Let's get biographical

This week we have asked to hear from family and friends about what it is like to support someone through the competition process, how they feel about thier competitors and thier involvement!

Each of the girls has a dedicated support network and reading through the comments, it is lovely to see just how proud our family and friends are!

To support the girls in the comp don't forget to buy tickets at

https://thorndenhall.ticketsolve.com/#/seated-events/127898608


Lexi - Written by her friend Sami
Lexi and I have been close friends since 2008 when we were in halls together and we still see each other weekly at aerial classes! I'm so incredibly proud of her making it into the Solent competition and I know she's going to be amazing!

We started training for hoop around the same time and I've seen her progress so much both in strength and flexibility, and her moves are so elegant! I loved her audition piece which she also performed for the SAAS Showcase.

I'm really excited to see what she does with her routine, we've discussed her ideas for music and theme and she's had some interesting ones for this routine (but no spoilers!). I'm a complete fan girl of this competition, I watch all the video montages and I've already booked my ticket to come and watch and I'll be screaming my lungs out when she comes on stage! Good luck Lexi ❤

Lauren - Written by her sister Hannah
Since Lauren joined SAAS a few years ago she's come a long way in terms of her body shape and fitness and it's hard not to see how much she enjoys it all and how well she does at it, we're very proud of all that she's achieved so far from competitions and being able to teach classes now. When preparing for a competition we search through hours of music to find the right one and I enjoy being a part of that and to help in a small way. We've been to a few of the summer shows to support Lauren and I'll always be there cheering and videoing her, I'm a proud little sister and I'm sure she will continue you do very well if not even better

Emily - Written by her mum, Melanie
Supporting Emily through the competition process is definitely like being on a roller coaster.
It starts with the uphill climb of choosing the right music, the theme and of course the costume. This can go round and round a number of loops before any decisions are made.
The next climb is the diet. All the information on what to eat, when to eat, macros, nutrients plus giving up alcohol is enough to make you feel dizzy. Add into that the schedule of exercise classes and invariably her empty bank balance at the end of the month, and you know this isn’t going to be an easy ride.
The other aspect of the diet side of things is the loss of my kitchen. It started with Emily having her own shelf, then a cupboard and finally one of the biggest cupboards in the room. She also had one shelf in the fridge but this has now expanded to her having the whole fridge. Basically, my kitchen has been taken over, although the loop about who is responsible for cleaning and washing up goes round and round and round.
All this going on whilst the nerves climb higher and higher until finally at last competition day arrives. The coaster has reached the top, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the ride.
If the competition is local, I like to go along and support Emily and the other girls. If it isn’t then that is when the text messages fly between us. I try and help steer her through her nerves and try not to let her see how nervous I am for her, but when I’m watching I do sometimes have to look away as I’m worried she might hurt herself.
I am so impressed at how hard the girls work and love to watch the routines and see the results of that hard work come to fruition. They should all be proud of themselves and what they achieve. Don’t tell Emily but I am extremely proud of her. The fact that she is prepared to be pushed out of her comfort zone and take on the challenge, particularly the dance aspect, when I know how nervous she can get is worth giving up my kitchen for.
The performance is done, the competition finishes and our coaster ride is over.
Winners or not, it has definitely been one hell of a ride and one I’ve no doubt we will all be doing again!

Sophie - Written by her mum, Lisa
I am very proud of Sophie and how far she has come during her aerial hoop training I've been through all the ups and downs of the hard work put in and all the family will always be there to support Sophie no matter where ! Sophie will always put 100% in although I have listened to more different music versions this last month than ever , good luck to all the competitors I will be there cheering xx

Hannah - Written by Julie on behalf of the Tuesday Night Ladies

Supporting Hannah on her journey is a privilege, I have total admiration for her and the commitment to the competition  and its ups and downs
Hannah is a part of my Tuesday 7pm ladies class- these ladies support each other like a family they are always ready to do shows for various charities and even got together and performed for BGT but unfortunately were not picked. This class has been together for years and when the competition gets closer the Tuesday ladies will become Hannah's personal audience every week encouraging at every step. (Although we won't be able to play the songs used for a few months as it drives us all crazy) "in a loving way'. 😊😊
All the Tuesday 7pm ladies will be supporting the competition and everyone from SAAS. Hannah is receiving private lessons with Zorena but every now and then I have a vision that fits perfectly with the music so will mention it 😊😊 Hannah has always been happy to help my visions along, both in the dance rehearsals for shows and for her own choreography for routines and she is always upbeat and positive encouraging everyone xx

(BLOG BONUS! Well done for reading this far! Please enjoy this little extra from Zorena! Good job I didn't ask her to write about me!)

Lauren - Written by her instructor Zorena
I would say that Lauren is potentially the worst student that I’ve got. She doesn’t listen to me, she doesn’t take criticism very well, she talks back, she half-asses her way through every class. She has progressed a bit because she comes to a lot of classes. She half-asses her way through her workout programme and her diet which isn’t going to get her very far! In spite of this I’m sure she will make up a last minute routine and put on a few mediocre performances. That’s all. Love Zorena.