Dynamos gym club trains aspiring young athletes

IT IS not common knowl- edge that for more than 20

years the West Vancouver.

Recreation Centre has been a training facility for boys’ and girls’ competitive gym- nastics.

The West Coast Dynames Gym Ciub is unique because it is the only gym club on the North Shore to offer a full boys’ gymnastics program in addition to the girls’ program. The coaches of the Dynamos can take an aspiring athlete to the provincial *‘A’’ level in artistic gymnastics and to a national ‘evel in power tumbl- ing.

This month the Rec Centre turned over the management of the club to a parent-run board.

The new board plans to operate -

the Pynamos along similar lines as the Chena Swim Club or minor hockey clubs. A new head coach, David Bens, has been hired to oversee the club and act as a liai- son person with the Rec Cenire. Bens comes to West Vancouver

®. from Alberta where he was the

coach of the Alberta National Trampoline and Tumbling Teain. He was a member of the Cana- dian National Power Tumbling Team from 1982-1986 and Na- tional Tumbling Champion in 1984. .

While in Alberta, Bens was the coach of several national and North American tumbling cham- pions. He has been a member of the West Van Rec Centre staff since 1990 and he is also attending Capilano College in the commerce program.

For more information about the West Coast Dynamos Gym Club call 926-3266.

W. Van teen nets first pro tennis title

RUSSELL STUART of West Vancouver is the new 1992 men’s open tennis champion after he defeated Jerri Turek of Coquitlam 6-4, 6-4 in a hard-fought final at the Western Indoor Tennis Club in Richmond Jan. 11 and 12.

.This is the 15-year-old’s first pro title.

On the way to the final Stuart defeated David Nicol, formerly of Victoria, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 in three sets.

Stuart then teamed up with North Vancouver’s Matt Walsh in the double semi-finals but they were defeated by two Vancouver players.

Stuart has completed his first year on the professional satellite tour and is currently ranked twen- ty-third on the men’s Bull Com- puter ranking.

In addition to playing the pro tour, Stuart represented Canada at the Pan American Games.

Wednesday, January 22, 1992 — North Shore News - 13

News photo Cindy Goodman

A MAT’S-EYE view of eight-year-old Christof Trafford of the West Coast Dynamos Gym Club on the parallel bars being instructed by coach David Bens. The gym club offers full gymnastics programs for girls and boys at the West Vancouver Recreation Centre.

The team sacrifices are worth it!

Players encounter huge pressures in competitive curling

COMPETITIVE ATHLETES make many sacrifices as they strive to be ‘‘the best.”’

By Linda Moore Contributing Writer

A curling team that is com- mitted to excellence usually plays in a league twice a week, trains on the ice another couple of times per week, and plays in two or three bonspiels each month.

An Olympic curling team is encouraged to do even more, such as weight and fitness training, as well as do men- tal-preparation exercises. The probiem is that most curlers who train in order to gain na- tional supremacy have full- time jobs or attend school, and so the curling becomes a se- cond career.

Women in all sports, in- cluding curling, have extra burdens placed on them as they still seem to carry the major responsibilities for home and family.

As a member of the 1988 Olympic team, I tried to juggle my career, UBC graduate courses and the duties in the home in order to fit in work- outs, training sessions and competitions.

During the summer of 1987, I spent hours ata physiotherapy clinic trying to strengthen a weak left knee. I continued weight training through the fall in order to maintain that strength.

My third, Lindsay Sparkes, and I would hit the ice at the North Shore Winter Club for many hours each week, pushing each other, striving for

persection. We travelled to conipetitions and curled hard, travelled and curled, and always there were our jobs to come back to and families to worry about.

The pressures are tremen- dous. There are the financial pressures for some, as time off is not compensated, nor are childcare expenses paid. Friendships are strained as teammates are together con- stantly, and family members are missed.

I remember the tearful goodbyes when Penny Ryan, the lead on our Olympic team, had a brief chance to see her children during a long cross- Canada tour. Leaving town was difficult for all of us.

On top of these problems, there are huge pressures during competitions. Interrationally, Canada is expected to win and to earn anything but a gold medal seems to bring despair.

Within Canada, the national team is the on-ice target for everyone who aspires to be the top of the game.

Women hate to complain, but we do find it more difficult than men to ‘‘make it’ in the world of sport.

I asked Elaine Dagg-Jackson of Victoria, the coach of the reigning Canadian Women’s Championship Team and 1992 Olympic representatives, to put her thoughts to paper about some typical days in a very unusual year. Here is what she said:

“Today is not exactly an average day in the life of a coach/competitive curler, al- though it is not exactly abnor- mal either.

“Today I spent 32 hours travelling on four B.C. ferries

LINDA MOORE

to take my two kids to my mother’s for the weekend so I could spend the weekend with my team at the Nanaimo Caskspiel.

**As the only member of the team with a husband and children and a demanding ca- reer, I often meet the team at an event after tidying up the various details necessary for a stress-free competition.

**As coach and alternate for the women’s Olympic curling team, I feel very fortunate in being able to meet the most exciting challenge of my life, one which would be impossible without the overwhelming sup- port of many.

“At the beginning, I had to know how to divide my time between family, career and team, but as time weni by and we started winning, the team time began to carry over into family and career time more and more.

**Between Jan. 1 and April 1 (the playdown season — from

local competitions through the world championships}, -1 was compelled to take 30 days off work without pay and spend four weeks and seven weekends away from my family.

“Although many wouldn’t think twice about the ability of a competitive male curler (with a family) to meet that com- mitment, it is very difficult for women with careers and fami- lies to be able to swing it.

“While I sometimes arrive at a competition feeling a little weary or stressed-out, I reflect on how lucky I have been to be able to pursue my interests and my dreams.

“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to have such experiences at a time in my life where the odds are re- ally against it. Its worth the price. ft has also allowed me to discover a whole new dimen- sion in my life — coaching.

‘And I tell niyself what I tell my team before every game, ‘Have fun, just do it, and do it better!’ **

There are now organizations striving to assist women with many of the issues that arise in the workplace and in sport. It is important to be aware of the barriers that exist in sport for women and to recognize that more women should be given the opportunity to participate and achieve successes.

Even though it was a strug- gle, | was lucky (like Elaine) to have support systems in place.

As the new year begins, let’s hope that all athletes and coaches, male or female, have the chance to be the best that they can be.