SKANEATELES - It takes a great deal of hard work, practice and dedication to be an athlete, and the Empire State Winter Games gives all those dedicated to a common cause a chance to showcase those talents.

Working hard almost year round day in and day out are figure skaters, and Central New York will be well represented in both synchronized team skating and individual competition.

For The Bluewater Blades, coached by Lisa Fishlock and Lisa Esterguart, the games are really an exciting culmination to their entire season.

“We do have one other competition after this,” Fishlock said. “But I think if you ask the girls, this is almost more important to them. The games make them feel like Olympic-caliber athletes. They get to feel like the people they see on TV with the matching wind suits and the opening ceremonies; they really make the girls feel great. They get to feel they are representing their part of New York.”

For the girls whether it is their first or fifth time competing in the games the excitement never wears off.

Marissa Roberts is in her fourth year, and her anticipation is higher than ever.

“My first year there, the team I was on won a gold medal,” she said. “But the whole thing is awesome; they really make you feel like you are the top athletes in New York state.”

Mari Nikkanen, a foreign exchange student from Finland, is used to skating and competing in her home country, but coming here and getting to compete in the games is a new kind of thrill.

“It is different here, but I really like it,” Nikkanen said. “It is better to not always be doing the same thing. It is easy to be a part of this team. Everyone is so friendly. And I hear a lot about the games. I've never seen any of the other teams before, but I'm also looking forward to all the other things to do there.”

Fishlock said she encourages her team to get the most out of their time in Lake Placid.

“I want them to see all the different aspects,” Fishlock said. “They can see skiing and bobsledding or explore the village and experience more than just the rink.”

To get ready for the games Fishlock and Estergaut have been working hard with the team getting their routine as tight as possible before heading off to the games.

“We are more intensely focused,” Fishlock said. “As the games get closer we get more intense and work harder and practice more.”

But as lifelong figure skaters none of these girls is afraid of a little hard work.

“It is a lot harder,” Sheila Gaffney said. “It is a bigger program and it is more difficult and a lot of work, but we have to know how to get along together - that is what is really important.”

One of the most difficult aspects of synchronized skating is getting a group of 17 skaters to think as one.

“They are a very diverse group of skaters,” Fishlock said. “They've really learned how to work together and it has been a learning process all season. It is difficult to get together and think as a team but they have really made great strides.”

But team members such as Katie Kozachuk are confident the team has the chemistry to pull together when it counts most.

“After all the hard work and practices, I think we'll pull through, and I think we'll do pretty good,” she said.

In 2004, the Bluewater Blades brought home the gold and are looking forward to capping off another year with a medal.

“I'd love to place,” Roberts said. “But I'd really love to get a medal. But I think the goal of the team is to really work hard and skate our best and make it a memorable, fun time.”

Among those representing Central New York in individual competition will be Julie Tucker, who has been skating since she was 8.

“I've always liked competing,” Tucker said. “It is just fun to skate and learn new moves and keep working to learn new moves and jumps.”

Last year Tucker brought home a silver medal in the intermediate division. This year she has moved up to the novice open division and is looking forward to some good competition and the chance to bring home another medal.

“You never know what the judges are going to think,” she said. “The program is longer and there are more combos and jumps. I've been running through it a lot to get ready. There are more difficult elements and the competition is harder, so I'm just going to skate my personal best and see what happens.”