Canada Games Trials

Written by Lyndsey Wallis

On Sunday, October 27th, Synchro Swim Manitoba had qualifying trials for the Western Canada Summer Games and the Canada Winter Games. Synchronized Swimming is a very popular sport in Canada, and this is why it is in both the Summer and Winter Games. The Summer Games team was to consist of nine swimmers aged under 15 years of age. The Winter Games team had swimmers aged 13 and over. I had the honour of pre-swimming both the figures and routine component of the trials. Pre-swimming is when you do all the figures and routine before the other competitors, so the judges can decide how they will score everything. Figures are when you are given a series of positions and you perform them to a panel of judges. For the routine, you had to perform it solo and to a panel of five judges. The routine that the Winter Games swimmers had to swim, was the National team's routine. The Summer Games girls had to swim NERS (National Entry Routine Set). Everyone in Canada who was trying out had to learn either of these routines.

In June, the first of two sets of trials began. From there, twelve people for each of the Games teams were chosen. On Sunday, after many hours of preparation, these same twelve competed for the nine spots on the team, eight swimmers and one alternate. Canada Winter Games are held every four years, and this year they will be held in New Brunswick in March. The Western Canada Summer Games is for the provinces in the west, and this year they are held in Selkirk in August.

I had the chance to ask two of the team members some questions. I talked to Bryn Weib who is thirteen years old and has been swimming for five years, and Andrea Macintosh who is seventeen and has been swimming for seven years.

Soundbox Magazine- Do you have any other swimming, dance or gymnastic training?

Bryn Weibe- I used to do ballet and jazz and I take gymnastics with the Winter Games training team  with Laura Ealing every Friday.

Andrea Macintosh- I took two years of gymnastics when I was eight.

SM- Why did you start swimming?

BW- I started swimming because apparently my mom said it was because there was a bus ride to Calgary involved

AM- There was a synchro presentation at my school.

SM- What was your motivation to try out for the Games?

BW- My motivation to try out for the Games was because I love to travel and I heard about the Games experience and I wanted to experience it. I thought it would be interesting.

AM- My coach Megan Cavers was very insistent that we should try.

SM- What kind of training did you go through to prepare yourself for trials?

BW- To prepare for the trials, I basically went through my normal training practices, I went to a couple of afternoon practices and I had a couple of private lessons.

AM- I had two weeks of extra practice, learning the routine from scratch and figures.

SM- What was the hardest thing about training?

BW- The hardest thing about training was when we went through each lap of the routine and fixed everything to be really precise. It was hard to remember everything.

AM- The full run-throughs of a routine I barely knew.

SM- When you made the initial 12 person training team, what went through your mind?

BW- When I made the 12 person training team I was really happy and excited! I was like oh my gosh! This is really cool! I have a chance to go to the Canada Games!!

AM- ME? How is this possible? I had a bad tryout, so I pretty much thought there was no way.

SM- At the actual trials. Were you nervous?

BW- I was really nervous but.yeah I was really nervous! Especially walking out to swim the routine.

AM- So nervous it wasnt even funny

SM- How does it feel to know you are representing Manitoba in such a big event?

BW I feel great! It is so cool to represent Manitoba in that event. I feel very lucky.

AM- Its an extremely proud feeling.

SM- What does you training include of?

BW- My training includes of swimming six times a week, weights two days a week, gymnastics once a week and a flex program one time a week.

AM- Six days a week water practice (one day specifically for the Games routine), one day of gymnastics. Its 20 hours total.

 SM- What are your goals for the competition?

BW- For the competition, my goals are to swim the routine and give it my best effort. Also not to mess up anything, to remember all the counts, be in the right place in all the patters and not screw anything up.

AM- I want to have fun representing Manitoba and to be ready and fully capable to compete.