The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a shift to nearly all aspects of life, and gymnastics is no exception.
The Quesnel Technics Gymnastics Club returned to classes in the middle of July, but things are not normal.
Equipment must be wiped down in between users, soft surfaces need a yoga mat barrier, and coaches are only allowed to spot if absolutely necessary.
“It’s a complete operations change,” club president Jade Kotzer said. “The whole sport has changed.”
The club received a grant from the Quesnel Community Foundation to purchase additional cleaning supplies so they could re-open.
READ MORE: Quesnel Community Foundation awards $30,000 in COVID-19 relief grants
“It took a couple weeks to get solid work in classes, but now everyone sees how we run, as far as precautions and cleaning,” Kotzer said.
Only 50 people are allowed in the gym at one time, restricting the club’s class sizes, and the number of classes they can run.
“I don’t think any club will sustain with small class sizes, so I hope that isn’t the new normal,” Kotzer said. “For the cleaning, we can always do better cleaning.”
Kotzer credited the federal government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program for the club’s survival.
“The only reason we’re surviving is because of the wage subsidy,” Kotzer said. “Otherwise the cost would be too high to charge parents.”
Kotzer added she wasn’t sure when the club would see a return of high-level competitions.
More information on the Quesnel Technics Gymnastics Club can be found on their Facebook page, or by calling 788-414-7441.
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