About Us
Synchronized skating is a large and fast-growing discipline of figure skating where 9–20 (the number of skaters on a team depends on the level) skaters skate on ice as a team, moving as one flowing unit at high speeds while completing difficult footwork. Synchronized Skating uses the same judging system as singles, pairs, and ice dancing skating and is judged primarily on teamwork, precision, speed, difficulty, and performance.
Revolution Synchronised Skating Team was established in 2012.
For the past four consecutive years (2012-2015), Revolution have placed 1st in the Australian State and National Championships and remain the top team within the Adult division. In 2016, we introduce the Revolution team into Mixed Ages Division. We look forward to a successful year ahead.
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Meet the team
Sara Riley
HEAD COACH: Revolution Adult
COACH: Revolution Mixed Ages
How long have you been skating for: Since I was 7….so a long time
How did you get into in Synchronised Ice Skating: Synchro (or precision as we called it) was brand new so Canterbury did a big drive to get people in. We had 3 or 4 teams from memory in our first year.
What made you want to be a coach: I love teaching and I am very passionate about the sport. My coach at the time, Kylie, was very supportive of my move and helped me make the transition from skater to coach.
Revolution Team you coach: Mainly Mixed Age but also work with the Adult team
Teams you’ve coached in the past: Fire On Ice, Sydney Ice Impressions, Team Renaissance and Revolution Adult and Open. I also work with other teams from time to time.
Favourite thing about coaching: That’s a tricky one. I love competition time and seeing everyone get excited…..and the hugs before and after the program is skated. I also love the friendships and bonds that are formed.
Favourite element in a program: I really like lines. They’re strong. From last year, my favourite element would have been the block.
Least favourite element in a program: Intersections…..I hate them. Oh and the Creative Element. It is literally my least favourite part to choreograph.
How do you prepare for competition time: Pack my bag the night before, don’t sleep much, and get to the rink much earlier than I need to be.
Do you get nervous or anxious when the team hops on the ice comp time: 100% yes! It is harder being a coach than being a skater. At practice if something goes wrong, you turn the music off and start again. At comps, you hope that you’ve done your job well enough that nothing will go wrong and if it does, you have given the skaters the tools to deal with it. I feel sick before the music starts at every competition.
If you could change anything about Synchronised Ice Skating, what would it be: No more creative element!
Do you have a signature move you always choreograph into all your programs: I don’t think so. My skaters might have a different opinion.
Most satisfying thing about being a coach: It is a rewarding job. Taking a group of skaters who may or may not know each other, giving them music to skate to, creating a program that is challenging, dressing them up all pretty (I have 2 boys so I don’t get to dress them up), taking them to competitions and seeing them achieve their goals is pretty cool!
Sarah Durbridge
COACH: Revolution Adult
How long have you been skating for: 22 Years
How did you get into in Synchronised Ice Skating: I was skating singles at Macquarie and was asked to join the Junior Team the Blue Diamonds and never looked back!
What made you want to be a coach: Skating is something I am extremely passionate about, I think that if I had the same passion for work as I did for skating I may make it somewhere in life! I started coaching when I moved from shift work to day work and had spare time, sadly it was short lived but now being a Mum I have time back and can pursue what I started
Revolution Team you coach: Revolution Adult!!
Teams you’ve coached in the past: This is my first Synchro Team, very exciting
What is your most memorable competition/ year coaching: Most memorable competition would be Nationals in Brisbane 2014, the whole team really came together to support each other and we had a blast! It was an extremely fun routine and we had our highest interpretation scores to date.
Favourite thing about coaching: Helping skaters get better and be challenged whilst having fun, a fine balance
Favourite element in a program: Footwork and Lines
Least favourite element in a program: Spiral Sequences
How do you prepare for competition time: In the past years I have been managing and treasurer for the teams so preparation has been booking accomodation, helping orgainse costumes and getting final years payments, will be very nice to focus on something else. When I skate I just prepare by getting excited, listening to the music alot and repeating steps over and over in my head.
Do you get nervous or anxious when the team hops on the ice comp time: As a skater I get very excited!
If you could change anything about Synchronised Ice Skating, what would it be: Have more teams and more competitions and have it a more affordable sport.
Do you have a signature move you always choreograph into all your programs: Facial expressions! a MUST
Most satisfying thing about being a coach: Seeing improvements and seeing people be challenged
Tanya McGivern
TEAM CAPTAIN & SKATER: Revolution Adult
What do people call you: Tan, TC
How many years have you been skating: 25 years
What made you start skating and how old were you: My sister was skating at Canterbury after learning to ice skate when we live in the US & Mum said ‘You might as well get on too’. I was 8 years old.
What do you love about skating: The crunch of the ice under my blades.
What’s in your skating bag: Skates, guards, towel, drink bottle, bonze medal from Mid Americas!
Are you superstitious around comp time and if so, what do you do: Nope
What is the funniest thing you have done at/while skating: Run smack bang into the barrier & fallen A over T while demonstrating steps to the team.
If you could design your costume, what would it look like: Depends on the music!
If Ice Skates could be any colour, what colour would you choose: Brown
If you could skate to any music, what would it be: ‘Stop’ by Sam Brown
Lauren Dragosetti
SKATER: Revolution Mixed Ages
What do people call you: Loz
How many years have you been skating: 24 years
What made you start skating and how old were you: My mum took me to go shopping at Macquarie and I saw all the girl skating and told her I wanted to skate. I was 5 years old.
What do you love about skating: Spending time with friends and being able to jump on the ice and switch off the rest of life.
What’s in your skating bag: A green Good Luck care bear my mum bought me years ago, Skates, 2 lots of soakers, soakers, pens, lip balm, tissues, lots of hair elastics and a couple of pairs of long socks!
Are you superstitious around comp time and if so, what do you do: I wear the same pair of long stripped socks that I’ve worn for years. Probably need to throw these out!
What is the funniest thing you have done at/while skating: Skating steps using the same leg to arm. (Coach Sara’s pet peeve) but I’m so good at it.
If you could design your costume, what would it look like: Bright and COVERED in sparkles or glitter!
If Ice Skates could be any colour, what colour would you choose: White/ Baby pink!
If you could skate to any music, what would it be: Anything by Whitney Houston.
Sarah Masters
SKATER: Revolution Mixed Ages
What do people call you: Smarah, Smasters
How many years have you been skating: 15 years
What made you start skating and how old were you: My parents lived in the US for awhile and moved back to Australia just before I was born. On the way back home they visited New York and my mum was pretty upset she couldn’t skate at the Rockefeller rink because she was quite pregnant with me. Fast forward many years later and we decide to have a family holiday to the US. Mum started secretly taking ice skating lessons so when we got to Rockefeller she’d jump on and surprise us all with her skills! However she was terrible at keeping a secret. We found out what she was doing and the whole family started taking lessons…and I kept at it!
What do you love about skating: It’s just such a beautiful sport to watch and I like that it’s something different to what most people do for sport in Australia
What’s in your skating bag: Apart from the usual stuff, I collect flyers from all the various rinks I’ve visited around Australia & the World. I keep them in the front pocket of my bag…sort of like a good luck/superstitious thing!
Are you superstitious around comp time and if so, what do you do: I always bring my set of Cards Against Humanity along…in between practice and comp time it’s a good way to get everyone laughing and relaxed. And I also love our tradition of dancing and singing (badly) in the change rooms before we get on the ice
What is the funniest thing you have done at/while skating: If I fall over it’s usually doing something really, really difficult….like a backward crossover ;-)
If you could design your costume, what would it look like: Anything 1950s style!! So Coach Sara made my dreams came true a couple of years ago with the Adult team’s 1950s program
If Ice Skates could be any colour, what colour would you choose: Leopard print!
If you could skate to any music, what would it be: QUEEN BEY a.k.a Beyonce