Less than three years ago, Lina Goto competed in her first Western Canadian gymnastics.
It was one of the shortest journeys she ever will have to take in her pursuit of excellence in the gym. The venue was the Northern Sport Centre in Prince George, where she placed 11th out of 18 in pre-novice aspire category.
So now, in her attempt to get back to the Western Canadian finals, she could use the been-there, done-that approach to push her through the provincial team trials this weekend in Surrey. If only it was that simple.
Back in 2008, the only requirement was she had to be in the pre-novice class. The difference this time around for the 13-year-old Prince George Gymnastics Club (PGGC) member is she has to qualify to compete at Westerns, April 28-May 1 in Grande Prairie, Alta. In fact, she has to be among the top five Level 5 novice gymnasts in the B.C. to make the grade.
"I feel really good and this year I'm quite confident I'll make it to Westerns," said Goto. "I just have to stick all my routines and make sure I have a good attitude.
"It was really nerve-wracking (when she competed at the 2008 championships) because there were a lot of really good girls there but it was a good experience. I got to see many things that the other people are doing."
Goto placed first at her most recent competition, the Flip City meet in Langley in late January. Going to Westerns as a 10-year-old opened her eyes as to what the top-level gymnasts on the country are capable of, but the level she was at then pales in comparison to the tricks she's showing off now. The double Salto (two backflips) dismount that ends Goto's uneven bars routine is far from routine, and it's an element she picked up just a month ago.
"That (Western Canadian) experience does help but this year is going to be a lot more difficult for her," said PGGC coach Jennifer Fendelet. "There are 16 girls and she's doing a lot of difficult things this year. She can't make any mistakes if she wants to make the team and I think she's going to pull through. It will be a tough meet and she just has to stay calm and do what she's been doing, she's been training amazingly. She's a very hard worker."
Two other Prince George Gymnastics Club members -- Milan Knight, 14, and Brooklyn Nicholson, 11 -- will be under the Team B.C. microscope this weekend. Knight is trying to earn a spot on the six-member open team, while Nicholson is after one of five spots on the provincial tyro team. Knight's open class will be hotly-contested, with 23 athletes, while Nicholson is up against six others in the tyro class.
"Neither of them have tried out for Westerns and I'm just trying to keep them nice and relaxed and if they make it, great," said PGGC coach Jennifer Watt. "They both have a really good chance of making it."
Both are making the jump this season from Level 4. The tryouts will be only their second Level 5 meet, which means there are no restrictions on the level of difficulty allowed.
Knight, a fifth-place finisher at Flip City, has upped the degree of difficulty in every event. A natural performer, Knight loves the floor routine. She also excels on the bars, and now has a double free-hip handstand to wow the judges in Surrey.
"There's 23 in my group and only the top six make it," said Knight. "It's my first time trying out so I'm not really sure, I'll just try to hit 4-for-4 and do my best and see where it gets me. Some of the girls have the biggest tricks in every event, it's crazy."
Nicholson underwent ear surgery that kept her out of physical activity the entire summer. She also went through a growth spurt and needed time to adjust to her lankier body, but over the last few weeks has zeroed in on that new centre of gravity. She was third in the tyro class at Flip City. Nicholson has added a Tsukahara to her vault, a move that requires a half-twist entry and ends with a back tuck in the air.
"I know it's going to be hard, most of the girls have been at Level 5 for awhile," said Nicholson. "I just want to do good in floor with my twists. It would be quite an accomplishment to go to Westerns."
n The Zone 8 championship meet in Fort St. John originally scheduled for this weekend has been postponed until May due to poor road conditions. Eighteen PGGC athletes were entered in the competition, which was a Level 2 provincial qualifying meet. The provincial qualifiers will instead be determined based how they perform in videos to be sent to provincial judges.
