Show I I What Is Synchronized Swimming E By MARY LANDEN With all the talk about the National AAU Synch Synchronized r 0 n i zed Swimming Meet coming to the Deseret Gym on April 7 8 and the excitement 9 and with all building up to a high pitch by I those can concerned c ern e d with it it seems in order to explain what i synchronized swimming is all about SYNCHRONIZED swimming In g c has been dubbed by local sync synchronizer synchronizer syn- syn Mary Landen as a sport art or dancing in the water She backs her claim to I its being a sport because it utilizes definite athletic swimming swim swim- I ming ability swimming being a sport As a sport it contrib contrib- ates tes to fitness cooperation team spirit and sportsmanlike I qualities She says sas that it is art art beI because be- be I cause cause like dance it uses the I body as the instrument of expression ex- ex I but distinct fro from m dance it uses the water rather than the floor or stage as its medium UNLIKE MANY muscle and speed type athletic events a ai I i synchronized swimming meet has aesthetic and spectator appeal appeal ap- ap i peal in addition to the excitement excitement excite excite- ment thrill and close finishes common to athletic contests Meets are conducted on the order of figure skating gymnastic gymnastic gym gym- and diving events with judges judges' scores given for style synchronization choreographIc choreograph choreograph- is Ic design interpretation eta t Ion of theme heme and accompaniment costuming cos- cos turning originality au audience die n c e appeal and execution technique tech tech- 1 pique control perfection etc These hese scores are averaged with the scores received in the the stunt to determine determine deter deter- figure competition mine the winners in the solo duet and team divisions Synchronized swim swimming ming calls I upon all the reserve stamina I strength skill coordination and dedicated effort that s speed pee d swimming does plus more The synchronized swimmer m must mustI u s t tI I I have a 3 feel for music good rhythmic response poise to appear and entertain in public and a flare of imagination for maximum success e either i the l' l in competition competition or in show per per- THE TOP national champions who will be winning at the Deseret Des Des- I eret Gym meet spend three to I II four hours daily in practice I They hey do many many lengths of I plain swimming kicking and pulling along with their speed swimming counterparts Instead of practicing starts and turns as do the racers they I 1 r i Lk ir t ik tr t- t 4 I r I q 7 IY fi I l II III I r I Mrs Mary Landen is practicing for tor the National AAU synchronized swim meet April 9 79 at Deseret Gym The 1961 Arizona AAU champion she is now an instructor at the Bountiful pool practice more lengths of sculling sculling scull scull- ing a basic synchronized swimming swimming swim swim- ming skill Then when the speeders head for home the synchronizers stay for another hour going over and over the routine to perfect the numerous fine ine points that make the big difference in the judges judges' scores vertical descents height and control on all figures split second second sec sec- ond exact synchronization with music and duet or teammates uniformity with them on style audience personality projection projection tion stage presence tak taking i n g bows bow 5 etc THEN THE synchronizer n i z e l' l goes home chlorine bleary eyed and after getting in the homework and dinner may stay up late sewing her costume and making minute changes In her routine for that final spit and polish of a really finished per per- All of this practice effort and thought is culminated in the I relative few minutes of the I performance or competitive t i v e I meet Once a national chamI champion champion cham- cham I pion figured that she practiced on an average of five hours for I each minute actual per per- Is it worth it I YES IS TIlE THE resounding reply of synchronized swim swim- mers Besides the obvious development development de- de it fosters in physical fitness strength endur endurance an c e and stamina synchronized I swimming is a creative outlet to many as well as the means by which desirable personality traits are developed It develops poise con confidence fi den c e grace I rhythm and host of other a as- as sets Plus the friends one meets through p participation a c ip a ti on And then as the final touch comes the moment you have waited for when after the successful performance of a hard composition the thunder of at applause rings in your ears |