This weekend, the Athletic Centre at Nipissing University will be transformed into a gymnastics facility for the 19th Annual Gymtrix Sunshine Classic Gymnastics and Trampoline competition. In a release, officials say a record-breaking number of athletes, coaches, judges and spectators will descend on North Bay from Quebec and all over Ontario beginning today. The influx of tourists in town for the event will be steady all weekend long. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and children. Kids under 5 years old get in for free.
Since the club hosted the inaugural Sunshine Classic in 1999, the number of athletes has grown consistently every year, from 300 gymnasts in 1999 to over 700 this coming weekend. Sunshine Classic is the only event sanctioned by Gymnastics Ontario that encompasses Women’s and Men’s apparatus disciplines, Masters Men, Masters Women, Trampoline and Showcase.
The spectator highlight of the weekend according to those involved features the Gymtrix Elite Provincial team members, will be on Saturday afternoon between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. Pre-competitive and recreational showcase events will be held on Thursday from 1:00pm to 7:00pm. Beginning on Friday, multiple events will be happening at the same time. Women’s apparatus events will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the most advanced levels competing on Saturday afternoon.  All Trampoline events will be held Friday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm, while the Men’s apparatus events will run all day Saturday from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
