Trust is the essential ingredient in aerial performances while flipping, dropping and dancing in the air. Trust in the silks, trust in her skills and trust in her coach make up Caroline Erekson’s (10) mantra as she swings scarily high through the air with nothing but methodically wrapped fabric around her body. 

During a birthday party in 2018, Caroline was invited to learn a basic skill on a silk apparatus. That one move sparked her interest in the sport. 

“A family friend wanted to try out doing lessons at a different gym and invited me and my sister to join,” Caroline said. “I’ve been doing it ever since then.”

As she grew older, her strength, stamina and technical prowess grew with her. She learned to make quick thinking decisions and place her faith in her skills and knowledge. 

“When you’re in the air, what you think about is mostly making sure you set yourself up the right way and pray that you don’t fall and not get caught by the fabric,” Caroline said.

But no skill comes without trial and error. Flips and drops are neither mentally nor physically easy. Caroline learned how to fall, fail and try again. She goes into each training session with the ability to push past discouraging moments and persevere through hard skills.

“She’s definitely had a growth mentality with it,” Lisa Erekson, Caroline’s mother said. “She’s eager to learn new things.”

Silks, like many sports, is taxing on the body and has forced Caroline’s grit to extend beyond willingness to learn new skills as she grapples with injuries putting a pin in her training.

“Over the years of doing silks I have acquired many injuries that have made stopping practice for a while necessary in order to heal properly,” Caroline said. 

Despite the challenges, her improved technique has allowed her strengths to shine through. Her bravery and confidence has allowed her to try more complicated skills.

“I’ve gotten to a place where I not only trust myself enough but I also trust my coach enough to the point where I’m not scared to drop for the 25 foot ceilings,” Caroline said.

No matter what, Caroline has never lost her love for silks.

“One of the things she brings [to practice] is a playful attitude,” Krista Hines, Caroline’s silks instructor said. “She’s not scared to be in a funny position by any means.”

For Caroline, it’s not about winning or being the best of the best. It’s about staying fit, enjoying the sport and improving her abilities.

“When it comes to silks,” Caroline said. “I don’t have any super high aspirations other than improvement, because silks is more of a fun, active sport that I enjoy doing more than something I’m pushing myself very hard for.”