Young women in sync
Atlantic synchronized swimming competition in P.E.I. this weekend
The best young synchronized swimmers in the Atlantic provinces will be dancing under water in Charlottetown this weekend.
The Atlantic Regional Competition begins today where more than 100 swimmers will demonstrate athleticism, artistry and teamwork at the Bell Aliant Centre (formerly known as CARI) pool.
Synchronized swimming is a combination of swimming, gymnastics, weightlifting and ballet – while periodically upside-down, under water and smiling.
The public is welcome to attend any part of the three-day competition.
The opening ceremonies are at 12:15 p.m. today. Solo routines begin at 2:15 p.m. today, followed by duet routines by the younger swimmers at 5 p.m. Duet routines continue Sunday at 8-9 a.m.
The team routines – where it is common to see the young women perform gymnastic moves while being boosted into the air by their teammates – complete the weekend’s activities, from 9:25–11 a.m. Sunday. The awards ceremony takes place noon to 1 p.m.
The Charlottetown Naiads will represent P.E.I., and are expected to do well. Three of the Charlottetown swimmers recently competed in Fredericton at the New Brunswick provincials, where the three soloists in the 16-18 year-old solo category placed first, second and third (Mackenzie Williams, Chloe Flynn and Grace Lloyd).
As well, the duet in that age group earned first place, and also came in first and second in the figures competition (Williams and Flynn).
Admittance to view the swimming is free. To offset costs, Synchro P.E.I. members will be selling raffle tickets at $10 each, with a chance to win two tickets to anywhere WestJet flies; a Paderno cookware set; two tickets to the newly refurbished Lucy Maud Montgomery dining room at Holland College; or a $75 gift certificate to Source for Sports.