About 50 children from the Jasper Gymnastics Club, hopped, somersaulted and cartwheeled across the floor of the Jasper Activity Centre for their annual year-end recital, June 8.
鈥淭he kids had so much fun and nobody was overly nervous,鈥� said the club鈥檚 head coach Lonnie Gamble. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all about having fun here鈥攚e just want them to enjoy themselves and get fit.鈥�
The evening showcased both tots and teens as they demonstrated their newly acquired skills that they picked up during the year. While some gymnasts gracefully swung from poles and flipped off trampolines, others impressed the crowd with balancing acts on the beams and strength testing climbs up a rope, which stretched from the room鈥檚 floor to its ceiling. 聽
鈥淎ll of them love learning new things,鈥� Gamble said. 鈥淭hey are just hungry to try different things and to keep improving.鈥�
According to the head coach, the club had about 120 members this year ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Gamble said many of her students take part in the club just for fun, but 16 devoted girls make up the club鈥檚 competitive team. This season the girls won several awards and medals at various competitions.
鈥淎ll the students put in so much work, but the competitive girls are here training 12 hours a week,鈥� Gamble said. 鈥淵ou have to be very committed once you start taking this seriously.鈥�
For the 16 girls who practice the sport competitively they鈥檒l continue to train throughout the summer, but for the rest of the club the year-end recital marked the closure of another gymnastic season.
Next year, Gamble said she is hoping she鈥檒l see even more kids try the high-energy sport. 聽
鈥淲e really try to encourage both boys and girls by letting them know that gymnastics will help them in any sporting field they get into,鈥� Gamble said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those core sports that works the whole body and we really try to make it a fun experience for whatever age and level.鈥�
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
