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After Program Components Camp, Ana and I spent several days in Charleston, South Carolina.  We went to the beach at Isle of Palms, and Ana collected shells and tried surfing.

 

We also went to Magnolia Plantation, and Ana enjoyed the superb gardens and really impressive petting zoo.

Ana and Ben were able to attend the USFS Program Components Camp in Charleston, SC this weekend as a pairs team.  We drove down on thursday and friday, and friday afternoon they did STARS fitness testing.  Then they spent the rest of the weekend in a very intense skating camp — 10+ hours days with 5+ hours on ice and lots of off ice classes and training. 

They were in a group of other pairs and dance teams – 4 teams total.  They learned quite a lot and had a wonderful time.  Unfortunately Ben had to leave early, so one of the expert skaters helping run the camp was kind enough to skate the show with Ana. 

 

 

A nice trip to Columbus for the Rhythmic Spring Fling.  It's easily the biggest rhythmic competition in the season so far, lots of competitors from all over the world.  It was at the Columbus Convention Center again this year.

De competed Friday morning, and had a very nice floor routine (4th out of 12):

 

We enjoyed our usual Columbus meals at Culvers, and had an uneventful drive – overall a very nice trip!

Somehow this just happened – everyone reading their Life of Fred math book at once.  Not posed!  If it were posed I would have included De and her Fred book too.  :)

Today was Shamrock Skate, our local ISI competition.  We spent the day there, with Jenya and Ana competing, and all of us volunteering.  Jenya and Ana both premiered their new freeskate programs, and Jenya also skated her minecraft program – the one she choreographed herself.

 

Ana competed her axel for the first time, and had two clean axels!  Very cool.  And she won her group – 1st out of 3.

 

 

Jenya and Ben amuse themselves at mini-golf.

A great day snow tubing at wildwood. 

Schenley show time again, and this year we had decent weather for a change.  The girls' Theater on Ice group did their performance, and Jenya and Ana also both did solos.

Jenya premiered her new minecraft program, which she created and choreographed herself.  It was quite funny – all the adults seemed confused as to what she was supposed to be, but all the kids were saying "wow – minecraft!!".  She did a great job – it looks really impressive.

 

Ana skated her new free skate program for the first time.  She downgraded a few elements because it was a show program, but I thought it looked really nice.

 

Ana took her Pre-Preliminary Freeskate test today, because she finally, after about a year of working on it, got her axel to a competitive level.  This is a very big achievement (the axel), so it's funny that she marks that achievement by taking a test that consists solely of skills she could do in her sleep two years ago. 

Anyway, here is her test, which of course she passed:

 

 

A very snowy drive to Columbus yesterday for Dealia's first rhythmic competition of the season.  Upwards of 5 hours for what is normally a 3 hour drive. 

The competition itself went quite well – De placed 3rd all around, with 3rd in floor, 4th in rope, and 3rd in hoop. 

There were about 20 girls at her level.  She got some nice swag, too – they gave all the kids nice rhythmic notebooks, and they had snowflakes with each competitor's name on them that they got to keep.

After the competition we all went to Culver's, of course – that's everyone's favorite part of heading west. 

Here's a video of De's floor routine:

 

And her hoop routine: