It was a weekend of inspiration and learning for 29 members of the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swimming club.
The Mermaids attended the 2012 Marnie Eistetter Development Camp and Figures Meet in North Battleford.
One of the biggest highlights for the girls, aged 10-17, was meeting Elise Marcotte, a member of the Canadian duet and synchro teams at the Olympics this summer.
Marcotte taught the athletes segments from the actual Olympic routine, and the swimmers learned from several other instructors on Saturday as well.
Calgary native Claudia Holzner, a junior national team member who is training with the National Excellence Centre, taught the girls how to walk on the bulkhead (a moveable structure that separates the pool into sections) properly. Holzner also worked with body positions in the water and theatrical movements, both of which are essential for competitive routines.
Julie Levasseur, the head coach of the Wascana Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, taught the athletes how to properly stretch for maximum capacity. Meanwhile, long-term athlete development and sports physiology export Jennifer Langlois dealt with elevated sculling, resistant bands and posture.
Brittany Leaper, the north high performance coach for Synchro Saskatchewan, focused on land drill techniques that help athletes remember their routine better.
A banquet was held following Saturday's sessions, with girls lined up to get autographs and pictures with Marcotte and Holzner, who shared their experiences along the way to achieving their dreams.
The first figures competition of the synchro season took place on Sunday. Aside from the Mermaids, clubs from Yorkton, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Wynyard and North Battleford took part.
Mackenzie Dahl was first in the age 16-18 provincial stream, with 56.75 points. Chanel Thieven was fifth in the category with 53.91 points.
In the age 13-15 provincial stream, Tracy Irwin was fourth with 54.085 points, while Alyssa Wieting placed fifth with 52.50 points. Kelsey Potoma was sixth with 51.835 points. Six other Mermaids competed in the same category, with some achieving personal bests.
The Mermaids also had 10 athletes in the 12-and-under provincial stream category and two girls in the 10-and-under provincial stream.
The Mermaids also had a novice team competing, with the athletes taking part in their first-ever synchronized swimming event.
Hannah Mantei was third with 44.50 points and Courtney Reetz was fifth with 40.50 points.
The club also earned four awards based on last year's performance.
Dahl, 16, was named the provincial stream athlete of the year. Trinity Rooks, 11, was the most improved athlete of the year and Kendra Cossette, 10, was named the recreational stream athlete of the year.
For the fourth time in six years, the Mermaids received the club membership incentive award, given to the club with the highest growth rate in the province.
The Mermaids experienced membership growth of 24 per cent last year, which also made them the largest club in the province.
The Mermaids will compete in four more meets this year.
