Wanganui's Jasmine Anthony and Allanah Millar found out how fast and furious their sport is after competing in their first World Sportstacking Championships in Montreal at the weekend.
Anthony, 14, and Millar, 13, were in the 11-strong New Zealand team, competing alongside nearly 250 stackers representing 14 countries.
Both girls were in the female 13-14 years division, where they picked up medals after top-10 finishes.
The world championships award medals down the line and then trophies for the top performers. Anthony came ninth in the 3-3-3 pyramid and the cycle sections, with her best performance being eighth in the 3-6-3. Millar was tenth behind Anthony in the 3-3-3.
To give an idea of the speed the world's best stackers can place cups into a pyramid formation and bring them down again: Anthony completed the 3-3-3 task in 2.356 seconds, Millar in 4.461s.
Korea's Hyun Ha Kim won the section in 1.666s.
Anthony did the 3-6-3 formation in 2.676s. Kim won again in 2.32s.
Anthony's 9.242s in the cycle was shaded by US winner Christina Shi in 6.485s.
Feilding's Ben Flighty was the Blackstacks outstanding performer, winning a trophy for third overall among all age groups in the male 3-3-3, with his 1.575s time up there with runner-up Andrew Dale (1.534s) and winner William Orrell (1.532), both of the US.
Orrell won the overall world title as fastest individual stacker across the three disciplines, while breaking world records with partner William Polly in the doubles cycle stack and timed 3-6-3 relay.
Flighty was second behind Orrell in the 3-3-3 for male 16 years, third in the 3-6-3 and fourth in the cycle.
In total, the New Zealand team won three trophies and 36 medals.