Olympic hopefuls
<p>Jeremy Mosier, catches a roll of padding that slid down a truck ramp as Wendi Fencl, 13, carries a bag of supplies Wednesday that will be used to construct the gymnastics floor for the Great West Gym Fest that starts Friday.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - When the Great West Gym Fest began in 2002, Dave Adlard knew what he wanted it to be.
"We wanted to run the coolest gym competition in the world," he said.
Now, with the event in its ninth year, Adlard believes they pulled off exactly that.
The annual competition of young gymnasts from throughout the country begins Friday and continues through Sunday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
It will feature more than 700 girls and young women, 200 coaches and judges, a few thousand spectators and a handful of past Olympians.
Adlard credits the success not to himself, but to the volunteers.
"Our people have bought in to what we're trying to do here," said Adlard, who is also the organizer of Adventure Sports Week at Farragut State Park in June.
"They really take ownership of their jobs. I let them run with it and they create stuff I never thought of."
The Great West Gym Fest attracts gymnastics teams and individuals from North Idaho, as well as several states including Florida, Texas and California, as well as Canada.
They'll compete in different divisions in floor exercise, vault, balance team and uneven bars. They'll be after ribbons, plaques, trophies and even carved bears offered for the team prizes.
The highlight is the Big Show on Saturday night from 6-9 that will have music, lights and energized gymnasts who worked hard to get here, Adlard said.
He believes part of what makes this a success are events like the ice cream social, a boat cruise, a dance and a chance for autographs from Olympians, including several medal winners.
"We have lots of interesting, different stuff that most meets don't have," he said.
After nearly a decade of Great West, some say it has become a North Idaho tradition.
"It's almost part of the fabric of Coeur d'Alene now," Adlard said.
"We have a reputation as one of the top meets in the U.S., kind of one of the top meets in the world," he said.
Others have noticed.
Already, there are more reservations for the 10th annual Great West Gym Fest in 2011 then there are competitors this year.
"Next year could be our biggest ever," he said.
Gymnastics Olympians coming in include Raj Bhavsar, Courtney Kupets, Melissa Marlowe and Mohini Bhardwaj.
"It's one of our best classes of Olympians," Adlard said. "That's such a highlight for the kids."
Gym Fest begins Friday morning, with sessions Friday evening, Saturday from 8-4, the Big Show Saturday night, and Sunday morning.
Daily or weekend passes are available.