Fleur van Opijnen (22) knows what is involved to perform at the top level. As a member of Team ICE United from Den Bosch, she has already reached the World Cup Synchrons Skating World Cup. As a student, she also set a top performance. Her graduation project became a more than 31 minutes of documentary about her team. “After filming, I locked myself up in a house for a week to view all the images.” ‘We’re here to stay’ – An ode to team Ice United can be seen on Brabant+from Sunday 11.15 am.
For her graduation project at the Breda University of Applied Sciences, the Student Creative Business was given complete freedom. “I had the desire for some time to make a documentary about my own team and preferably that I was part of it myself. After a while I thought this was the right time. After my graduation there will be all kinds of obligations and then there is less freedom to tackle such a project. ”
“A lot came on my plate.”
From the beginning of 2024 she followed her team that successfully went hunting to the World Cup synchron skating in the Croatian Zagreb. “A lot came on my plate, because in addition to making a documentary, we were fully prepared for a World Cup ticket. Performing was one, but the docu also had to be perfect. Fortunately I received help from fellow students and skating association KNSB. “
The documentary gives a picture of what synchronous skating is, but also puts all team members of Team Ice United in the light. Fleur conducted the interviews himself, the images on the ice were made by girlfriend Jip Tissink. “It was difficult to make a script in advance, because in top sport you don’t know how it goes. There was a huge amount of visual material. I could have it better, I thought. “
Synchron skating, figure skating with a sixteen -member group, plays an important role in the life of Kerkdrielse. As a 6 year old girl, she started with individual figure skating in Den Bosch. About ten years later she lost fun in sport. “I had seen the synchron skating at the Bossche Kunstrij Association, but I didn’t know it was so great. The team feeling is special. The atmosphere at competitions was also much nicer than I was used to. A world opened up for me. “
“There will be a lot of time in it.”
The Bossche team meets at least three times a week for hours of training. “There will be a lot of time in it. In certain countries the sport is very large, in the Netherlands it is a shame that few people know it. As a result, synchron skating may be taken a little less seriously. “
“It’s top sport and in this way we can show what we all do. I realize that this document will not ensure that it suddenly becomes an Olympic sport, but all the little bites help. ”
“You learn a lot from it, also for the rest of your life.”
Fleur does not have time to rest. Her team fights against the Eindhoven team Illumination for a place at the World Cup in Finland. “An exciting time in which we train hard. Also a period in which you as a team and individual must be flexible, because things can always happen that you do not expect. You learn a lot from it, even for the rest of your life. “
In the field of work, she is planning to start her own business together with girlfriend Jip. “I want to gain as much experience as possible. In the future I hope to be able to make many beautiful things and tell stories. Making and thinking for yourself and seeing that creative vision come to life is the best. ”
Are you curious about the documentary? From Sunday 2 February 11.15 am We’re here to stay – an ode to Team Ice United can be seen via Brabant+.