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"BATTLE STRUCTURE" FORMAT REVEALED Like the World Cup in soccer, teams will be placed into "starting groups" at competitions based on world standing points (when applicable). For example, three teams would make up Group 1 and three teams would compose Group 2. In round one/day one, each team will perform a 3:30 program to a prescribed theme. This year it's a "street dance" program. Teams in each group will then be seeded within their group based on their scores. Teams will then compete in head-to-head, 30-second challenge battles featuring full team movements from their semifinal programs. Each team will face each other in their respective starting group, with two teams on the ice at the same time. At the conclusion of the first round, the top two teams from each starting group advance to the semifinals on day two. Challenge battles give the team that finishes third after round one an opportunity to earn additional points. By winning its battles, that team can overtake one of the top two teams in its starting group and qualify for the semifinals. On day two, the teams which didn't make the semifinals will perform their free programs — 3rd place vs. 3rd place compete for fifth and sixth place. The bronze final will pit the two second-place teams against each other, with third place and fourth place on the line. The gold final between the top two teams of each group vie for first and second place. Teams also perform their free programs in the bronze and gold finals. NEXT SEASON ( 2027-28 ) Synchro9 team rosters are expected to become more diverse. "It opens the discipline up to a lot of other skaters who didn't necessarily think synchro was in their line of sight," Gaff said. "It helps a lot of other skaters get their Olympic dream to be heard and to be made. It's something that's fun to see. There are people coming out of the woodwork, but it's always a good thing for people to come out of the woodwork." The international schedule could expand, with a domestic event schedule also on the horizon. Potential rule and format changes will be evaluated after the first season. A Synchro9 event will be held at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 in Italy. SEASONS THREE AND FOUR ( 2028-29, 29-30 ) Like with other Olympic sports such as hockey, lacrosse and artistic swimming, a single national team may be considered for Team USA's Synchro9 entry into the Games. In this scenario, the top Synchro9 skaters in the country would come together and train at a designated site. At the 2030 Games, nine countries will field one team, each composed of nine skaters and one alternate. A qualifying pathway to the Games will be determined in the next 18 months. SYNCHRO9 JUDGING BEING INTRODUCED While skaters and coaches adapt to this new competition, judges all over the world will also be in the classroom and rinkside as they learn how to evaluate a performance. Unlike current figure skating and synchronized skating competitions, performances will be evaluated by 10 judges who will consider four judging criteria. There is no technical panel. Swiss Timing is constructing a new scoring system. Teams will receive a "technique" score and an "artistry" score. Under technique, judges will evaluate "difficulty" and "synchronization." Under artistry, "performance" and "originality" will be evaluated. All judges will be trained in these four criteria. However, each judge will only be responsible for evaluating either technique or artistry, depending on which seat they draw at the event. For example, judges drawing odd numbers 1,3,5, 7 and 9 will be responsible for difficulty and synchronization, while judges drawing even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 will be responsible for performance and originality scores. "We felt like it was a good compromise for not wanting to have a technical panel anymore," Paige said. LET THE QUAD BEGIN The next four years, Gaff said, will help determine the future of synchronized skating at the Olympics and beyond. "I'm excited to be part of this during the next four years to develop this discipline to be something that everybody talks about beyond 2030," Gaff said. J 44 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2026 USICERINKS.COM p Who will make the inaugural U.S. Synchro9 National Team for the 2030 Olympics? PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, CYNTHIA SLAWTER PHOTOGRAPHY

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