FitKidz Gymnastics Competition

Last week I was asked to judge a local gymnastics competition hosted by FitKidz. I have been involved in the club since it was Penticton Springers back in the 80’s when my mom and a few others started it up. Annette Card, my coach and close friend started FitKidz, a non profit organization. Penticton Springers was sold almost 5 years ago when Annette planned on moving home to Germany.

I have coached gymnastics since I was a young teenager and competed provincially throughout my teens. I always judge the beam at the local competitions and truly enojoy seeing all the families and gymnasts that love the sport. This last competition was themed Cartoon Madness.

I quickly facebooked some friends to see what I could possibly be. I don’t have children and haven’t watched cartoons in years. They had some great ideas such as Betty from the flinstones, Dori from Finding Nemo, Wonder Woman, one friend suggested I dress up as Leela from Futurama (the one-eyed captain of the Ship), to let the competitors know I would be using my GOOD eye!

I know it’s cold in the gym which has just relocated to 1363 Commercial Way in Penticton so I grabbed my faithful LuLu Lemon running tights which I use more for snowboarding and a LuLu Fleece that is a fabulously warm fleece. I was all blue so I thought I could be a smurf. I Googled “Smurfs” to see that it required some blue face paint, white boots and a towel around my head. As I had unfortunately just used all my blue body paint up that past weekend, so that idea was out. I scolded myself for a few minutes and couldn’t beleive that I didn’t have random cartoon outfits in my non-existant tickle trunk. As I brainstormed I remembered a yellow belt I owned and my fleece had a hood! I also found this dress I wore to last Years Royal LePage Christmas party! I put it all on, throwing the dress around my neck, then I  slipped into some blue boots and raced off to the Royal LePage Penticton Office to print out a much needed Batman logo. I printed off a few logo’s, grabbed my much needed coffee and jumped into the Batmobile! Once I arrived at the gymnastics club, there were 50 children, ages 3-16 and I couldn’t help but feel like a kid again. This year I was dressed in my cape and outfit, I felt even more childish, I loved every second. Annette my coach and Trisha a lady I coached with burst out in laughter and enjoyed my awesome outfit.

I took my place at the judges table and proceeded to enjoy the 2 sessions I judged. The competitors were from Kelowna and Penticton and all had a great time.

I handed out lots of Gold stars and reminded the little ones to smile, have confidence and stick those landings.

Can’t wait for next year!