I have been involved in Calisthenics for over 30 years now. I started back in 1996 when my daughter was in tinies at Valley View Calisthenics Club (which eventually became Athelstone-Valley View Calisthenic Club or AVV) I was heavily involved in this club as a costume planner, committee member, treasurer, secretary, fundraiser & trip manager. When we moved to Port Lincoln 20 years ago our daughter joined the club and I became secretary and helped create costumes for the club. I was asked to take my grade 2 as there was a shortage of coaches & I jumped at the chance to learn the skills to teach the children. I had to take an exam which was frightening but I did it & passed. I started coaching & have not looked back

I coach because I see how I can build confidence in young ladies, they are building great friendships, having fun, learning new skills, getting away from the computer or telephone screens & actually communicating with their peers. To watch a shy young girl come into my class the beginning of the year too scared to try & then by the end of that year be my centre front girl standing there full of confidence trying her absolute best to do the routine is the best reward I could  ever ask for

Miss Sarah

My Calisthenic journey began back in 1996 when I was 4 years old. My mum’s friend was a calisthenic coach at Valley View Calisthenic Club & her daughter Tessa & I where friends at Kindy. She asked my mum if I would like to come along to Calisthenics. So my mum in her wisdom thought “Oh why not” so for 10 years I was a member of the CalisthenicClub. I seen the Valley View Club merge with Athelstone & become the Athelstone Valley View Calisthenic Club now known as AVV. I enjoyed calisthenics because I would perform different routines & I did not have to be the best at everything. As I got older we would have more  & more extra practices, these would be through all the school holidays. So, no holidays with the family in April or July. We would go to Melbourne every year for Competitions which we really enjoyed especially when we would go exploring. A lot of the times we would hit the Melbourne Markets as a team then head to Luna Park for some much needed fun & team bonding. We would always have to learn extra items to go to Melbourne because in Adelaide they do not do as many of the items as they did in Melbourne.

When our family moved to Port Lincoln I joined the Calisthenic Club & was a part of the club for around 5 years. It was a huge change from Adelaide but it was great that there was not as many extra practices.  I did come back to do Seniors one year when my mum was in the team for Seniors, this was the year Liz was coaching. This was fun we all dressed in Priscilla Queen of the Desert costumes.

A couple of my favourite routines would be clubs & dance. I enjoy the technique in clubs & just love the different genres in dance.

My goal for the girls I teach in Calisthenics is to build their confidence & instil in their mindset that whatever they put their mind to they can achieve it. I look forward to meeting everyone & enjoying my journey back in Calisthenics & seeing all these young ladies grow & improve every week.

Thanks  

Sarah Poynter