Rhythm & Blades Aspire 4 Team

Details

General Information

General Information

Informational Parent meeting will be held in May.

For the – season, we will have a competitive team at the Aspire 4 level. The Aspire 4 level allows us to do interesting elements with some difficulty and variety. Skaters on an Aspire 4 team may pass tests as high as Pre-Bronze and there is no minimum requirement.

For this team, skaters need to be 17 or younger as of . Aspire 4 is a team of 5 to 20 skaters. The Aspire 4 program has a maximum length of 2 minutes 10 seconds.

This team is intended for those skaters wishing to be more serious about synchronized skating. A good positive attitude is required. You must be able to pay attention, be willing to work and not complain. This team is a step up from the Aspire 3 Synchro level team and will require more work than that team.

During the summer, the team practices on Wednesday evenings –* and joins the high team for 30 minutes on Thursdays from –. They also have off-ice practice on Thursdays from – –. During the – school year the team will practice on Wednesday afternoons from – and join the high team on the ice Thursday evenings from –. They will also have some off-ice practices and extra practices on Saturday afternoons.

*Due to construction on the North rink, the practice schedule will be different in and early .

Requirements

All team skaters are expected to continually advance their individual skating skills. Team skaters must skate a minimum additional 1 hour per week plus take an Edge or Power class OR skate an additional 1.5 hours a week. Synchro camp is included as part of the summer monthly fee.

Team placement is taking place in May. After this, if skaters did not participate in team placement and are interested in this team, they should contact the Synchro Director. You may still be able to join us. We would be interested in adding qualified skaters to this team.

Competitions & Performances

Planned competitions for this team are:

  • RFSC Synchro Camp | –
    Rochester, Minnesota
  • RFSC Holiday Exhibition | –
    Rochester, Minnesota
  • Maplewood Synchro Classic | –
    Mariucci Arena: Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • RFSC Frosty Skate Blast Exhibition |
    Rochester, Minnestoa
  • Eau Claire Competition | –
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  • RFSC Ice Show | –
    Rochester, Minnesota
  • Other possible performances
    • –
      Grizzlies hockey games

Future calendar note

Probable date for RFSC Synchro Camp | –

If you are interested in being part of this team, please read over the list of skills in our Synchro Manual

Questions should be directed to:

Vikki Dalquist, Synchronized Skating Director
Email Vikki Dalquist | (507) 287-0971.

Financial Information

Aspire Synchro (Beginner)

Once classes have finished, we begin the competitive team year. The team skaters are charged an even monthly fee from January through April and are also billed for ice time. Costumes are normally purchased in December for approximately $175 each. We estimate between a $150 and $175 monthly charge, including the ice unit charge, from January through April.

The monthly charge includes all fees for the competition year: practice ice, coaching fees for practices and competitions, competition registration and practice ice, U.S. Figure Skating team registration, annual banquet, etc. Since team fees are divided by the number of skaters on the team, more skaters mean lower costs. We do not require team parkas or jackets at this level and we do not use bus transportation. Note items not included below.

Aspire 4

Costumes cost approximately $285. The monthly fee is determined by the number of competitions we plan to attend, plus all other costs, and divided by the number of skaters. Estimated monthly fee is $77 September through April. This fee does NOT include ice which is billed separately. Ice is billed per unit. Ice is billed per unit at the current club rate. Ice is 1.5 hours per week × 4 weeks per month × rate per week. Currently $76.80.

This team’s skaters will be charged a Summer monthly fee for June, July, and August. The Summer fee includes Synchro Camp and summer coaching fees, not any of the competitive year expenses. Ice is charged separately. Most skaters miss at least some summer practices. By charging all skaters we make it fair and keep the fee low.

Open Juvenile

Costumes cost approximately $400. The monthly fee is determined by the number of competitions we plan to attend, plus all other costs, and divided by the number of skaters. For the 2024–2025 season, we had a small number of skaters on this team and the monthly fee was $360, September through April. This fee does NOT include ice which is billed separately. Ice is billed per unit at the current club rate. Ice is hours per week × 4 weeks per month × rate per week. Currently $102.40.

This team’s skaters will be charged a Summer monthly fee for June, July, and August. The Summer fee includes Synchro Camp and summer coaching fees, not any of the competitive year expenses. Ice is charged separately. Most skaters miss at least some summer practices. By charging all skaters we make it fair and keep the fee low.

All Teams

Items Not Included in Your Monthly Synchro Charge:

  • Costumes
  • Skater hotel rooms
  • Team meals
  • Practice clothing
  • Club jackets
  • Parkas
  • Make-up
  • Tights

General Information

The synchronized skating program is under a budget as directed by the Rochester Figure Skating Club (RFSC). Competitive team skaters will be charged a Monthly Fee on their club skating bill for Synchro. This charge will include most fees for the competition year including:

  • Competition registration
  • Coaching fees
  • Off-ice practice
  • Bus costs
  • and more

It will be the same fee each month. In addition to your monthly synchro charge, all competitive teams will have an Ice Charge on your bill. You will be billed for each 15 minute unit of synchro ice that your team skates. There will be no cancels and make ups for synchro ice. The ice costs that appear on your bill will include synchro ice units so expect to see those charges.

Businesses sponsoring our club help a great deal to reduce costs. If you know of a business that might be interested in this opportunity please contact our club director. RFSC hosts events which build club funds. Parents volunteering at these events helps the club to have funds to distribute.