In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KamloopsBCNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.
What is your name?
Keri Lewis & Aly Bradford
What do you always find yourself saying?
Keri: “Love what you do!” Or “One more time!” depending on if I am talking to adults or coaching!
Aly: “One more time” if I’m coaching or “Sorry I have to work” if I’m talking to anyone else
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Keri: I would pick my family! It’s hard to live so far away from them, I love spending time just catching up with them and having fun!
Aly: My husband because I don’t see him very often with owning the business
If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Keri: A coaching/owner award from a cheerleading organization
Aly: A coaching dedication award or a public service award
If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Keri: Not sure if this counts as a historical figure, but I would love to spend some time with CS Lewis, my favourite author, who according to some of his quotes has many of the same values as myself – perhaps because I grew up reading his classics! His imagination and simple profound truths inspire me.
Aly: I would spend a day with Lawrence Herkimer, founder of modern day cheerleading. I think it would be cool to see the roots of what cheerleading is today!
Who inspires you?
Keri: So cheesy but my mom! She brought me up to believe that anything is possible, even in this crazy world we live in. Her favourite saying is “What else is possible?” I find I ask myself that when I am stuck on a problem: how can you be creative and calm and achieve an outcome beyond your expectations? She makes me realize that everything works out in time, and sometimes listening and being observant can answer all your questions.
Aly: My mom! Keri and I have very similar moms! I wouldn’t have had the guts to start this gym without her constantly telling me I could do it and make it exactly what I wanted it to be. For my entire life she made sure that I knew how to work to get to where I wanted to be and she is still helping me do that!
What are three things on your bucket list?
Keri: Skydiving/bungee jumping: I consider myself to be fairly adventurous and outdoorsy, but I still have not crossed those off the list! Coach a cheerleading team to the Summit or World Championship competition: Obviously I would not be a gym owner without having this on the list! And doing a multi-week self-supported expedition: I love being on trips and always want more time on them. I think it would be the experience of a lifetime!
Aly: Go to Greece and have a cheerleading team from our gym go to Worlds.
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Keri: Ship Disturber
Aly: In Yacht Dreams
If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
Keri: I would pick the day of my retirement party… what have I accomplished? Would I do it again? Would I do it the same? Who would be there?
Aly: I would pick the day where we truly feel successful in our gym and have reached the ultimate number and find out how we got there!
What are you passionate about?
Keri: This is obvious but: cheerleading! Everything about it, from competing and the rush it gives you/lights, glitter and glam to the look on an athlete’s face when they finally get a skill they have been working on. I know the feeling and the fact that I get to ignite that in others is what makes me look forward to going to work every day!
Aly: Cheerleading and the athletes that it creates. I love having a huge impact in children’s lives and feel that I play a very important role in what they do. I want to continue to ensure that I am creating a positive environment for all athletes.
What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
Keri: SO HARD! I have had so many different kinds of great days for so many different reasons! I can’t narrow it down to one: I loved the day I came second at World's as an athlete. We didn’t expect it and we were just SO excited to have done so well. I also love any day hanging out at the lake with my sister and dad, best memories! Also my first real date with my long time boyfriend was a full day of activities with what felt like my long lost best friend and so much laughing! Lastly opening day at Freeze Athletics last year was a day I will always remember as one of my most proud moments! So much support and fun – so much optimism for the future!
Aly: I have two! My wedding and the day we had our grand opening for Freeze Athletics. Both days had so much preparation and time put in, and although neither was perfect and things happened that were not expected, they were both perfect to me and I wouldn’t change either of them.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Keri: Definitely starting this gym. Every day I walk in and can’t believe what this crazy idea has become! I could never have done it alone. Aly and all the parents and volunteers make it possible but I am so proud of it and talk about it all the time!
Aly: My proudest accomplishment has been this gym. Keri and I moved way out of our comfort zone and just hoped that everyone would believe in this thing as much as we did, and we haven’t been disappointed!
Where is your favourite place to dine in Kamloops? What do you like about it?
Keri: I really like Terra. It’s always great food and such a welcoming at home feel! When I want a nice dinner out, I usually end up there.
Aly: The Keg! The food is amazing!
What is your favourite activity or event in Kamloops? Why?
Keri: I love the trails all over Kamloops and having Sun Peaks so close! I go mountain biking all over on a regular basis and love being able to leave right out my back door with my boyfriend and dog and go on great rides!
Aly: I love hiking with my dog! There are a few different places we can go in Kamloops and it's great to have some beautiful places like Peterson Creek Park and Kenna Cartwright Park so close!
What is the name of your business/organization?
Interior Freeze Athletics
What does your business/organization do?
Our program specializes in All-Star Cheerleading – a combination of stunting (lifting people in the air), tumbling, jumping, and dancing. We have competitive cheerleading programs for athletes ages 4 – adult. We also offer recreational cheerleading classes and “Just Tumble” classes for athletes ages 3 – 14.
Where can people find you or your business online?
www.freezeathletics.com
Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Interior Freeze Athletics
What is your Twitter account?
@FreezeAthletics
What is your Instagram account?
@FreezeAthletics
What is your mission?
Vision: For every child to be empowered with the knowledge of the potential of All-Star Cheerleading and Freeze Athletics. To be synonymous with quality, elite, accessible, high performing teams and individuals, and to be known for encouraging the greatness within everyone.
Mission: To provide accessible, world class skill development in a family atmosphere; requiring excellence from all involved.
Values: Commitment, Belonging, Patience, Respect, Fun, Confidence.
If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
For everyone in Kamloops to know about All-Star Cheerleading and what a great sport it is! Also to receive a bid to either the Summit Cheerleading Championships or World's.
Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
We would like to have cheerleading be seen as just a valid of an option for your child’s athletic endeavours as dance or gymnastics in the next five years in Kamloops. We would like to have a level 5 team and elite teams at every age group youth and up!
Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
There is a gym owner in a small town in Collingwood, ON who with only 55 competitive athletes managed to win first place in the Small Senior All-Girl 3 division last year at Dallas NCA nationals. I personally see her as a role model and a forerunner just because of the fact that her accomplishment is unprecedented with such a small gym; I think we look up to her because we are in the same boat.
What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Commitment, Fun, Precision
What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We could not do what we are doing without our amazing employees and parent volunteers.
How does your business/organization impact the community?
We like to think that we give young women (especially, but also men) a great opportunity to be involved in something you can really feel like you belong to and are important to. We love to provide beginners the chance to feel athletic and strong while shining on stage and with your team. We think it builds innumerable character traits and contributes to these kids’ ability to succeed later in life.
If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I would like to talk to an expert in marketing, accounting/money management, and cheerleading obviously! I would ask them each what the one most important piece of advice they have would be and then try and take that into our business!
If I could change one thing about Kamloops, it would be:
Honestly, I miss trees! I love a lot of things about Kamloops, but sometimes a hike/bike ride in a forest is what I need. Sagebrush doesn’t cut it sometimes.
What do you think makes Kamloops great?
The location is perfectly set up for being active and there are so many different activities and groups you can get involved in! There is no half hour traffic jam to get anywhere and you can be biking or paddling or hiking or whatever you want in 10 minutes! It’s a pretty great lifestyle and pretty great people!
My choice for the Kamloops In Focus spotlight is:
We think that Sabrina Sinclair of Fit by Design is pretty inspirational and is impacting a lot of people in this community in a positive way!
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Love to see community spaces like this one – I think it's great to showcase the great stuff in our community! Keep up the great work!
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kamloops!
