Festival hardly routine
Hundreds of gymnasts ran, jumped, cheered and twisted Saturday at the Great West Gym Fest at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
And that was just during the rock concert-inspired march to start each competition session.
Loud music, spotlights and smoke highlighted each team’s entrance – to the obvious delight of the girls who beamed with joy as they ran into the ballroom to compete.
The three-day gymnastics competition hosted by Coeur d’Alene gym Funtastics is in its fifth year. Gymnasts from as far away as Michigan and Hawaii joined about 1,200 of their peers to take a crack at the balance beam, uneven bars, vault and floor exercise.
“We really want to create an event rather than just a gym meet,” said organizer Dave Adlard.
In addition to the high-tech look of the Great West Gym Fest, organizers have also planned dance parties and commissioned special carved bear trophies.
Professional photographers shot action pictures and video of many of the gymnasts, and celebrity gymnasts, including 1996 Olympic gold medal winner Amanda Borden, helped pass out awards and gave aspiring athletes pep talks.
Every child received an award.
“This is a great meet for kids to go to,” said Borden, who now runs her own gym in Tempe, Ariz. “The most important part is building the kids’ self-esteem.”
Amazing back flips and routines or the occasional fall or stumble – it didn’t matter.
The kids Saturday were clearly having a good time.
It was the biggest competition many had ever experienced.
Teams of girls in matching leotards and hair ribbons marched purposefully from one apparatus to the next.
“They need to get exposure to the big deal,” said coach Doug Baker.
Baker and his wife, Sharla, own Maui Gymnastics. They brought six girls with them.
Thirteen-year-old Maui gymnast Carson Tabiolo said the meet and the snow were great.
“They make the meet experience bigger. We usually get interisland competition so we see the same people over and over,” Tabiolo said.
The march in is definitely the coolest part, said Shelby Kine, 10, from Bend, Ore.
Chiahong Jan came to the meet with his 9-year-old daughter, Irina, who competes with the Portland gym Oregon Gymnastics Academy.
She had just posted an impressive 9.4 score out of 10 on the vault and was preparing to take on the uneven bars.
“This is for fun. You learn something. You work with your team,” said Jan of his daughter.
Moments later she stepped up to the bars, and a few flips later stuck her landing.
High-fives and smiles all around, and then it was on to the next event.