Gymnastics

check the community forum also, go to the forum list and you will see it. post there as well.

It's unfortunate that interest in gymnastics has faded as there was some interest several years back - on St Thomas anyway. I worked with the Danish Consul General for many years and we assisted with the UVI-sponsored visit of the Danish gymnastic team who did a couple of spectacular performances here at UVI and I believe also went over to St Croix and then on to PR. It might be worthwhile contacting UVI (University of the Virgin Islands) to see if they still have a program. There are many sports in which local high schools compete against each other and travel further afield so the competition aspect is certainly there. Maybe you could help revive a gymnastics program here. Good luck!

You might check with VIMSPGIA (aka Montessori School! http://www.vimsia.org/) and Antilles. They both have pretty vibrant after school programs.

Check also with Eric Heikkila at UVI Athletic Dept.- he was a nominee for the Nissen- Emery award - [the Heisman Trophy of gymnastics] when he attended college and may know of any programs existing currently in the USVI

Wow thank you for all this information! I will definitely follow up with these leads and see what else I can find... Thank you thank you!!

I just started looking into new places to live and I decided to research St Thomas (and St Croix). I was also a gymnast my whole life and I want to continue coaching. I didn't find much information at all about gymnastics in the USVI, other than that same website you found about the VI Olympic Committee not having gymnastics as an active sport. I was pretty disappointed when I saw that, but I thought, "Hey, maybe I can open the first gym in the Virgin Islands!"...and then I saw your post. Haha. I, too, do not have the funds to open a gym but as you said, a girl can dream! And I'm pretty serious about making that dream come true in the future, whether its in St Thomas or on the US Mainland.

When are you moving to St Thomas?

Where did you live/train in the USA?

🙂

There was a very active gymnastics program for youth here in STT in the 1990's - my daughter was one of many who trained here and also attended Woodward Camp in Pa. summers.
UVI has an excellent gym facility and there is also the Marin Center at Antilles School - I am not sure the investment would be excessive for the equipment needed to establish a program at either one if you could make an arrangement that works for both parties and it certainly would be worth exploring if you want o coach and develop a youth program - we surely have the athletes here who always need more programs of any kind.
I mentioned Mr. Heikkila at UVI who was a superb college gymnast and would think he would be a good source of info.
There are EDC companies here who are often in search of worthy ideas for their support and if you have the ambition, talent and drive to do this kind of gymnastics venture you should not let a simple financial hurdle dissuade you.

Maybe the 2 ladies could form a partnership and achieve both their goals with the info Islandhops mentioned. :@)

I just started looking into new places to live and I decided to research St Thomas (and St Croix). I was also a gymnast my whole life and I want to continue coaching. I didn't find much information at all about gymnastics in the USVI, other than that same website you found about the VI Olympic Committee not having gymnastics as an active sport. I was pretty disappointed when I saw that, but I thought, "Hey, maybe I can open the first gym in the Virgin Islands!"...and then I saw your post. Haha. I, too, do not have the funds to open a gym but as you said, a girl can dream! And I'm pretty serious about making that dream come true in the future, whether its in St Thomas or on the US Mainland.

When are you moving to St Thomas?

Where did you live/train in the USA?

🙂

Wow really?? This is awesome I'm glad you commented! I live in Wisconsin, I trained at M&M Gymnastics throughout my childhood and high school and then competed for UW-La Crosse gymnastics (it's a division 3 program). Where did you train??

I am not sure exactly when I'll move to St Thomas, I was hoping beginning of 2016? I'm planning on a pre-move visit in October.... were you planning on visiting at all? If so we could maybe meet up! The thought of having someone else interested in gymnastics and wanting to open a gym is awesome.

(tu)

There was a very active gymnastics program for youth here in STT in the 1990's - my daughter was one of many who trained here and also attended Woodward Camp in Pa. summers.
UVI has an excellent gym facility and there is also the Marin Center at Antilles School - I am not sure the investment would be excessive for the equipment needed to establish a program at either one if you could make an arrangement that works for both parties and it certainly would be worth exploring if you want o coach and develop a youth program - we surely have the athletes here who always need more programs of any kind.
I mentioned Mr. Heikkila at UVI who was a superb college gymnast and would think he would be a good source of info.
There are EDC companies here who are often in search of worthy ideas for their support and if you have the ambition, talent and drive to do this kind of gymnastics venture you should not let a simple financial hurdle dissuade you.

You mentioned UVI's gym facility and the Marin Center... would there be room in there to use the space for gymnastics? Space for a tumbling floor, beams, bars, etc?

You also mentioned EDC companies... what exactly are those? Would they act as sponsors of some sort?

http://www.uvi.edu/student-life/athletics/athletics-wellness-center.aspx

http://www.antilles.vi/page.cfm?p=562

http://www.investusvirginislands.com/incentives/edc-program

Yes both places have large facilities suitable for gymnastics - but not likely as dedicated permanent installations.

The EDC companies receive tax benefits and are required to have community participation of different kinds - mostly financial but sometimes mentoring or educational.

Wow really?? This is awesome I'm glad you commented! I live in Wisconsin, I trained at M&M Gymnastics throughout my childhood and high school and then competed for UW-La Crosse gymnastics (it's a division 3 program). Where did you train??

I am not sure exactly when I'll move to St Thomas, I was hoping beginning of 2016? I'm planning on a pre-move visit in October.... were you planning on visiting at all? If so we could maybe meet up! The thought of having someone else interested in gymnastics and wanting to open a gym is awesome.

I am from Vancouver, BC. I trained at a small club in BC, and at East York Gymnastics in Toronto, briefly. I transferred to Ohio State from a Canadian university and competed for the gymnastics team from 2011-2013. I am currently living and coaching gymnastics in Osaka, Japan. My fiance and I have been here just over 3 months, and we plan to stay until the end of March 2016. After that, we aren't sure what we will do, and that's why I have been doing a little research on new places to live. We will most likely move back to Canada, get married in Jan 2017 and then be ready to move somewhere new, and it would be amazing if that was St Thomas!

We do want to visit St Thomas mid-next year.

I will PM you my info to add me on Facebook and we can chat 🙂

@Aly13

My husband and I were quite devastated when we recently saw there was no gymnastics prgrams. Our 7 yr old is a natural and she is so dedicated to gymnastics. We are planning to move Jan of 2021, but finding out there was no gymnastics program...we literally almost decided not to move down there. We actually bought her all the equipment on Amazon, the beam, bars, and wedge pad, and she just loves to train and practice.

Did you ever get a chance to start your program?  Hope so!! We are counting on you! 🙂

@thesanddollar

I wish I had good news for you, but unfortunately I never made the move to St Thomas. I haven't looked into it for years now, but I am surprised that there are still no gymnastics programs! 

I'm sorry, I wish I could be more helpful. I love to see little ones so passionate about gymnastics and you sound very dedicated to helping her succeed. I wish you guys the best!

Not to sound severe but making a choice on where your family should live, particularly on a small island, based on a child’s sports interest seems misguided.  Unless you believe in your child’s ability and her (your) commitment to achieve global sports excellence, which is extremely difficult and rare, I’d focus on things like career, values and life goals.

Again, I’m not being judgmental or trying to preach, it’s only that time has taught me that children's (we have 3 grown daughters) priorities change and sometimes quickly.  No doubt your daughter will be very disappointed with the lack of gymnastics at the level she’s used to but STT has many other potentially exciting, fun but different physical outlets for her to learn and enjoy.  We found with our 3 daughters that the social aspects of their sports, including gymnastics, were ultimately their priority.  Being part of a team was the biggest driver in their emotional commitment to any given activity/sport.

Another option could be to startup a gymnastics club or team.  To us, at least, sports were important as a way of learning to be part of a team but our priorities were (and remain) education, family values, citizenship and a strong work ethic.

Hi! I was the one who asked about gymnastics in 2005 and was told that the VI's federation was no longer active.  I was a gymnast at the time but didn't find any opportunities to participate in the sport while I lived in the VI in 2005-6.  

That may have changed now.  Maybe you could inquire at the St. John School of the Arts.  I believe they offer dance, and they may have gymnastics, too.  I'm not 100% on this, but you could ask anyway.  If they don't offer gymnastics, perhaps you could start a program?