SynchroNice / Third Edition / 2018

SYNCHRO NICE 109 While still dealing with the gruesome fact he just turned 40 years old, we met coach Josh Babb in Salzburg and invited him to do an interview on his coaching in Synchronized Skating. 40 years old, by having a look at your face, we get a feeling you don’t you like it very much, getting older? Next question! We see you on a regular basis next to the ice rink during competition, but what is exactly your role? Well officially I am the Full Time Director and Head Coach, Choreographer of Skyliners SST Inc, and next to that I’m Part- time skating coach and choreographer for single competitors as well. And as a young man you woke up one day and said to yourself, Synchro Coach that is what I want to become? No haha, not really, that is not how things come about. I studied Political Science as a major and Business Admin as a minor at WLU in Canada but… you are from? I’m Canadian yeah, I was born in a small town, Harbour Grace, New- foundland, Canada as the second child of Susan and Brian Babb. I have two siblings, both actively involved in skating and choreography. There’s my older sister Rebecca and my younger sister Sarah. Rebecca lives in Waterloo Ontario with her family where she is an Ice skating coach and choreographer. Sarah is an actor, assistant coach of the Central Park branch of Skyliners and she lives in Brooklyn NYC with her family. So, your skating career has everything to do with your sisters? Yes, everything, I started skating at the age of 3, having two sisters I think my skating started as a sport of convenience... I first started skating at the S.WMoores Memorial Stadium in Harbour Grace. Fun fact to know: S.W Moores was my great grandfather, a merchant immigrant from England. When I was younger I was involved in all disciplines of skating. I really did it all. Figures, Free skating, pairs, you name it, dance, synchro, called precision at the time. Starting for the first time at the age of 9, I would travel to Waterloo Ontario, every summer to take part in a 2-month summer skating school. When I reached the age of 15, my sister Rebecca (also my dance partner) and I relocated to Waterloo to focus on our training, under coach John Briscoe (Nexxice specialty coach) The following year after the initial move our family moved to Waterloo as well. BABB JOSH COACH OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR SKYLINERS TEAMS, USA