Swimmers from Richmond's Pacific Wave Synchronized Swim Club (PWS) will be competing at the provincial level for the second time ever this weekend.
Three soloists and one duet are set to compete in the 11-12 age category, and around 15 soloists and two teams are competing in the 13-15 category. All athletes will also be competing individually in the figures event.
“They are very excited. No one seems to be nervous about this upcoming competition,” said Meng Chen, the technical director of PWS.
“I can feel they can’t wait to show off what they have been training for,” she added.
The provincial stream at PWS introduces swimmers to the competitive aspect of synchronized swimming, according to the PWS website. Its program aims to prepare amateur swimmers for the next level by strengthening their mentality and developing their water skills, body strength, and flexibility, Chen explained.
True to the program’s goals, the PWS team’s routines are focused on basic skill development while having fun with the sport.
One of the 13-15 category teams will be performing a “Bieber Fever” themed routine, which will include the Justin Bieber's iconic songs “Baby”, “U Smile”, and “Somebody to Love”. The routine was designed by Katie Stirrat, a competitive stream coach at PWS, who used those titles for her very first synchronized swimming routine 10 years ago.
“[Stirrat] wanted her girls to have the same fun experience that she did swimming to that routine and also because the music is catchy and a crowd favourite!” said Chen.
The team competed at the provincial level for the first time at the Mable Moran Provincial Qualifier this April, and Chen is excited to see how much they have improved since then.
“I also would like to celebrate the improvement of our young generation coaches on their first performance especially [because] this is their first year to lead a whole team in their career to compete at Provincial level. Very exciting for them,” she added.
