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Tara Picchietti - Wake Surfing/Allstar Cheerer (UT)

by marina sanchez on October 14, 2017

Age: 15
Location (State/Province): Utah
Country: USA
Sport(s): Allstar Cheer, Wakesurfing
Instagram Handle: @thepcmermaid

What does SheShredsCo mean to you?

Ever since I have joined SheShredsCo I have not only grown as an athlete but as a person as well. Being able to meet and be with girls of different ages, sports, and even countries has been such an amazing opportunity. Whenever someone has a problem, whether it be physical or mental, everyone comes together to try to help. I've been able to learn so much about new sports, even tried some myself! The amount of support from the girls is astonishing, something you can only get from a true group of friends. I'm so proud to call myself an ambassador and be apart of the SheShreds.Co Family!

How did you get hooked on your favorite action sport(s)?

I actually started allstar cheer when I was six years old, making next season my tenth year in cheer. I started out being a front spot for my first year (meaning I didn't actually do much besides look up at the stunt), but by nationals that season I was in the air flying. During my entire flying career, I never came down at a competition. I ended up switching gyms three years ago, so I could expose myself to a different atmosphere. My first year at Utah Fusion Allstars, I went to The Cheerleading Worlds. The Cheerleading Worlds is the Olympics for cheer, teams get to go by invitation only. Cheer is my getaway when I go to practice, I'm able to leave everything that happened during the day in the past. My flying capabilities definitely carry over to the balance portion of wakesurfing. I started wakesurfing almost three years ago, but it wasn't love at first sight. I struggled with the fear of falling and landing on the board, though it was quickly overcome. The more I started to surf, the more I fell in love with the sport. Which ultimately lead to me competing in my first wakesurf competition just last season.


What challenges do you face being a female in the sport?

It's not being just a female that's the challenge, but just being labeled a cheerleader in general. I'll get several comments from people telling me to, "Do a flip," or, "Cheer a chant." Many don't understand how hurtful/irritating comments like that can be when you do nothing of the sort. Being a female makes it so my voice isn't heard, people think that my aggravation is just a funny joke because, "Cheer isn't a sport." Apparently to some people, throwing and catching a ball is harder than throwing and catching a person. 

Where is the most unusual or exciting place you have done your sport?

The most exciting place I have ever done a competition at was ESPN Wide World of Sports. I have competed there three times now and will be going again with an At-Large bid to The Summit 2018 in May. Gyms will stay at Disney's Allstar Resort and compete at the ESPN complexes. Being able to run to Disney World right after you finish competing is definitely one of my favorite things to do while I'm down there. My favorite place to surf at is Lake Mead in Nevada. Though it may not seem exciting to many, something about it makes it special. Could be the warm bath water or the white rocks, or maybe the fact that it covers two state borders.


What has been your most memorable moment so far?

My most memorable moment besides competing at The Cheerleading Worlds, was leading my team to win the Varsity West Coast Conference Cup. The West Coast Cup is a point competition in which the team with the most points (that are earned by each win), takes the title of the champion of the entire west coast. Last year I was the captain alongside my friend Hailey of our team called Sirens. The love I had for that team was almost too much for me to handle. Before we took the floor for the last time as a team, I cried and told them all just how much I loved them. Making it the first team I had ever gotten emotional for, that being a memorable moment itself. After we finished the routine, Hailey and I identified something special about each individual athlete on the team and wrote it on their stomach.


Who/what are your inspirations

One of my inspirations is actually a fellow ambassador and friend of mine. I met Maggie Phipps for the first time at a wakeboarding competition. When she found out that I was a wakesurfer, her and Gina wouldn't let me leave until I agreed to participate in my first wakesurf competition the following weekend. Though she doesn't know it, she pushes me to be better and try new tricks on my board. For example, she'll post a new trick on her Instagram and my immediate thought will be, "I should try that!" Though we may still technically be competitors on the water, she is now one of my closest friends.

Favorite thing about SheShreds products?

Anything that has black latte, and let's not forget the tan beanies!

 

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