When the Skyliners take the ice — either domestically or across the Atlantic — crowds expect tidy, slicked back buns, theatric and glimmering costumes and, above all else, the team's signature speed and style.
But this season did not contain its normal glitz and glamour. Instead, the Skyliners experienced what co-head coach Josh Babb refers to as "blips of normalcy."
Frequent members of Team USA, the athletes did not have the same opportunities represent the U.S. abroad or compete for in the World Synchronized Skating Championships. But regardless of fluctuating regulations, the skaters maintained their training regimen, participating weekly in virtual workouts and bonding sessions.
Perhaps most importantly, Babb said the Skyliners' relentless dedication to synchronized skating stayed intact.
"This team is so special because, even through adversity, I never had to tell them to work harder," Babb said.
The team's national and international success indicates its commitment — in its nine years competing at the senior level, the team has earned six medals from the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. What really illustrates the team's drive, however, is its individual members.
"Our skaters travel from all over the country, sometimes internationally, to attend our practices," said DREAM skater Molly McMahon, who has skated on Skyliners' senior team for three seasons. She attends a nearby college in Connecticut, but in the summers, McMahon commutes from Wisconsin to Skyliners' home rink in Stamford.
And she's in good company — only a quarter of the team's skaters are New York and Connecticut natives. The rest drive in, fly out or have relocated to train with the 2020 U.S. silver medalists.
"On the first day of practice every weekend, we jump out of our cars to hug each other," McMahon said. "When all of your free time is dedicated to the same goal, it bonds you, no matter where home is."
Similar to athletes training in other states, disciplines or sports, last season felt jolted. Babb said he almost immediately was concerned for his skaters' mental wellbeing. In an effort to create consistency, he reached out to a sports psychologist, who now works with the team once a week.
"The idea was to provide a sense of stability, and I wanted someone who could help us navigate the uncertainly initially off ice, but then eventually back on the ice," Babb said. "I didn't exactly know what to do, but I knew we had to stay emotionally connected to one another and our goals."
As shown by their accolades, achievement drives the organization. So in a season without a chance to shine, the team zoned in on what they could control.
"So often we have a tunnel vision for reaching success at the end of our season," McMahon said. "So, this season, we talked about what was going on in the world around us and focused on our wellbeing until it was time to get back on the ice."
The check-ins did provide support, but McMahon also said the sessions served as lessons in gratitude — especially in a year of loneliness.
"That time together gave us time to reflect on all of the support that exists around us," she said. "We're privileged to be a part of so many groups beyond just our individual team. We have the entire Skyliners' pipeline and the synchronized skating community on our side."
As the skaters gradually got back on the ice and eventually began to skate connected, Babb noticed the effects of their mental training — in their athletic performance and in the ways he himself conducted practice.
"When full practices finally resumed, there were intense days where we'd be running sections of the program over and over again," he said. "Every time I'd restart the music, they were just as enthusiastic. I'm a better coach from watching their resilience."
Instead of participating in socially distanced competitions, the Skyliners used any and all ice time to prepare for the 2021-22 season. This meant practices were dedicated to mastering complex pair elements and Babb's infamous, character-driven choreography.
His skaters' renewed senses of passion excite Babb for the upcoming season, but despite all of the adaptions the Skyliners made in 2021, one tradition remains — and the skating world will have to wait until the fall to see what the team has been working on.
"In backwards and challenging ways, this season gave us the chance to experiment," Babb said with a wink. "Our free skate is more intense and out of the box than anything we've ever done before — but everyone will just have to wait and see the surprises we've prepared for next season."
