I competed in my first tournament!
I had the pleasure of spending the weekend in Virginia to compete in Beast in the East 9! It was my first tournament so I was feeling nervous on how I was going to do. I did not win the grand final, but I was incredibly happy to even reach the finals and earn the runner-up spot! I met so many great people and experienced many moments that I will cherish forever. I love Pump it Up and I love being a part of the Pump it Up community!
In this clip, I'm playing Repentance D26 as the final song of the winner's bracket final. HDS and I were tied 2-2, so this was the tiebreaker. He went first and got a broken AAA+ 96.6 which was higher than my 96.0 clear that I got in 2025. I've probably attempted this chart 50 times between 2025 to now, and now here I am with only one shot to beat a score that I've never gotten in any of the attempts I've put into it. In all of my years of playing Pump it Up, I have never been put in a situation where the stakes were this high. I thought I was going to crack under the pressure and let my nerves get the best of me. What ended up happening was a run where everything clicked when it mattered most. I gave it my all, and was able to win the match with a 97.2 S score. I was overcome with joy and excitement. It was truly an unforgettable moment and definitely one of the biggest highlights (highlights highlights) of my Pump it Up journey.
While I came short of the win in the grand finals, I felt like I was able to overcome my nerves and give it my best from beginning to end. I'm typing this having just returned home about 12 hours ago. I'm exhausted and sore but my heart is full and happy. Here's to next year!