Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader

The Slave Lake Gymnastic Association held its first uninterrupted spring session in May and June. It started fall of 2019, just in time for COVID-19 to make things difficult. However, the association has thrived.

“We had about 110 athletes,” says head coach Andrea Gelderman, about the 2022 spring session.
This summer, gymnastics is holding three summer camps.

“It’s going to look very similar to last summer,” says Gelderman.

The main difference is an intensive half-day camp July 18 to 21 for athletes, who have taken gymnastics before.

For the second year, gymnastics is joining forces with other non-profits to offer two summer camps in August. These are Nature Ninja (August 2 to 5) with the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation and Art and Gymnastics (August 15 to 19) with the Lesser Slave Lake Regional Arts Council.

“Those were really well attended last year,” says Gelderman.

Gymnastics hopes to have pre-COVID or better registration in the fall, she adds. Part of this is offering more competitive cheerleading and gymnastics options.

In the 2021-22 season, Slave Lake had a cheer group which tok part in two competitions.

“This year, we’re bumping it up,” says Gelderman.

From August to April, it will offer All-Star Cheer, which will have more practices and compete in more competitions. This will start with conditioning and training in August and end with competitions in April.

The Olympic committee has just added cheerleading to its list of sports.

“It’s really going to blow up,” says Gelderman. “It’s definitely finding its place in Canada.”

The association is also going to offer a more competitive option for gymnastics.

Like All-Star Cheer, intensive gymnastic programs will run from August to April.

All other options are in three sessions: September to December, January to April, and May to June. These include Ninja, gymnastics, cheerleading, and gymnastics for seniors.

There are also some changes to the basic programs.

“It’ll look a little bit different,” says Gelderman. “It’ll be more clear where your child will fit.”

Registration for all gymnastics programs is on Slave Lake Gymnastic Association’s website.