Cardio tennis fitness program creating buzz in Whitehorse

It has been a pulse-pounding good time for participants in the Canada Games Centre's first-ever cardio tennis program.

It has been a pulse-pounding good time for participants in the Canada Games Centre’s first-ever cardio tennis program.

The program just completed its fifth session on Monday and will wrap up in a few weeks.

Tennis Yukon is holding the fitness class through the City of Whitehorse.

Tennis Yukon president Stacy Lewis said it attempts to take tennis and offer it as a fitness option.

“It’s not really competing with the people who are going to play tennis otherwise, but competing with people as they choose between aerobics and working out in the gym or going for a run or whatever,” she said. “It’s great for your tennis and certainly I think people who do cardio tennis find improvement in their regular tennis game, even though we don’t focus too much on technique.”

Cardio tennis places more attention on keeping individuals in motion, rather than making a shot or winning a point.

Participants aim to improve their heart rate and elevate their aerobic ability.

Sessions are held every Monday at 8:30 p.m. in the Flexihall and involve using a series of drills that utilize a variety of different shots. Music is also played during the entire class and heart rate monitors are provided to keep track. 

Since there are only 10 monitors, the program currently has a limit of 10 entries. Lewis, who is the head instructor for Whitehorse’s cardio tennis sessions, said the program is sweeping North America.

In 2008, while attending a national coaching conference in Toronto, Lewis had the opportunity to sign-up for a cardio tennis workshop. Intrigued by the idea of teaching it back in Whitehorse, Lewis signed up and attended the day-long session. 

“My expectations were high because I came home from that work shop so excited,” she said. “I guess I was hoping everybody else would be as excited as me.”

Kathryn Zrum, the leisure program co-ordinator at the Canada Games Centre, shared Lewis’ enthusiasm and offered the program in the 2008/09 Winter Spring Active Living Guide.

“I’m just so tickled pink that the community has responded to wanting to do this class,” Zrum said. “It’s over here shortly at the beginning of March and if the interest is there and people want to sign up again, I am willing to offer it once again.”

Zrum said the next cardio tennis series could begin after spring break or sometime in April.

“If I can still get the space, I am committed to running it again.”

Gary Neukom is one of the participants in the program. Neukom said he isn’t sure if his tennis skills have improved, but he has noticed a positive difference in his conditioning.

“What it’s improving is my agility and aerobic capacity and the tennis will come after,” he said. “It turned out to be just great.”

Neukom said he has been threatening to get back into tennis for a number of years and hopes to play again regularly in the coming outdoor season.

Leighann Chalykoff, vice-president of the Tennis Yukon Association, is also a participant in the cardio program.

“I think it has been really well received,” she said. “Everyone has had a lot of fun and that’s the point and a lot of people who have come out were people who hadn’t played for years and then they saw it in the guide and decided I’ll come out and try this.”

Chalykoff said on Monday she burned more than 400 calories.

“I burn more calories than I would if I was running for an hour and it’s more fun,” she said.