Two of Corner Brook's finest gymnasts will strut their stuff at the Atlantic Gymnastics Championships this weekend.
Alex Carter, 8, and Aaron Andrews, 10, both Level 1 gymnasts with the Saltos Gymnastics Club, will travel to Sydney, N.S., as part of a Newfoundland contingent participating in the two-day event, which gets underway Friday.
Peter Ginn is coach for the two budding gymnasts, but won't be attending the competition because the rule of thumb for Atlantic events is the club coach with the most athletes participating automatically handles the coaching reins of all gymnasts.
Ginn said Carter getting his first taste of competition on the Atlantic scene in his first year of competitive is very impressive considering a lot of gymnasts usually punch a few years on the mat before reaching the skill level required to compete outside the province.
The coach expects Carter to have his best showing in the high bar and floor routines. He is realistic in his expectations from the rookie athlete.
"He is going to do good for himself ... I don't know what to expect ranking wise," he said.
Ginn believes Carter will have to use his great upper body strength and flexibility to put in a performance he will be happy with against a strong field of competitors.
"He's extremely strong, (his) upper body strength is pretty great," he said.
As for Andrews, Ginn believes the 10-year-old should be impressive on the mushroom, which is the smaller version of the pommel horse that gymnasts now use as the sport has evolved.
He is impressed with the fact Andrews can deliver clean routines on a consistent basis.
"In most of his skills his legs are always straight and everything looks perfect basically," the coach said of Andrews.
"I think he will do great because it's not all about skills, it's mostly about cleanliness."
Even though he won't be joining the two on the trip, Ginn passed on some universal advice.
"Keep your legs straight, muscles tight and have some fun," he said.
