Gym Fest comes to town Getting ready to fly
MAUREEN DOLAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 4 months AGO
<p>Jim Tighe, with Tighe Gym Sales, left, works with Scott Wolf, of the host club Inland Empire Gymnastics, to adjust the parallel bars Wednesday while making preparations for this weekend's Great West Gym Fest at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Several women strolling through The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Event Center did a double-take Wednesday when they passed a large ballroom and saw bleachers in place.
The room was undergoing a transformation, in preparation for this weekend's Great West Gym Fest, an event expected to attract thousands of athletes, coaches and spectators to downtown Coeur d'Alene.
The competition, in its 12th year, draws gymnasts from throughout the United States and Canada.
"This is going to be one of our biggest," said organizer Dave Adlard. "It really has turned into a premier event."
By the time the workers are finished setting up, the ballroom's floors will be covered with mats. Springboards, uneven bars and balance beams will be in place.
Stage lighting will be ready to illuminate the gymnasts' entrances, with some smoke and lasers for additional effect.
By late afternoon today, athletes will be practicing at The Resort - hurtling, springing, flipping, tumbling and balancing as they prepare to compete.
Competitions begin Friday morning and continue into the evening. They resume again Saturday morning with "The Big Show" event finals later that night.
The boys are back this year, and they'll be competing Sunday morning in The Resort's Plaza Shoppes, across the street from The Resort. The Shoppes' higher ceilings can accommodate the boys' equipment, like the rings, Adlard explained.
The ages of the gymnasts participating in this year's event range from 6 to 24.
Gym Fest isn't all working out and competing.
The participants will have a chance to rub elbows with eight Olympians slated to attend. The Olympic athletes will attend an ice cream social with the younger gymnasts on Saturday. Later that night there's a dance.
"It's a full weekend schedule," Adlard said.
Tickets can be purchased at greatwestgymfest.com. Passes for Friday are $18 for adults, $12 for children. Day passes for Saturday and Sunday are $14 for adults, $9 for children. Passes for the event finals Saturday night are $22.
All access weekend passes are also available for $44 for adults and $30 for children.
Tickets purchased at the door cost an additional $2.
An event schedule with competition times can also be found at greatwestgymfest.com.
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