It was a solid result for Airdrie’s Sky-High Twirlers after a strong showing at the National Baton Twirling Championships in Winnipeg, July 2-7.
The group earned the competition’s top prize of Grand National Dance Twirl Award, beating out all five other teams in the finals.
“It ended up that we had a great showing,” said head coach Loren Dermody. “Everyone just wanted to do their best in their individual and group routines.”
Sky-High’s four competing groups took home two golds, one bronze and a fourth place.
Star twirler Sara Black took home gold in the solo baton, two baton and three baton categories and said her hard work has paid off.
“We spent a lot of time training the week before and I think that really helped,” said Black, 15.
Black has twirled for 11 years and competed in the World Baton Twirling Federation’s International Cup two years ago in Norway, where she finished fifth in the world in freestyle baton. That experience has helped her get where she is today.
“It was scary walking in, but then you have to be confident in your training and it paid off for me,” Black said about her trip to Norway.
The Sky-High Twirlers generally practice about four hours each day. Closer to competitions, practices get more intense and girls training gets ramped up to six or seven hours daily.
“On their own they have to do their conditioning and stretching — one to two hours outside of the gym,” said Dermody.
The group is now preparing for this year’s International Cup in Jacksonville, Fla., where they are hoping to build on the successes of Winnipeg.
“Because it was so positive, it will really boost the girls and give them a little bit more confidence when they are training,” said Dermody. “It’s not often you get that many grand nationals (titles) in one year.”
The World Baton Twirling Federation’s International Cup takes place Aug. 4-7. For more information, visit www.wbtf.org
