Staff
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HEAD COACHES AND PROGRAM COORDINATORS
Sandra Long
Head Coach & Women’s Program Coordinator
Level 3 certified coach, provincial level judge.
Coaching since 1985
Philosophy / Background:
Sandra has been the Club’s Head Coach of Glacier Gymnastics for the past 15 years and currently is the Kootenay Zone Judging Chair. She has been coaching gymnastics for 32 years.
Sandra began her gymnastics career at the age of 5 in Edmonton AB, eventually competing at a National Elite level. Gymnastics was not her only strong suit though, she participated in ballet, soccer,volleyball, basketball, track and field, marathon running, cycle touring, and triathlons.
She is also a certified Level 1 Track and Field Coach, Level 2 Long distance Running Coach and coached High Performance Figure Skating, Synchronized Swimming, and holds a degree in Journalism. Sandra used to manage Glacier Gymnastics Club until Steve came on as manager 5 years ago!
Steve Long
Club Manager & Trampoline Program Coordinator
Level 3 certified coach, provincial level judge.
Coaching since 2003
Philosophy / Background:
Steve is the Club Manager and Trampoline & Tumbling Head Coach here at Glacier Gymnastics Club. Steve joined Glacier Gymnastics as a volunteer in the office and volunteer coach with the boys program in 2003. Steve was officially hired as the office manager in 2012 and MAG Head Coach from 2006 until 2015. In that time he took two of his gymnasts, Sam and Sol Chis to Provincial Championships! He made a transition to Head Coach of Trampoline & Tumbling in 2014.
Steve has also worked as a Personal Trainer, Snowboard Instructor and Triathlon Coach and managed a gym in a multi-sport club. He holds a degree in Sports Management and Business Administration.
Karlee Wilson-Birks
Recreational Program Coordinator
Level 3 certified coach, provincial level judge.
Coaching since 1992
Philosophy / Background:
Karlee started gymnastics at the age of 3 and continued on to be a competitive gymnast until the age of 13 when she began coaching. Before coming to Nelson she was the Head coach of the Jasper Gymnastics Club for 7 years.
Karlee has 25 years of coaching experience and has been a coach here at the Glacier Gymnastics Club for 13 years. She is currently the Recreational Program Coordinator!
Vivian Hughan
Team Coach, Recreational Coach
Level 3 certified coach, provincial level judge, Zone 1 Chairperson
Coaching since 1999
Philosophy / Background:
Vivian has been involved in gymnastics for most of her life at first as a gymnast and then later as a coach, judge and learning facilitator. Vivian has been coaching for 18 years -starting her career in Kitimat where she trained as a gymnast and then began coaching. She later moved to Kamloops where she worked at both KATTS Gymnastics and eventually took on the role of Head Coach of Kamloops Gymnastics Trampoline Centre. During the 10 years in Kamloops, Vivian also held the role of Regional Coach for Pacific Sport in the Interior and was one of the key organizers in a number of large gymnastics events such as BC Championships, Elite Canada, Canadian Championships & Western Canada Summer Games.
Vivian was then awarded a scholarship for Ollerup Gymnastics school in Denmark where she spent a year training and studying. Through Ollerup, she was then selected to take on a year-long coaching exchange position in New Zealand which then turned into a Head Coach role of the club in Wanganui. Upon returning to Canada, Vivian took on a position at Glacier Gymnastics in September 2013 which she is excited to call home.
COACHING STAFF
Dena Kubota
Level 2 Certified, JO 6-10 Judge
Coaching Since 1982
Philosophy/ Background:
Dena is originally from Calgary, Alberta where she started her gymnastics adventure on a backyard swing-set. As a child, she participated in recreational classes and then competed for several years on high school gymnastics teams. After graduation, she returned to her former junior high school to begin what would become a 30+ year coaching career. She was employed by the City of Calgary for nearly 18 years in various positions – Gymnastics Instructor, Day Camp Leader and Coordinator, Customer Service Attendant, and Recreation Program Specialist – until she moved to the Kootenays in 2003.
Dena has been coaching and assisting in the office at Glacier Gymnastics Club since 2008. She also coaches at the Procter Gymnastics and Trampoline Club, owns a campground in Kootenay Bay and makes/sells art in her spare time.
Dena also has a Sports Administration Diploma from Mount Royal College; and a Visual Communications Diploma and a Fine Arts Degree from the Alberta College of Art and Design.
Samantha Phillips
Level 2 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2009
Philosophy / Background:
Samantha is from Outlook, Saskatchewan where she started taking gymnastics at age 10, she did gymnastics for 7 years and began her coaching career there at 13 years old. She has coached in a number of gyms, Outlook Gymnastics Club and Marian Gymnastics in Saskatchewan, KGTC and now Glacier Gymnastics Club in BC.
At Glacier Gymnastics she coaches a mix of the recreational, developmental and competitive programs! Samantha has 9 years of coaching experience. In addition to this, she holds a diploma as an International Health Coach and Personal Trainer.
Felicia Schwabe
Level 2 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 1998
Philosophy/ Background :
Felicia began coaching at age 14 here at Glacier Gymnastics Club. She has coached gymnastics in Nelson, Cranbrook, Calgary and Thunder Bay. She was a gymnasts here too, Felicia didn’t begin her training until the age of 12 and in only 4 years she was competing at provincial level 2!
In the past she was involved in coaching other activities like sailing (Level 1), weight training (Level 2), dance and she was a gym teacher in Germany for 4.5 years. She is currently a grade 3 teacher at Waldorf school here in Nelson.
When Felicia lived in Germany there was a circus at the school where she taught that she was a part of!
Chultim O’Neil
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy/ Background:
Chultim was 6 or 7 years old when she began gymnastics here at Glacier Gymnastics Club. She competed for 4-5 years up to level 7 and continued on in a high school competitive group for a few years after that. She was very active in other sports such as; dance, soccer and basketball. In 2015 Chultim left for Denmark where she attended Ollerup Gymnastics school, there she studied and trained for a year. After returning from her travels in Denmark, Chultim is home and currently coaching again at Glacier gymnastics Club. She has been a Coach at Glacier Gym for a total of 2 years. Chultim isn’t sure yet which career path she wants to take but is enjoying life how it is right now!
Zoe Crisfield
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2017
Philosophy/ Background:
Zoe began gymnastics at the age of 6, she has loved the sport ever since that day! She was a gymnast all the way up until 2016. That’s 10 years of gymnastics. Within those years she competed at Provincial Level 1 as an Artistic Gymnasts and at Level 2 in Trampoline Gymnastics! A fun fact about Zoe it that she got to be a part of a circus school in England while travelling for a summer!
Zoe started coaching at Glacier Gymnastics almost a year ago. She is NCCP Level 1 WAG certified and currently has her trampoline Foundations course as well as her Level 1 Artistic Gymnastics Judging certification. She currently is homeschooling but eventually would like to get into Social Service work or be an Early Childhood Educator.
Teagan Mctague
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy/ Background:
Teagan started gymnastics at the age of 4. She currently competes at JO Level 6 and has competed at BC Provincials twice. Not only is she a gymnast but also a dedicated dancer!
Bailey Stephani
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy / Background:
Bailey was just two years old when her mom and dad signed her up for Parent and Tot classes at Glacier Gymnastics. When she got older she did competitive gymnastics for four years. Her highest level was JO 6! Bailey is very involved in other activities like the Sprint Canoe and Kayak team and Volleyball.
Bailey has now been coaching at Glacier for two years. She is currently in grade 11. When she graduates she would like to become a Marine Biologist. She loves the ocean and went on a Marine Biology trip to mexico last year with her school!
Olivia Kelly
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy/ Background:
Olivia is a Coach and a gymnast here at Glacier Gymnastics Club. She began gymnastics at one year old in a Parent and Tot class and now competes as a Level 7 gymnast! Olivia has been a coach for three years at Glacier. Currently Olivia goes to LVR high school and plans to study Sciences in University after she graduates.
Victory Lawrence-Jefferson
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching Since 2015
Philosophy/ Background:
Victoria is a highschool student at LVR. She began coaching gymnastics here at Glacier three years ago as a recreational and developmental coach.
Victoria began her gymnastics career when she was 2 years old, in a Parent and Tot program. She continued with gymnastics until she was 13, that’s 11 years! Victoria competed up to level 7. After finishing gymnastics she danced, mainly ballet, for 3 years. Now a days you’ll find her on the ski hill, another sport she has been doing since she was 2! Upon graduation, Victoria plans on heading to university possibly in the field of study of Physics.
Kylee Dick
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy/ Background:
Kylee started gymnastics at the age of 7 here at Glacier Gymnastics. This year it will be her 11th year as a gymnast. Throughout her years here, the highest level that she competed at was Level 8! Kylee is very outdoorsy and athletic, she also enjoys figure skating, dance, soccer, skiing and swimming.
This year marks Kylee’s third year as a coach at Glacier Gymnastics. On top off all her gymnastics, Kylee also works another job at a Cafe and attends school at LV Rodgers. Next year she plans to attend the University of British Columbia focused in the area of Environmental Sciences or International Relations.
Ella Keelan
Level 1 Certified, JO 1-5 Judge
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy /Background:
Ella started her gymnastics career at the age of 3 when her mom and dad enrolled her in one of the Parent and Tot gymnastics classes here at Glacier Gymnastics Club. Since then, she has worked her way up to competitive. The highest level she competed at was Level 8! Currently Ella is in grade 12 and competes in the High school Level 4 gymnastics program. She enjoys dancing, skiing, the outdoors, dogs and music!
Ella has worked at Glacier Gymnastics Club for about 2 years. On top of coaching, Ella also works at a restaurant as a server part time. She plans to take a year off of school after she graduates to travel and then go to university to become an Athletic Therapist.
Brynn McTague
Coach in Training
Coaching since 2017
Philosophy/ Background:
Brynn first started gymnastics when she was four years old. The highest level that she has competed at is level 6. Brynn loves to play sports, this year dance and gymnastics are keeping her busy. She also likes to do other activities like singing, volunteer voice coaching and biking. The part she loves the most about gymnastics is the sense of family at the club. “The coaches and the other gymnasts are so nice and caring it creates a very wonderful atmosphere”.
Maika Houde
Coach in Training
Coaching since 2015
Philosophy/ Background:
Maika has been a part of Glacier Gymnastics Club since age 2 when she began her gymnastics journey in a Parent and Tot program. Throughout her gymnastics career she has made many awesome memories here at the club. Maika competed at JO Level 6 and is now competing in the Competitive High School Gymnastics Program.
Maika has been a volunteer coach at the club for two years, coaching and adjudicating at competitions. She also has a passion for piano. She takes lessons and tutors pianists, all the while attending LVR High School.
Ashlynn D’Alessandris
Coach in Training
Coaching since 2017
Philosophy/ Background:
Ashlynn’s desire to become a competitive gymnast springs from watching her older sister do gymnastics. She has been doing gymnastics now for 8 years! The highest level she competed at was JO 6 and now competes at Highschool Level 3. Ashlynn also enjoys playing volleyball.
Ashlynn has been a coach for almost two years now, helping out with recreational and developmental gymnastics. She currently goes to school here in Nelson and think that one day she might follow a career path in Law.
Elisa Clark
Coach in Training
Coaching since 2017
Philosophy/ Background:
When Elisa was 5 she began recreational gymnastics. She has now been doing gymnastics for 9 years and is currently competing at JO Level 6. This year Elisa made it to Provincial Championships in Port Coquitlam! She also really enjoys swimming, skiing, soccer and dance. Currently she is a coach in training, this will be Elisa’s second year coaching at Glacier. She goes to LV Rogers secondary school and dreams of one day becoming a Therapist or Physiotherapist.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Heather Beaudoin
Club Administrator
Certified Level 1
Philosophy/ Background:
Heather was born and raised in Nelson. Before joining the office team at Glacier, she held secretarial positions at St. Joseph School, Girl Guides Canada and Nelson Reflections Synchronised Swim Club – over 20 years experience! In addition to coordinating office administration, volunteer assignments and fundraising events for Glacier Gymnastics Club, she is married and volunteers numerous hours fundraising and leading in her 2 children’s activities. Heather has been Administrator at Glacier Gymnastics for 5 and a half years.