In a sport that’s usually considered child’s play, a group of 15 middle-aged women meet at 6:00 a.m. every Thursday to practice their routine in Long Island City, Queens.
Formed in 2004, Gotham City Synchro is New York City’s only adult synchronized ice skating team. These women all have successful professional careers but make time in their busy schedules for an activity that keeps them young at heart. Aged from 24 to 60, the group is a diverse mix. There are two lawyers, a fashion designer, a high-school teacher, a mathematician, an architect and a nurse – just to name a few. They initially came together because of their love for skating but continue to meet because of a special bond that has grown over the years.
Although synchro has yet to be included as a category in the Olympics, teams compete regionally 3-to-4 times a year. Last year, Gotham City Synchro placed in the top three in all competitions. For the 2009-2010 season, they perform a four-minute routine inspired by The House of Flying Daggers, a Chinese martial arts film, which calls for kick lines, pinwheels, blocks and traveling circles.
Practice sessions last about an hour – it’s not much time, so they get right down to work. Banter and gossip is reserved for moments off the ice – like the subway ride into Manhattan, where many of them work and rush off to after practice.