Page 9 - MidWeek West - Sep 7 2022

Skaters Perform On Synthetic Ice
It has been a struggle for Hawai‘i’s competitive skat- ers since Ice Palace tempo- rarily closed more than two years ago. However, with the support of parents and coaches, Tropical Blades — Hawai‘i’s only synchro- nized skating team — has been working on synthet- ic ice at sites throughout O‘ahu.
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“We are searching for places where we could do demonstrations and per- formances,” shares ʻEwa Beach resident and Tropical Blades marketing director Cary Naccarato-Martin.
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In addition, the team is fundraising and seeking cor- porate sponsors to acquire more synthetic ice, and to cover costs when they are able to once again compete on the mainland, according to Naccarato-Martin. She shares that the group is cur- rently facing supply chain issues in its effort to acquire the synthetic ice.
Synchronized skating team Tropical Blades is the only one of its kind in the state. PHOTO COURTESY CARY NACCARATO-MARTIN
the U.S. Figure Skating Na- tional Showcase competition. “Most people do not real- ize that Hawai‘i has compet- itive skaters, let alone skaters thathavecompetedandwon medals off-island,” states Naccarato-Martin. “With- out the rink, the team and individual skaters have not been able to remain compe- tition ready, and have been limited in their ability to ex- pand their skills. Meanwhile mainland skaters have been
According to Naccara- to-Martin, a much larger areaoficeisneededsothat the team has more space on which to work, as they cur- rently have had to adjust pro- grams to fit a much smaller patch of ice.
tin says that Hawai‘i’s skat- ers keep working on their skills with what they cur- rently have available to them and will hopefully raise enough money to expand their patch of ice. In addi- tion, she adds they are look- ing forward to the reopening of Ice Palace.
Even after Ice Palace re- opens, the synthetic ice will still provide the team with the ability to expand its prac- tice hours, she adds. Ideally, the team hopes to find an af- fordable, permanent location to set up the synthetic ice where it will be away from the elements.
able to move forward.” However, Naccarato-Mar-
For more information, call Naccarato-Martin at 808-264-9247, email tropic- albladessynchro@gmail.com or check out its Instagram and Facebook pages (@trop- icalbladessyncrohawaii).
Naccarato-Martin adds that prior to COVID lock- downs and the continued closure of Ice Palace, Trop- ical Blades were on course to compete at the Ice Sports Industry World Champion- ships. In addition, many in- dividual skaters qualified for