Synchrobelles kick off season in Edmonton

By Lethbridge Herald on January 26, 2023.

Herald File Photo Synchrobelles’ Danielle Koop dances her to way a second place finish in the Masters category at the Wildrose Classic in this file photo.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

After months of preparation, the Lethbridge Synchrobelles Synchronized Swimming Club competitive team begin their first competition of the season in Edmonton today at the Northern Lights event.

Coach Carly Handsaeme thinks the girls are going to do great.

“They’ve put in tons of hard work,” she said.

“We had our last practice on Tuesday and they’ve been looking awesome. I think especially with all the harder skills that they’ve been kind of challenged to perform based off our new rules. I’m really excited to see where they’re at and I think that they’re going to do really well.”

Handsaeme make sure she approaches team discussions with a positive attitude.

“For me, of course we all want to place really well,” she said.

“But honestly it’s for fun. We worked really hard to get here and I just want them to have as much fun performing as I did when I was a swimmer, and it’s a chance for us as a club and as coaches with swimmers to really do some good team bonding.”

Handsaeme is expecting the competition level to be pretty high with competing against Calgary and Edmonton teams.

“They’re all very good at what they do and they have very high-end coaches,” she said.

“So we’re excited to do well. But for a small club, we usually tend to place pretty well too. So I think that we’re going to have a good time and especially getting to really see where all these other groups are at with these new harder skills.”

The feeling is between nervousness and excitement for the swimmers.

“I fine that I always  even as a coach, I think I get more nervous than the girls sometimes for their swims,” she said.

“But yes I’m very excited to be going and the girls and I had a dress rehearsal in their suits and they look absolutely fantastic. So I’m just really excited to see them swim their hearts out and perform like I know that they can ,which is awesome.”

The swimmers got custom suits made with frosty crystals and vibrant colours.

Northern Lights is going on all weekend.