Kalani Vierra and his daughter Ala share a passion for surfing, and are also tandem surfing partners in Kauai, Hawaii. At age 11, Ala expressed interest in giving her Dad's sport a try. Ala, a gymnast at Kauai Gymnastics Academy, took private lessons to work in the spotting belt. Beginning in October 2007, the two worked up from the spotting belt to unaided lift skills with the help of co-owner and head coach, Jack Leonard. Jack helped them to perfect each lift to include the complete move, using gymnastics knowledge to interpret sketchy tandem skill drawings. After many hours in the gym and in the ocean, the pair was ready for competition.
They have competed worldwide, earning many top finishes, resulting in the title of World Tandem Surfing Champions for Kalani and Ala, the youngest ever to hold this title! One might ask, gymnastics and surfing?
"After buying the only gymnastics school on a small island in the Hawaiian chain we wondered how the uniqueness of gymnastics could help the community," said Leonard. "The answer is--gymnastics is universal. We found ourselves helping a football player for fitness through plyometrics; a young female wrestler for joint strength; teaching kite surfers how to flip; and the challenges of tandem balancing while surfing and more. The knowledge of gymnastics has benefitted us so much more than just teaching kids how to be upside down. We continue to grow within this beautiful sport."
Melanie Roach’s athletic career began as a young gymnast in Washington. Her intense work ethic took her all the way to the State High School Championships. An injury sidelined her from the competition, and soon after, rehab introduced her to free weights and a star was in the making. The petite former gymnast quickly made it clear that strong things can come in small packages.
In her first competition, the 1994 American Open, she won a bronze medal. She became the #1 ranked US weightlifter and was poised for a 2000 Olympic debut. Weeks before the Olympic Trials, Melanie suffered a serious back injury. She picked herself up and moved on, opening her own business - Roach Gymnastics, Inc. in Sumner, Wash. Her gymnastics school serves over 500 students and she and her husband now have four children.
In the summer of 2005, she returned to competitive weightlifting, and by March of 2006 she reclaimed her spot on the US National Team. She had state-of-the-art back surgery, not available years earlier when she left the sport. As a result, Melanie has competed continuously at National and World competitions. In August of 2007, Melanie won the bronze medal at the Pam Am Games in Brazil, officially marking her return to elite international weightlifting. She competed in the 2007 World Championships as well as at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where she placed 6th in the 117 lb weight class, her best finish in the international competition.
“Gymnastics set the foundation for everything I've accomplished in my life from being a mother of 4 to the Olympics to establishing a successful gymnastics gym. I constantly remind my coaches and staff that we are teaching more than quality gymnastics, we are teaching the value of hard work, determination, as well as the benefits of exercise and staying healthy. Because of gymnastics I attained the qualities necessary to become an Olympian. Because of my Olympic experience I learned we can accomplish anything our little hearts desire if we work hard and never give up!”
Throughout her childhood, Catarina experienced spells of asthma and used a home nebulizer and inhalers for rescue. She could not run fast like the other kids in school and could not tolerate the Florida heat; her weight caused her both mental and physical trouble. She withdrew socially and though her grades were always good she tried to fail because of being picked on at school. Her mother saw a flyer for one free gymnastics lesson at Gymtech in Lakeland, FL and took her to a class. She tried her best and loved it. A year after she began gymnastics her doctor saw her; she was impressed and said she has never seen Catarina healthier.
The doctor is pleased with her healthy weight and attributes that to her workouts at the gym as well as from gymnastics. She has not had to use her rescue inhaler or nebulizer again. Now physically fit she has come out of her shell and is a social butterfly, now a 4th grader at 5th grade reading level and is on the honor roll. Gymnastics has completely turned her life around for the better. At age 9, Catarina participated in her very first competition on Sept. 12th of 2009.
Tristan Van Natta began trampoline and gymnastics at age two and was competing by age three. She did artistic gymnastics from ages 2-8 and has been in Trampoline and Tumbling for 11 years. She was on the TOP National team, the Jumpstart National Team, and is currently on the Jr. National Trampoline Team.
In May of 2007, she was diagnosed with a tumor in her skull. A team of Riley Neuro Surgeons and Plastic Surgeons spent 8 hours removing the tumor from the top and front of her skull. Bone was grafted from the top layer of the back of her skull, and 2 ribs were harvested to close the hole left by the tumor.
Tristan was released to train in March after a long break from trampoline and tumbling. Her Doctors have been amazed by her strength and determination through her recovery. She was out of the hospital in a week and training again in 7 months. She missed two full months of school, yet with her incredible work ethic, she returned to class fully caught up on all assignments. She also showed a maturity and character beyond her years in dealing with a situation that most adults around her had a hard time dealing with.
She competed in the 2009 US Elite Challenge on May 7th in Fort Smith Arkansas. She placed 12th on Trampoline and 3rd on double mini trampoline. Her performances qualified her to the 2009 Visa National Championships in Dallas, Texas in August where she placed 4th on double mini and earned a spot on the Junior National Team. She was also invited to the final selection event for the World Age Group Team.
Tristan is working hard to try to qualify to represent the United States at the World Age Group Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia. She was formerly a member of the 2007 World Age Group Team and earned a Silver Medal for the U.S. Tristan is a member of the Flipside TnT Team and trains at Champion All Star Cheer off of 96th and Hague Road in Indianapolis, Ind.
Seven years ago Kristi Patton gave birth to triplet girls, born at thirty weeks; early even for triplets, and there were many problems. All three daughters spent time in the neonatal unit at the hospital, were released on oxygen and apnea monitors and continued on these for one year. In that year the family endured brain, heart and eye surgeries and countless hours at physical, occupational, and developmental therapy. Two daughters have been diagnosed with a mild cerebral palsy, both wearing leg braces for several years. One daughter still wears a brace at night and has had surgery to lengthen her achilles tendon as she grows due to problems resulting from her brain surgery. At age three, they were still in therapy, and Kristi was fortunate to meet Mrs. Cindy who had her gym in the same building.
“We started going to gymnastics and have been with LAGC ever since," said Kristi. "The girls joined the team two years ago and are still competing - something I never even imagined they would ever do! When we visit their doctors, they are simply amazed! We even have been involved in a triplet study at the hospital where they were born and results indicated that they are well beyond what anyone had hoped for."
The family feels they owe much of their success to gymnastics. The stretching and strengthening exercises have allowed them to surpass every goal their parents have set for them. Kristi and Joe agree that, "As parents, we see that Nina, Mia, and Sophie have acquired a confidence that otherwise they may have been denied because they could have been less fortunate than others physically. If they never took another lesson, I can assure you that they would not be where they are at today if not for gymnastics. We are truly blessed. I have encouraged everyone I have met in therapy to take a chance like we did. They will be happy with the outcome in every aspect of their child’s development."