WINNIPEG — Canada’s top baton twirlers are in Winnipeg this weekend to showcase their talent.
About 140 competitors are hoping to earn a spot on the national team that will perform in Abbotsford, B.C., in August at the International Cup.
“Many of them have been to worlds already,” said Edie Parisian, the tournament organizer and Manitoba chair. “The whole idea is this is one step on the journey to Abbotsford … when Canada hosts the world.”
16-year-old Yonatan Orlov is a Team Manitoba hopeful who first saw baton at a talent show four years ago. He felt an immediate connection fell in love with it ever since.
Orlov now practices almost every day for close to 20 hours a week and cross trains with dance and gymnastics.
“You toss it and you do the illusion under it or you do spins under it, and then you just have to keep juggling over and over,” said Orlov.
His teammate has twirled her way around the globe and was inspired after seeing the world’s best from Japan sport their tricks.
“Just watching them made me just think one day I want to be like them, be at their level,” said Rhaychelle Tan, who competed at the International Cup in Almere, Holland in 2013.
The International Cup features top twirling teams from around the world and is held in a new country every year. Manitoba won a gold medal at the championship in Holland two years ago.
“It’s very nerve racking,” said Tan. “You try to pretend the judges aren’t there… it’s a chance you train all year for starting in September.”
While it is not recognized in Canada as an Olympic sport, organizers are trying to pick up more support at tournaments like this.
“The world federation is working very hard towards getting recognized by SportAccord with the ultimate goal of… participating in the Olympic games,” said Jeff Johnson, CEO of the International Cup.
Opening ceremonies for the Canadian championships kick off Friday night at the University of Manitova and the competition continues until Sunday evening.
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