QUEENSLAND sports aerobics athletes hit the stage on the weekend for their first competition of the year, after several tough months of social distancing and Zoom rehearsals.
The Federation of International Sport Aerobics and Fitness Queensland Super Series was held at Ormiston College from Friday to Sunday, and saw athletes from schools and studios across Queensland performing.
While sports aerobics competitions are usually held earlier in the year, COVID-19 restrictions put the Super Series on hold.
Sports aerobics coach and competition judge Lucy Goddard said it had been an emotional return for athletes, judges and coaches.
"The first routine that happened on the Friday night, people teared up," she said.
"It's our passion - we want these kids to get on stage and be able to show why they've worked so hard."
She said many athletes trained via online video conferencing when travel and social distancing restrictions were brought in.
"We've done a lot of Zoom classes, but it's been really difficult to keep the motivation up," she said.
"It was quite difficult with connection issues and music. We ended up doing a lot of conditioning rather than routines, so when we came back, it was re-learning how to do a lot of the moves.
"It's been a long road."
LDC Queensland coach Holly Pereira said the girls were raring to go after nearly 12 months off.
"They're both excited and nervous because we haven't been able to compete for a year," she said.
Ms Goddard said a lot of studios had been working on routines since November.
"It's been a goal they can work towards during lockdown," she said.
"They put their heart and soul into it.
"Normally our season's done by now (but) it's such an exciting time that in Queensland we're allowed to hold these events again."
The Redlands is one of Queensland's top areas for sports aerobics.
Redlands schools and studios competing in the Super Series included Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Ormiston State School, St Mary MacKillop Primary School, St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, St Luke's, Ormiston College, Cleveland State School, Thornlands State School, Bayview State School, Cleveland District State High School, Industrie 1 and LDC Queensland.