COMPETITOR PROFILE
LAUGE BENJAMINSEN Born and currently living in Silkeborg, Denmark.
Q: How long have you been juggling?
A: I learned the 3 ball cascade in April 2006, but at that time my juggling wasn't serious at all. In May 2007 I started my youtube account, and got a lot of inspiration from the World Juggling Federation's videos. So I've been juggling serious for about 1 and a half years.
Q: How did you learn how to juggle?
A: I started juggling in April 2006, where one of my friends taught me the 3 ball cascade, when he came home for circus school. And then it went on.
Q: Why did you keep juggling?
A: In the start it was because I wanted to do something different from what my classmates were doing, but then I saw how cool juggling was, I saw the World Juggling Federation, I noticed how fast I'm imporving, and how many friends I got worldwide, so that what kept me juggling.
Q: Why do you want to compete in the WJF competitions?
A: I have always liked competition, and this is my first juggling competition. I think I will learn a lot from going to WJF5 too, and I will also meet many of my heroes. So I'm really very excited!
Q: What are your goals in juggling, technically and professionally?
A: MY goal is to keep practicing and get better.
Q: What kind of training has been the most beneficial in progressing your juggling skills?
A: My training is best when I get good sleep, and have a new trick to work on. I have found out that I practice better at afternoon, because at that time I get more speedy! I try to keep my practice at 3-4 hours evert day.
Q: What has had the most influence on your juggling?
A: The World Juggling Federation has opened my eyes for sport juggling, also meeting and communicating with other jugglers is very inspiring, and watching all my idols on youtube.
Q: Do you practice with any other jugglers?
A: Yes a few, mostly Nicklas Sviestrup, Alexander Tretow. We practice up to 4 hours every day, more or less. Nicklas and I do a bit club passing practice, just a few minutes each day. The 3 of us also enjoy to play combat.
Q: What did you think when you first heard of the WJF Sponsorship Program?
A: A great idea, I thought it was a chance to actually come to the WJF.
Q: When did you start preparing for the Sponsorship Program competition?
A: I started preparing a month after I saw the competition, practice on the tricks I was going to put into my routine. My routine was done about 15 days before the competition deadline, to get some of my best tricks in to my routine.
Q: What did you think your chances were of winning?
A: I thought I had a chance, people were telling me that I would win, but I wasn't quite sure, I thought it was like 50/50.
Q: How did you feel when you found out you won?
A: It was almost unreal, I woke up like 5 times that morning, I opened my computer, went on to the Sponsorship page and only saw: "Winners: 1st Place..." I rolled down my screen to a huge surprise. That was one of the coolest experiences in my life time.
Q: Who was the first person you told?
A: Nicklas was sleeping at my house that night, so he was the first one I told. Like I wrote, we woke about 5 times that morning, so the 3rd time I tricked him. Then when I found out I really won, he wouldn't believe me. So I showed it to him, and ran down to my parents and told them.
Q: What are you looking forward to seeing and doing at WJF 5?
A: Everything! To meet all my friends and idols, learn a lot from other jugglers, compete, have fun, and I'm also very excited about the extreme competitions. Everything!
