Aerobics duo set to jet off to world championships
An inseparable duo from Dunedin have skipped, kicked and lunged their way to the world stage.
Peak Aerobics Academy students Stasa Tucker and Lucia Morey finished second at the FISAF International Pacific Open Competition at the weekend and have qualified for the world championships in Prague in October.
Stasa said it felt "crazy" when the duo found out they had qualified.
"It just didn't feel real in the moment.
Aerobics world championship qualifiers Stasa Tucker, 15 (left), and Lucia Morey, 14, hold a pose at King Edward Court on Tuesday afternoon. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
"When we first found that we qualified, I cried and Lucia cried a little bit, too."
Although they had been performing as a duo since last year, they had danced together since they were 5.
They spent a lot of time with each other, not just at aerobics, but also doing tap dancing and musical theatre.
Lucia said the girls enjoyed the high intensity.
"We're just trying to have fun and make it look as fun as possible."
They were excited about the prospect of competing overseas.
Head coach Kirsty Snoep said her voice was almost gone after cheering all weekend.
The girls had worked really hard and trained several times a week, she said.
"It's a super-high-impact sport — lots of jumping, lots of strength required, one-arm push-ups, that kind of thing."
In the next couple of months, the girls would be training with a personal trainer to get their fitness "to the absolute peak".
"They will be drilling their routines and making modifications as required, so they're at the most competitive they can be once we get there."
mark.john@odt.co.nz
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