Linda Pieterse, head coach of Aanavi Aerial Studio, and one of her students, Kaylin Pretorius, were part of the Protea team, representing South Africa at the inaugural IAAA Grand Open Cup Serbia, held on September 12 and 13 at the Kovilovo Sport Complex in Belgrade, Serbia.

Organised by the International Aerial Athletics Association (IAAA), it marked the first major international offline competition in the sport. More than 100 athletes representing 11 countries, including South Africa, Russia, Mexico, Romania, Portugal, the UAE, and Serbia, took part in the Sport, Artistic, Performance and Amateur categories. Pieterse shone with gold in the Aerial Hammock 18+ Artistic category, as well as silver in the Aerial Hoop 18+ Sport Advanced Level A category, and gold in Aerial Straps 18+ Sport Advanced Level A.

Pretorius won gold in Aerial Hammock 10-13 years Artistic, as well as the Special Rising Star award.
Ahead of the competition, the IAAA Nations Summit was held on September 11, bringing together representatives from 12 nations to establish unified international standards, safety rules, and the World Ranking System.

The first General Assembly of the IAAA convened during the event weekend to shape the long-term strategic direction of global aerial athletics. The event was a milestone for uniting the global aerial community under professional judging, safety frameworks, and competitive pathways.