Local group of acrobatic gymnasts heading to Portugal for big competition

Twenty athletes from the Light Acrobatic Gymnastics Centre are heading to Portugal for the International Acro Cup.

Acrobatic gymnastics is a sport that combines acrobatic skills, dance and tumbling, all set to music.

This is a big week for 20 athletes from the Light Acrobatic Gymnastics Centre, who are headed to Portugal on Sunday to compete in the International Acro Cup.

Fifteen-year-old Josie Shelstad wants to see how her team stacks up against the rest of the world.

“I’m really excited,” she said.

“It was kind of our dream to go to a World Cup and to go this far. I’m glad I’m going with the team that I have now—that I get to go with the people I love.”

Shelstad is part of a trio with 16-year-old Hannah Goertzen and 11-year-old Bella Goetz.

They all have to work together to make sure everything goes just right.

Goetz has to have total trust in her teammates because she’s the one that gets thrown into the air.

Goetz says she likes everything about the sport.

“It’s just fun because (it’s) dynamic. I’m excited that I’m getting flipped in the air. For balance, it’s slow, so if you’re tired that day, it’s like, ‘I’m not doing flips this day.’ … But it’s fun that I’m still doing acrobatic gymnastics.”

The trio has a great relationship.

Goertzen says despite having an age difference, they’re the best of friends.

“I think we just all understand each other really well,” she said.

“You’re forced to work in such close quarters with each other that you’re forced to create a bond. Then that forced bond grows, and you become best friends from there.”

Robert Light is the head coach, and he says going up against the best in the world won’t be easy, but it will be a great experience.

“It’s going to be their first really big meet in Europe, and it’s going to be really tough competition,” he said.

“We just want them to have a really good experience internationally competing and seeing what acrobatic gymnastics looks like outside of the country in Europe, where it’s much more popular.”

The International Acro Cup runs Feb. 26 through March 2 in Portugal.