California Bay Area Abilties Expo a HIT!
From Friday, November 21st to Sunday, November 23rd, the SS~AWD Booth kept abuzz with new fans, friends and followers! People were also 'curious' about Athletes with Disabilities and Synchronized Swimming.
After watching the two flat screen monitors, one with a story about 'WHY I love Synchro' and another with clips of the June 2014 Canadian National Championships featuring many AWD synchro swimmers, the curious turned into believers! The booth, complete with a 'Knoxing Station' and Fabulous displays of Synchronized Swimming Suits, guests who visited became supporters.
Doug and Tina Boales hosted the Booth to spread awareness about Synchronized Swimming athletes with Disabilities and to garner support for incorporating the AWD in synchro programs in clubs and teams around the World. Also in attendance were the SS~AWD support synchro demo group. With Coach Katie Killebrew (our synchro expert advisor) leading the team of six synchro swimmers (Narinay, Danielle, Leilah, Lexi, Grace and Raquel), she magically transformed the Expo stage into an imaginary pool for many of the participating spectators. It was a blast to watch and a joy to see so many people who believe in Synchro and Athletes with Disabilities.
Raquel Boales, one of our active AWD synchro swimmers (Santa Clara Aquamaids in Northern California) land drilled with her video to her Gold Medal International Competition in Canada on a large flat screen. The excitement became real when many enjoyed the Hunger Games story line, swam by Raquel, an elite AWD synchro swimmer.
But the ones who really stole the show? The spectators who participated! So much potential AWD swimmers. Perhaps they will one day in 2024 make up the AWD team that goes to the Paralympic Games!
We plan on hosting another booth at the Los Angeles Abilities Expo during the first week of March. Here, we will capture the Southern California crowd, home to NUMEROUS synchro teams, including the Los Angeles Rec Dept Synchro circuit.
Then, we will take a break and kick off the synchro season and showcase our AWD swimmers from Canada, United States, Mexico and Taiwan. We will also be in the midst of planning our Taiwan trip to the 1st annual AWD Syncho Symposium in June. Check back for more details or subscribe to our group (box in middle of home page) where you will be sent automatic updates on free local synchro competitions (Meets). If you wish to have us post your competition, please subscribe to our group and send us an email with details to: awdsynchro@gmail.com.
