Back to School is almost here, and with it, all the extra curricular activities and sports. We are all for hockey, gymnastics and indoor soccer, but what if your kid is looking for something a little different? Read on for some off beat ideas for fitness fun in Edmonton!
Junior Roller Derby: You don’t have to be a skater to join the Greater Edmonton Junior Roller Derby league! Beginners are invited to check out the co-ed league with light and full contact teams…but everyone starts no contact! Skaters need a mouth guard, helmet, good knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, and or course, roller skates!
City Recreation programs: The City of Edmonton offers some neat classes you might not have thought of at community recreation centres throughout the city. Some to check out are: Skip 2 the Beat, where participants can master skip-rope skills like double dutch, speed skipping and classic skipping rhymes; Kung fu Pandas and Ninja Kids that teach kick-boxing fundamentals and self-defense basics in a non-competitive setting; and Superhero Academy where Edmonton’s youngest good guys can hone their skills and super-fitness talents.
Parkour: What if you could get your kid doing the crazy cool parkour moves instead of watching endless YouTube videos about it? FlyFree Movement operates out of three locations in the Capital region: in Sherwood Park at Salto Gymnastics, in Spruce Grove at Aerial Gymnastics, and in south Edmonton at Phoenix Gymnastics. Classes are based on age (8-10, 11-15 and 16+) ensuring that students are safely challenged to try new things! All the gear required is a good pair of indoor shoes and appropriate workout gear (no jeans or pants with rivets or outside seams).
Wall-Climbing: I often joke that my kids make me climb the walls…it’s only fair they get a chance to climb the walls too! A course that teaches the basics is just the ticket! At Vertically Inclined, kids as young as 5 can register for a 10 week class, or drop in with a day pass. At Rock Jungle Fitness, they also classes for cubs (ages 5-9) as well as introductory, advanced and even competitive classes for the older kids. They have two locations: downtown and west end. The Wilson Climbing Centre at the University of Alberta offers a climbing challenge for all ages, including camps and clubs for youth. These centres all rent climbing shoes and gear if you aren’t ready to make the purchase commitment.
Surfing: We may be a long way from the beach, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the benefits of riding the waves! Check out the Tsunami Club on the Flow Rider indoor surf machine at the World Waterpark in West Edmonton Mall, with drop-in hours on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Riders under 18 need parental permission and have to be 107 cm tall to bodyboard, and 122 cm to flowride. In order to avoid any “wardrobe malfunctions,” it is recommended female riders wear a one-piece suit. Why not give the kid-friendly classes at The Surf Studio a try? Kids of all ages are welcome to participate with their parents in the specially designated “kid-friendly” classes as they work on balance, core strength and building lean muscle mass. Come in comfortable workout wear, and be ready to feel muscles you didn’t know you had.
