Teen gymnast takes Western Canada Cup

After contributing to Team Saskatchewan’s Western Canada Cup win, a Prince Albert gymnast is skipping the Nationals in favour of a long-awaited international event.

Grade 11 student Brent Ertman earned bronze in tumbling over the weekend in Port Moody, B.C. He and eight other gymnasts were a part of the top overall team at the competition.

This is the first time Team Saskatchewan has taken the honour at the Westerns since the mid-80s.

Ertman performed in tumbling, trampoline, and double mini trampoline. He was the most satisfied with the tumbling event.

“I tried some new skills that I was just practicing and learning only about two weeks before I left for Westerns. And I was really happy with how they went, they were really awesome and I kicked butt,” he said.

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In addition to improving his speed, power, and other technicalities, he’s mastered the double back-tuck.

“It’s basically a double back-flip on the tumbling track,” Ertman explained.

Ertman qualified for three events at the Nationals this year, however the timing conflicts with the international celebration of dance he’s been preparing to participate in for well over a year.

He’ll participate with about 70 other Saskatchewan gymnasts in a Gymnaestrada in Helsinki Finland in a 15-minute routine in mid-July.

“Because the European event only happens once every four years, he chose to do that this year, versus going to nationals,” said his coach with P.A. Aerials, Kara Thorpe.

Even though the choice was clear, that didn’t mean it was easy for Ertman.  

“It was tough, I really want to go but I know that Finland’s going to be just as amazing of an experience as nationals,” Ertman said.

One thing that softened the blow is having participated in his first national event last year.

“I’m really glad that I got to go to nationals last year for my first year instead of saying ‘I qualified for my first year this year’ because I’d be even more disappointed I think that I didn’t get to go and try it out for the first year,” he said.

Thorpe explained once someone’s qualified for nationals, the focus changes.

“That pressure to get to nationals next year isn’t there. He’s already got it. So now we can just work on new skills and put some new trick together and just continue to improve,” she said.

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk