Members of the Prince George Water Lilies held something of an impromptu reunion with British Columbia's synchronized swimming team this week.
As the team put in a practice session Tuesday at the Prince George Aquatic Centre in preparation for competition at the Canada Winter Games, a throng of the local swimmers were on the pool's edge.
Both the teams from B.C. and Saskatchewan were in Prince George last summer to familiarize themselves with the facility and, in the process, struck up some friendships with the local girls and became pen pals.
"They were talking about 'oh, can we go and talk to them, can we go and meet them again? Just to see them face-to-face instead of electronically conversing with them," said Water Lilies coach Lynn Barager.
Among the takeaways was the importance of doing the basics well.
"Everyone thinks you get in the water and right away you're going to ballet in the water, but no, there's a lot of work that goes in before that," Barager said.
The Water Lilies were "just a little awestruck" at the height the swimmers get with their egg beater kicks and sculling.
"They're taking some of the rudimentary things that they're learning and saying 'well, I can see where that goes, that is applicable, I guess I should practice," Barager said.
But the sight was also a source of inspiration, "that they can do it, that they can get there too."
Asked what is the appeal of the sport, Barager said she asked the club members that very same question.
"They said they like gymnastics, they like dance, they like music and they like swimming so they put it all together, and that's synchro," Barager said.
But it doesn't come easy.
"It is an extremely challenging sport. You have to be strong. You're doing gymnastic manoeuvres and not breathing, so a lot of anaerobic work and it's a lot of work.
"It takes years and years of practice and it looks beautiful."
The Water Lilies have been going since September 2013 thanks in part to legacy funding from the Canada Games Council.
There are 17 girls currently registered, ages eight to 13, and there are five coaches. Their first meet will be in Kelowna next weekend.
All the swimmers are in the water for at least one hour per week and some for two hours and they're assigned stretches to do at home. They also do a half hour of stretching before taking to the water.
They usually train in the deep end at the Aquatic Centre and Barager asks that those interested in joining have at least their Level 4 through the Red Cross learn to swim program.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/pgsynchro.
