Pizza Meet

Pearl has been doing tumbling for a while now, surely over a year, but I couldn't tell you exactly. Sometimes I am sad that I introduced her, because after Ivory quit, I was looking forward to a break, but I still drive out there multiple times a week. But seeing the joy it brings Pearl is totally worth it. She really loves to tumble as evidenced by her jumping and vaulting around the house all the time.

She is on a pre-team right now. These are the kids that will most likely be on team next year. I'm still not sure how the program works. Pearl has been working hard. She has learned her little routines and in December, they gave the kids a chance to show off. They did an in-house meet.

They have a competition leo and Pearl is so proud to wear it. She was also told to wear socks because they need some kind of footwear on the tramp. We didn't have a lot of options, but you can pick Pearl out easily enough because of her long white socks.

For Pearl, there are three events:

Double Mini
Tramp
Tumbling Pass

This is different than gymnastics obviously, but some things are still similar. They start and end with a salute. They do their designated routine. They are scored.

Pearl started on the Double Mini. This is a trampoline that is used for big individual tricks. It isn't a routine as much as a pass they have worked on. Pearl did a great job. Her passes included straddle jumps and pike jumps. She got some great height.

Although they were given scores, the parents couldn't see what they were. So I think Pearl did well, but I really have no idea.

Next event was tramp. The kids have a set routine that they go through. We were sitting on the other side of the gym, so I snuck over to get a video.

The last event for Pearl's group was tumbling pass. For more advanced kids, this is where you see the back hand springs, and whips, and big air. Pearl does know how to do a back handspring, but that wasn't included in their routine. She did a back walk over, and some backward rolls. She did two passes and they were different. We got some pictures and a video of the second pass.

We got to see all her events and then the majority of us had to leave to attend Honor Band. But I'm so glad we got to see Pearl in action. She did a fantastic job and she is very excited for her upcoming meet in February.

Here is the group shot Tyler got at the end. Can you find Pearl? If you divided the group in half, she is in the middle of the left section.

p.s. It was called a Pizza Meet because they all had pizza afterward. I hope Pearl got a piece. I know they left quickly to go see Robyn.