio of swimmers can breakaway from the "pack" to be highlighted.

Solos, Duets and Teams can also be distinguished as TECHNICAL routines or FREE routines.
The main difference is that a TECHNICAL routine is shorter and there are required elements that need to be performed throughout the routine. Most of the routine is completely synchronised unless a cadence or feature (aka lift) is required. A FREE team means that all swimmers do not have to be synchronised the whole time allowing for more artistic "freedom" whereby more than one feature can be performed.

If you want to read a little bit more about Synchro Routines, click HERE

Lenka x

6 Week Taster - DONE!

14/12/2014

All three AquaStars coaches are SO PROUD of all the swimmers who took part in the 6 Week Taster Course. All of the girls have worked very hard and got to show off their mini-routine this past Saturday with big smiles and even bigger lifts! Here are a couple of pictures from the final session. We also thank the lovely Gemma Broad of Rugby Synchro for coming in and performing her solo for the girls! I'm sure she's given the girls lots of inspiration and aspiration!

PS. Apologies as I am a pretty rubbish photographer! If there is anyone who would like to take on this role for the AquaStars, then please let me know!
Likewise, if any parents took some more photos during the session, then please email them to me - bscaquastars@hotmail.com
Thanks, Lenka

UK Synchro Clubs

10/12/2014

Unlike in the US, in the UK, Synchronised Swimming is not an individual organization with its own website/branding/hub of information. To find relevant and targeted information, you have to try and explore the ASA website and the British Swimming website which can be quite tricky whether you know what you're looking for or just browsing!

In my research before starting the AquaStars, I wanted to find out about other synchro clubs in the UK for guidance, inspiration and just due to my general curiosity. I couldn't find a comprehensive listing of synchro clubs anywhere... so I've made my own!

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LISTING OF UK SYNCHRO CLUBS

PS - If I've left off a club... apologies! Send me details and I'll add you!