Shelley Simonton knows a thing or two about Synchronized Skating.

As Coach of two-time World Champions and many-time International medalists and Canadian Champions NEXXICE, Shelley’s career-long interest and dedication to the sport have made her recognized world-wide as a trailblazer and visionary.

But like most of Ontario’s greatest sports leaders, Shelley’s skating career began without a lot of fanfare or expectations.

Shelley was 3 when her Mom, Madeleine, took her to the local Moms & Tots skating program in their hometown of Chatham. “As the story goes,” tells Shelley, “my Mom was struggling to balance so instead of holding her hand, I just took off … and loved it from the moment my feet touched the ice.”

Through years of trying to make progress while wearing poor skates, it wasn’t until Shelley was 9 before she was introduced to skate-maker John Knebli. “With strong and supportive equipment that fit, I could actually skate an outside edge!”

It was also the community of Chatham. “Everyone skated,” Shelley remembers, “and that kept me interested and encouraged, even though early on my best element was only a spiral!”

Shelley admits to being a late bloomer. Competitively she skated in Junior and Senior Ladies events all the way to Nationals, but her real enjoyment came from interpretive events where she excelled.

When she finally quit skating ‘cold turkey’ to attend university, it wasn’t long before she recognized how important the sport was in her life. “I was too old to continue competing but I knew I had to keep skating somehow,” Shelley admits. And thanks to the assistance of Chatham friend, Sue Brodie, she was able to join the Ice Follies/Disney on Ice tour.

“I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do something I love!”

After a year on the road Shelley decided to return to university and subsequently skated for two seasons on the CTV show Stars ON Ice. And … after her son Jordan was born, she started coaching in the Windsor area and looking at skating in a new and different direction.

The transition to Synchro was definitely not in any of those plans.

“The South Windsor Skating Club where I was teaching Singles had a Synchronized Skating team called the Rose City Rhythms,” she recalls, “until the Synchro coach announced her retirement.” Enter Club President Eleanor Malkin, a big believer in team skating. Thinking Shelley and her friend Lee Armstrong had Synchro experience from the show, Eleanor approached them about taking on the Synchro job.

“We didn’t have a clue,” admits Shelley. “Sure, we knew how to skate in a line and maybe that helped a little … but beyond that we were lost … totally lost.”

Shelley remembers that first year. She and Lee would sit in her living room trying to understand how this Synchro thing worked. “We studied programs and transitions and could not figure it out.” They’d look at each other and say, “What are we missing? How do you move 20 skaters from a wheel to a line? Everything seemed so tricky and complicated.”

Although Lee moved on after a year, for Shelley, her interest in Synchro was beginning to grow. “There was just something special about doing movement to music that wasn’t just technical,” she remembers. “There was the freedom to tell a story, to emote to music in ways different to the other disciplines. I latched on to it … but honestly … I was terrible!”

Shelley persevered … and got better. “In those early years, it was thanks to Eleanor and to the guidance of another wonderful supporter, National Synchro judge Patricia Michie, when I started to understand and see the possibilities.”

As Shelley’s perspective expanded and her confidence grew she began to seek outside help for choreography … at first, from people like Shelly MacLeod and Aimee McKenzie who gave her new ideas and encouraged her to adapt her approach to the sport.

Initially, although teams began more as a ‘recreational’ activity, by the 90’s, competitive teams were catching the interest of the International Skating Union (ISU), including Shelley’s first international team, Ice Image.

Competing at the first World Championships in 2000 was a milestone for Synchronized Skating and for Ice Image, however, when the majority of the team retired following Worlds, Shelley was faced with some tough decisions about where to go next. It was like starting over.

Fortunately new opportunities were percolating.

With the amalgamation of potential teams from Burlington and Kitchener Waterloo, NEXXICE was born, a team destined to become one of the most celebrated teams in the sport’s history … and all under Shelley’s leadership and with the help of Debbie Beauchamp and Kathy Ptuska who are still the team managers today.

“I’ve been so fortunate,” says Shelley. “I’ve been there all along to watch the sport change and grow.”

And with every upcoming season, she rises to new athletic and artistic challenges, an annual process which is never easy. “I think I make it more complicated than necessary,” laughs Shelley.

For her, the creative journey always begins with the music.

“Over the years I’ve really cared about the type of music we’re using,” she confesses. “Aligning the choice of music with the team’s strengths and personalities is key to a successful season. We hope to expand their horizons a bit … to educate them a little. But to do that requires a lot of research.”

Shelley also admits to being inspired by others over the course of her career. “I’ve had the good fortune to work with some of skating’s most creative and talented people … each one of them has brought something new to the table.”

But it’s the late Anne Schelter who Shelley feels contributed the most to the sport’s evolution. “When Anne and I worked together starting in 2006, she taught me so much,” says Shelley. “Anne brought different ideas forward … and when I couldn’t find music, she’d always say ‘It’s in my case somewhere!’”

That collaboration would change the sport.

“Anne introduced something entirely new to Synchronized Skating,” claims Shelley. “It was less about being in line and the drill … and more about ice dance and edges, skill and technique … and much more demanding of the athletes.”

The coaching team also headed in bold new choreographic directions.

With content focusing on quality skating, the team tackled themes and programs like Edward Scissorhands to claim its first World medal and an operatic version of Carmina Burana, the freeskate which won the team their first World title in 2009.

As Shelley recalls, “Carmina Burana was such a success that both Peter Krick (ISU) and David Dore (Skate Canada) came up after the event, bowed to Anne and thanked us for taking the discipline in this new direction. We were so honoured.”

For Shelley, medals aside, the NEXXICE experience is not just about the skating. “When it’s 11 o’clock at night … when we’re exhausted and cold … if we’re still motivated and loving what we’re doing, I know we’ve created something special.”

One of her greatest satisfactions comes from seeing NEXXICE alumni becoming successful coaches, judges and technical specialists or excelling in their chosen off-ice professions. Former NEXXICE captain, Jennifer Beauchamp Crichton now co-coaches the senior team.

“When former members say they have wonderful memories of times with the team or talk about the lifelong friendships they’ve made from all over the world, I know all the hard work has been worth it.”

As her top priority, Shelley hopes the Synchro experience has helped create good skating citizens. “Sportsmanship, appreciation for those that have gone before and for those that will come after,” she explains.

“Above all … conduct yourself with grace and gratefulness.”

Words of wisdom.