Riverside Gymnastics Sports and Arts Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop character and self esteem by modeling and reinforcing integrity, self control, respect, perseverance, discipline, teamwork and fitness through exercise, cheer and the sport of gymnastics.
From its humble beginnings in the Dufur School cafeteria in 2002 to its fully equipped training facility in the port of The Dalles, Candy and Mike Smith (retired 2018) created a thriving learning environment that continues to positively impact Columbia Gorge area communities. Their holistic approach to coaching has produced state, regional, and national gymnastics champions.
Our Mission Statement
Riverside Gymnastics Sports and Arts Center develops character and self-esteem by modeling and reinforcing integrity, self-control, respect, perseverance, discipline, teamwork and fitness through exercise and the sport of gymnastics.
Our Facility
Riverside Gymnastics Sports and Arts Center is located at 2221 River Road, in The Dalles, Oregon. Featuring a regulation spring floor, 3 sets of uneven bars, parallel bars, numerous balance beams, high bar, rings, tumble track, vault, vault runway and foam pit, where students can practice and perfect their skills in a fun, well supervised and safe environment.
Our Organization
Riverside Gymnastics Sports and Arts Center is a school of gymnastics, tumbling and cheer operated by the nonprofit organization Riverside Gymnastics Academy Booster Club, Inc. Riverside’s Board of Directors is responsible for the overall management of the facility and programs, and for all business and fund raising activities.
Our current board members are Jamie Carbone (president), Stan Hinatsu (secretary), Beth Turner (treasurer), Denise Hilkey, and Malinda Acol.
Safety
Safety is our number one priority. At Riverside, we believe safety is everyone’s responsibility. Our coaches are USAG safety certified and Safe Sport certified. For the safety of our students, we always have two staff members or adults present.
Our Community
Riverside is committed to serving youth in Columbia Gorge area communities. As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, we are committed to offering needs based scholarship opportunities.
Interested in applying for a scholarship? Find out more!
If you would like to make a donation to Riverside Gymnastics, you can do so through our JustGiving page.
Our Staff
Coaches & Instructors:
Riverside is committed to providing each student a comprehensive and high quality gymnastic education.
All of our USAG safety-certified coaches and well-trained instructors work together to create a positive training program designed to meet the needs of each and every student.
Lead Team Coach:
Audrey Hinatsu started taking gymnastics at 5 in the Dufur School cafeteria with Candy Smith. She took to it immediately! By the time Riverside moved to Peterburg School in 2005, Audrey was 7 and had joined the gymnastics team. In the early years, she would workout 3 days a week and help her mom with preschool and recreation classes on the other days. You could say gymnastics is “in her blood.”
“Gymnastics is not just about the sport but it made me the person I am today. I am a natural introvert and being in gymnastics helped me to be more confident and take risks. Those are very important life skills. I had the amazing experience of having Mike and Candy Smith be my coaches. So much of my coaching style comes from their influence as coaches.”
As our lead team coach, she is responsible for the competitive teams, coaching assignments, curriculum content, and advancing gymnasts within the USAG designated gymnastic levels. She started working at Riverside in 2013 and has taught classes from preschool and above. By the time she graduated, she had reached our highest level, Level 10! She also danced for Studio Elan. Outside of gymnastics, Audrey enjoys skiing, hiking, and exploring with her husband, Mark. As a sidenote, Audrey has many state, regional, and western titles!
Recreational Program Director:
The progression and development of gymnastics is a crucial part of our program. Ginger Gonzales, with the help of our staff, works hard at curriculum, skill progression, and coaching staff development. She also coaches at the team level. Ginger has been working at Riverside on and off for fifteen years. “Prior to Riverside, I was also an assistant gymnastics coach at the high school level.”
Ginger competed as a gymnast for Stevenson High School for four years. Prior to that she also had experience in ballet and dance. “I had an amazing positive and caring coach for my high school years. She taught us to encourage each other and that gymnastics is about attitude and effort. When I came to coach with Riverside, the coaches here had a similar philosophy and taught me more about the building blocks of gymnastics and how to safely progress athletes through each level. I enjoy coaching this sport because it helps kids stay healthy, feel positive about themselves, and be part of a group.” Outside of the gym, Ginger enjoys spending time with her two amazing kids, walking and hiking, reading, and enjoying performing arts.
Coaches:
Our professional, USAG safety-certified team coaches work hard to develop our competitive gymnastics team.
Halle Haskins started coaching at Riverside when she was fifteen and has now been with us for 3 ½ years. “Some of my responsibilities include coaching recreational gymnastics, but I mostly coach our team girls.” Before coaching, she started doing gymnastics at age four and joined team at age eight. “I actually started gymnastics at our old facility, Petersburg.” Halle retired from gymnastics when she was 15 years old due to injury and the loss of her long-time coaches. “But I’m so happy I can put the love of gymnastics into children’s hearts!” According to Halle, “I was a really shy kid but gymnastics allowed me to break out of my shell and become the person I am today. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my coaches, my teammates, and the sport of gymnastics.” When Halle’s not studying for her nursing degree, she likes to spend time with her friends and family, catch up on a good book, or go for a hike with her dogs.
Instructors:
Our amazing instructors teach our recreational classes at the gym.
Ashley Zistel has been working on and off at Riverside Gymnastics since 2015. She coaches our recreational classes as well as our cheer/tumble classes. Ashley competed in cheerleading competitions from ages 14-20. “Our teams would travel to different local and national events. In high school, we took the District title both in stunt group and myself an individual routine.” Outside of the gym, Ashley loves doing things outdoors with her family, including camping, hiking, and fishing. “I love being a stay at home mom! Teaching my preschool-age kids about life and sports is one of my favorite things.”
Gabbe Haskins has been working at Riverside since January of 2020. She also volunteered from grades 6-9. She works as a floater as well as coaching boys’ and girls’ classes and working as a substitute. “I have an older sister who also did gymnastics so I’ve been at Riverside since I was a baby.” Gabbe started competitive gymnastics at seven and ended at twelve as a Level 6. When she quit gymnastics, she started doing school sports like track and field and competitive cheer. Outside of gymnastics, she also likes to do 4-H. Gabbe says, “My gymnastics experience shaped who I am today. I had the best role models, including Audrey Hinatsu. I learned how to push myself and never give up. Growing up with my teammates throughout the years gave me life long friends. Gymnastics has and will always be family to me.”
Shelby Riesterer has been in the rec programs at Riverside on and off since she was seven and has been helping with classes since she was about twelve. Since the fall of 2020, she’s worked for us as a floater and will soon begin training to teach classes. Outside of the gym, Shelby enjoys hanging out with friends and family and spending time outside.
Administrator:
Sue Kenyon-Hinatsu (known by our gymnasts as “Mrs. H.”!) is our administrator. “I took my first gymnastics summer camp when I was maybe 5 years old and LOVED it. Unfortunately, I did not have access to any training until high school where I went out for the high school gymnastics team (back when high schools still offered this as a school sport). I have a unique perspective as a competitor, as a parent of a gymnast, and then also working as a coach. ” Her responsibilities range from paying the bills, acting as a liaison for the board and staff, being our meet director, team administration, and her most important responsibility, supporting our staff.
Sue has coached all levels including preschool, recreation, both boys and girls as well as team. “I am so glad we have a gymnastics academy here in The Dalles where children throughout the Gorge can have access to this sport.” Sue didn’t come back to gymnastics herself until her youngest daughter started taking gymnastics at the Dufur school. “When not at the gym, I love spending time with my family and traveling with my husband of 40 years, quilting, skiing, and spending time with friends. Oh, yeah … and drinking coffee!”
Office Staff:
Anna Lira has been working at the gym since September 2020 as a floater and in the office as of September 2021. According to Anna, “I love the atmosphere and energy of Riverside and all the coaches are very friendly.” Anna enjoys crafting, reading, playing piano, and drawing.
Interested in working with us? Check out our employment page!