Every industry has a leader. And for Synchronomics, her name is Kathy Dalton.
As far back as the eighties, Kathy has been pushing synchronized skating boundaries. In the early nineties, after developing Leaside Skating Club's Junior team, Kathy and sister Susan Pettes went on to be the founding coaches of arguably Canada's strongest Senior team, Black Ice.
With over 32 years of coaching under her belt, Kathy is Lever 4 NCCP certified, and has earned a seat on the Skate Canada Board of Directors and the ISU Synchronized Technical Committee.
Over the years, Black Ice has seen it's fair share of championships including seven podium appearances at the World Championship level. And despite competitive team development in clubs throughout the Ontario region, Black Ice has consistently proven to be among the highest caliber of synchro teams in the country with Dalton's leadership.
From Kaleidescope in 1993 to the 2006 'Batman' long program, Black Ice sets trends in choreography and costumes. Kathy brings innovation to the ice with a personal twist. Often changing image standards with dark tights and white boots (traditionally, skaters wear beige tights and keep beige boots to add continuity through the leg), Kathy is always the first to try something new. A pillar in the community, And Canada's most influential coach.
Watch their 2006 Long Program below. Skating to the music of 'Batman' and taking home gold at National's, this is one of their strongest and most cohesive programs. Take note of how smooth the transitions are from element to element and notice the judging standards on step sequences and elements aren't yet clear - You'll have to wait a couple more years for that!
