Full outstretched leap at the 2023 Gold Pan Invitational Gymnastics Showcase held at West Fraser Centre in Quesnel. (Frank Peebles photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Out of the gold pan into the gymnastics fire

Quesnel hosts invitational gymnastics event as warmup to zone championships

The Quesnel Technics Gymnastics Club invited some of the best gymnastics groups in the north to meet up at West Fraser Centre for a one-of-a-kind meet.

The Gold Pan Invitational was held among a handful of regional communities as a warmup to the Zone 8 championships held the very next day in Quesnel.

The Gold Pan Invitational is the club’s own event, and has been a regular feature on their calendar in past years. Hosting the Zone 8 competition is a rare opportunity, however. When the chance came to be hosts of the prestigious regional event, it just made logistical sense to combine them.

“To recoup the cost of equipment rental and arena rental, we knew we had to put on something big. So we decided to host two competitions in one weekend,” said club president Jade Kotzer. “Nothing this big,” has ever been hosted here before, and the club is “excited to host clubs from Williams Lake, Prince George, Fort St John and Dawson Creek. All levels will be there from CCP 1-8 and Xcel bronze-platinum. Over 150 athletes each day.”

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One good turn deserves another at the 2023 Gold Pan Invitational Gymnastics Showcase held at West Fraser Centre in Quesnel. (Frank Peebles photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Handstanding tall on the balance beam at the 2023 Gold Pan Invitational Gymnastics Showcase held at West Fraser Centre in Quesnel. (Frank Peebles photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

If you have to get from A to B in a gymnastics tournament, you travel by conga line, at least you do at the 2023 Gold Pan Invitational Gymnastics Showcase held at West Fraser Centre in Quesnel. (Frank Peebles photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Sticking the inverted landing after a vault onto the mat at the 2023 Gold Pan Invitational Gymnastics Showcase held at West Fraser Centre in Quesnel. (Frank Peebles photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Quesnel Technics Gymnastics jacket logo. (Frank Peebles photo - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)