Preparing for Regionals

Before I encountered Technique, I thought of Equestrian events as the epitome of posh and snobbery. I thought of the famous images of European royalty atop gorgeous horses participating in Equestrian sports. What I find at Technique could not be more different. Well, except that the ways in which the vaulters treat each other and themselves, the horses and their coaches, royal etiquette and royal treatment couldn't better express their behavior. What makes this even more amazing is that this all occurs during the intense weeks leading up to Regional Competition in Las Vegas the first week end in November. One might think that at this time, at least, the vaulters would focus inward, not caring as much as they had about the other vaulters as they could very well compete against each other in this competition. Amazingly, the opposite happened.

When Ari, who had been vaulting for exactly one month, came home one day and announced he was going to compete in Las Vegas, I hesitated. I knew he was improving with each lesson, but I had been ill and unable to attend a few lessons and was not sure he would actually be ready. In fact, I remembered Cambry saying that the newest vaulters would not be going to Regionals because they just couldn't be ready by then. I reminded him of this, but he said that Cambry had given him permission. I agreed, contingent on Cambry's approval. To my surprise, she said he could go. We went into vaulting hyperdrive trying to get him ready to go. Not to win. To go. We wanted him to understand that he was going for the experience and that he had already won by being allowed to go. I loved that the club had the same attitude. They prepared to win but emphasized the fun of the competition, the joy of vaulting intself.

One thing I loved was watching the older, more experienced vaulters each taking a younger vaulter under their wing and helping them develop a winning freestyle routine. I didn't worry at all that Ari would enjoy himself, that all the vaulters attending the competetion would enjoy themselves, because of the positive energy in the barn. This positive energy extended beyond the horse arena. The parents were equally excited and supportive of every vaulter there. We developed friendships that should last a lifetime. We talked about how much our children loved vaulting and how much this particular club had bettered our children's lives and, by extension, our own. Moms sat in chairs or stood with their younger, enthralled, children. Fathers stood at the bars, generally one foot up, arms resting on top of the most comfortable bar, watching their kids perform and practice with an intensity I loved. Our vaulting family really came together.

During an early cold snap in October, we huddled together as the kids ran, warmed up and huddled around the small space heater Cambry named Wally, much to the kids' delight. The cold did not affect the mood or excitement of the team. I got my first real introduction to barrel competition. Some older vaulters worked hard at putting together a routine that could lead them to place in Regionals. They worked on tricks that stunned me with their grace and beauty. And, to be honest, made me nervous a bit until I saw the control with which they executed each movement. I loved the mothers and grandmothers participating in helping them shape a beautiful routine. People brought hot chocolate for every one, we huddled together, and continued our support of our kids.

The coaches selflessly offered their time for individual lessons. Yes, we paid for those lessons, but we didn't pay for the kindness and concern each coach gave each vaulter.   In my previous experience with other sports, coaches may give extra time to some players, players they feel will be stars, but they don't work on developing a relationship in the way I see Technique doing. Not to disparage other sports or other coaches, but it is not possible to praise the Technique coaches enough. I mean that seriously.