Welcome to Riverside!
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. Our gym is fully equipped with regulation apparatus, allowing us to host our own USAG sanctioned meets! Featuring a regulation spring floor, 3 sets of uneven bars, numerous balance beams, high bar, rings, tumble track, vault, vault runway and foam pit, Riverside is a great place 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), 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. For more information on our safety policies, visit our policies page.
Our Staff
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.
Team Coaching Staff
Audrey Hinatsu
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 Petersburg 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!
Ginger Gonzales
Recreational Program Director
Team Coach
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.
Halle Haskins
Team Coach
Recreational Instructor
Preschool-Advanced
Halle Haskins started coaching at Riverside when she was fifteen. “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.
Mark Renken
Team Coaching Assistant
Mark has been coaching gymnastics for four years, although his connection to the sport goes back much further. He married into the gymnastics world when he married Audrey, Riverside’s head coach. Mark likes to say that he actually taught Audrey gymnastics when they were growing up together—but, to this day, he admits that he’s still waiting for someone to believe him!
At the gym, Mark primarily coaches vault and bars, which also happen to be his favorite events. If something needs fixing, he’s probably the guy to call. In addition to coaching, Mark is the gym’s unofficial handyman, tackling everything from a stubborn toilet to repairs on gymnastics equipment. There isn’t much he won’t try to fix!
What Mark loves most about coaching is the kids. Having coached other sports, he’s seen firsthand how much dedication athletes can have, but he says there is something truly special about the commitment gymnasts bring to their sport. Watching athletes work hard, overcome challenges, and grow both in and out of the gym is what makes coaching so rewarding for him.
Outside of the gym, Mark works full-time at the local irrigation district. Between work, coaching, and gymnastics meets, his schedule stays pretty full, but when he does find some free time, he enjoys being with his family, hiking, watching football and soccer, and playing ultimate frisbee.
Whether he’s coaching an athlete through a tough skill, repairing equipment, or lending a hand wherever he’s needed, Mark is proud to be part of the Riverside gymnastics family.
Recreational Instructors
Krissy Fulton
Recreational Instructor
Preschool-Beginner 2
Reece Keizur
Recreational Instructor
Boys Beginner-Advanced
Reece has been involved in gymnastics since fifth grade. Although they started a little later than some of his peers, Reece’s hard work and dedication quickly paid off, and he began competing in sixth grade. He competed for one year with Riverside and two additional years with a gym in Troutdale.
When the pandemic brought competitive gymnastics to a halt in 2020, Reece had to step away from competition. Fortunately, he was able to return to his home gym at Riverside, where he discovered a new way to stay involved in the sport he loves: coaching. Reece has been coaching ever since and loves the opportunity to share his passion for gymnastics with the next generation.
Floor has always been Reece’s favorite event. There’s something incredibly satisfying about completing a great tumbling pass—it makes you feel like you’re flying! Reece also loves watching floor routines, from the impressive displays of strength in men’s routines to the precision and control of women’s leap lines. To Reece, floor has something exciting and inspiring for everyone.
Coaching gymnastics is incredibly rewarding for Reece. He loves being able to share his passion for the sport while encouraging athletes to work hard, have fun, and build confidence in their abilities. Watching athletes grow, overcome challenges, and discover what they’re capable of is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.
Outside of the gym, Reece enjoys spending time with friends, hiking, and playing disc golf—which they’re still working on mastering! He also enjoys card games and regularly play a mean game of cribbage with a good friend.
Reece believes that gymnastics truly is for everyone. Every event offers something unique, and there’s always an opportunity for each athlete to find something they enjoy, build confidence, and have fun.
Shelby Riesterer
Recreational Instructor
Preschool-Advanced
Gymnastics has been a part of Shelby’s life since she was four years old. After moving to The Dalles at age seven, she began taking classes at Riverside Gymnastics—and what started as a love for the sport grew into a passion for coaching and mentoring the next generation of gymnasts.
Shelby began coaching on and off at just 14 years old and has continued to grow as a coach ever since. Today, she has the opportunity to work with gymnasts of all ages, from preschoolers taking their first steps into the gym to athletes on our competitive team.
One of Shelby’s favorite parts of coaching is building meaningful connections with her athletes and celebrating their accomplishments, both inside and outside the gym. She loves watching kids grow through the sport, discover their unique personalities and passions, and gain confidence along the way. Seeing an athlete accomplish something they’ve worked hard for is incredibly rewarding, and she feels truly blessed to be able to say, “I love my job!”
When she’s not at the gym, Shelby enjoys spending time with friends, catching up on her favorite shows, and getting outside. She brings the same enthusiasm, encouragement, and genuine care to her coaching that makes Riverside such a special place for so many families.
Ashley Zistel
Recreational Instructor
Intermediate and Advanced
Ashley first started with Riverside Gymnastics Academy back in 2013 when she moved to The Dallas to start her life with her husband Matt. Her experience with competitive cheerleading/tumbling throughout high school and college, and her passion for teaching, drew her into a Riverside coaching position. For the last several years, Ashley has served in our kindergym, preschool and recreational programs as well as offering private lessons to more advanced tumblers. Raising her three kids inside the gym has made Riverside feel like home. Now, with her own daughter joining the compulsory team Ashley spends many hours in the gym from both a coaching and parenting perspective.
Ashley says “ building healthy relationships, character development, and independent self growth is a huge part of her coaching style. “ I would rather coach a less talented athlete who works hard than a talented athlete who is lazy.”
Ashley spends most of her time raising her three kids, homeschooling her youngest and volunteering at Dry Hollow Elementary. When they aren’t at the baseball field or gymnastics, her and her family could be found camping, fishing or simply enjoying quiet time at home.
Office Staff
Sue Kenyon-Hinatsu
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 45 years, quilting, skiing, and spending time with friends. Oh, yeah … and drinking coffee!”
Nancy Taylor
Office Assistant
Nancy Taylor (known by our gymnasts as “Mrs. Nan”!) is our Office Assistant. She grew up in Hood River, where gymnastics & music became an important part of her childhood and taught her the value of hard work, patience, confidence, and perseverance.
She met Coach Candy Smith many years ago when she was traveling to Maupin to offer tumbling at the school where Nancy helped each week & two of her children & several classmates participated. Eventually, as the program grew she drove her children to Petersburg school weekly for classes.
She has also been a piano instructor for over 28 years. Her music studio Nancy’s Music Nook is on the Riverwalk in The Dalles.
She enjoys being part of the team at Riverside that helps helps children build confidence, discipline, and a sense of accomplishment.
When she is not at the gym you can find her spending time (in the sun) with her husband of 33 years, hiking, traveling and spending time with her 3 children and 2 grandsons.
Interested in working with us? Check out our employment page!