Like clockwork, the Haydenettes won their 29th U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships title in February.
But unlike their consistent, advanced technicality and artistry, this season was different. Having endured two seasons of uncertainty, the athletes and the organization itself have changed, both in skating style and energy.
The skaters and coaches have even dubbed this season the start of a new era for the team, calling themselves Haydenettes 3.0.
"Since we last competed in 2020, we've tried to take all of our strengths like power, speed, sharpness and add in more skating skills, more fluidity," Cameron Feeley, whose entering her fifth season with the Haydenettes, said. "Having such a new team in the last two years has allowed us to push each other and use each other's skills to build something new."
And building something new was the goal of the 2020-21 season. The five-time World bronze medalists spent the majority of last season drilling skills and adding new variations to elements.
Assistant coach Lee Chandler also joined the team last season, and the skaters' say his perspective combined with longtime Haydenettes coach Saga Krantz has helped the younger team become "moldable."
According to skater Autumn Coulthard, that means maintaining the high quality of skating the Haydenettes are known for but staying open to new techniques. That way, the revamped style, featuring deeper crossovers and longer extensions, looks not only flawless, but effortless.
"Our glides have always been powerful," she said. "But now, we think about how to stay present in the movement with precision and using our power more effectively."
The skaters also said the team's style shift was a strategic move by Krantz — who hopes to push the Haydenettes back onto the World podium — but the athletes' energy came about organically.
Young, motivated and prioritizing fulfillment in tandem with athletic glory, the chemistry between the skaters' animates the team. To paint a picture of how the team gets along, some of their team bonding events have included spontaneous rib nights and competitive cupcake wars.
That energy is — likely intentionally — reflected in the team's short program, which is set to Dave Stewart and His Rock Fabulous Orchestra's cover of "Sweet Dreams."
"It's like that program is curated to our personalities," Coulthard said. "It's really fun, fast and has that explosive energy.
The tone of the program is set by its first element, striking field moves. When adding choreographic arms and body movements, Coulthard said Krantz and the team didn't look to 1980s pop like the song's origins for inspiration. Instead, they watched hours of Bob Fosse videos, hoping to tap into the "quirkiness and the liveliness" of his famous 1920s choreography.
In the short program, the skaters are encouraged to bring out their personalities by sticking out their tongues and making eye contact with the judges. But if that program represents the new chemistry of the Haydenettes, the free skate showcases the team's refreshed seamless style.
Set to "Hold on to Tomorrow" by Brennan Heart, Krantz selected the music at the height of the pandemic in hopes to inspire her skaters to push through adversity.
"It's softer than programs Hayden has done in the past," Feeley said. "The crescendos showcase our roots, which includes strength and power and speed. But I also think it was chosen with a strong focus on the flow and lightness we've been working on in every crossover."
And while it's undoubtable the Haydenettes have enjoyed themselves this season, they also know their team's performance impacts more than their medal and title count. The athletes know they have the potential to impact the sport in its entirety and its a responsibility they take very seriously.
"The Haydenettes are always trying to be a leader in the sport, trying to set an example as synchronized skating makes the push toward the Olympics," Feeley said. "Saga is very honest with us that if we want our sport to be on that kind of stage, we need to have skating skills like ice dancers. We need to execute pair elements like pair skaters and jumps and spins like freestyle skaters. That's why we have prioritized our skating skills and style so much."
In other words, the Haydenettes know that future athletes will watch them perform at the World Synchronized Skating Championships this weekend. Their competitive technique and artistry sets the tone for other teams and lower levels in the U.S. and across the world for now and in the years to come.
"We want to push the boundaries of the sport along with the top teams in the world," Coulthard said. "That's really our goal at the end of the day and we're pushing every day to get there."
The mentality is, in simpler terms, all for one and one for all. The current Haydenettes know they don't only represent their team and the U.S., but all of synchronized skating.
"The Hayden will go on way beyond our time. There's going to be a Haydenettes 4.0, 5.0, 6.0," Coulthard said. "For now, we're doing our part. At Worlds, we want to medal, but most importantly, when the announcers call the United States of America on the ice, we want to feel proud of what we're putting out for our country."
