Playing ping pong with music
Upcoming workshop teaches aerobic table tennis at Deh Gah School
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, April 7, 2016
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
The keys to aerobic table tennis are relaxation and a good speaker system - and luckily, ping pong enthusiasts in Fort Providence will have both during an upcoming workshop at Deh Gah School.
Steve Rowe will be bringing his aerobic table tennis teaching skills to the Northwest Territories this month, with planned stops in Yellowknife and Fort Providence. - photo courtesy of Theo Bense
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The workshop, taught by United Kingdom coach Steve Rowe, kicks off April 14 or 15 at the school - the exact date will depend on the date of territorial table tennis championships.
Table tennis instructor Thorsten Gohl, who volunteers with Table Tennis Canada, said he contacted Rowe about bringing aerobic table tennis to the Northwest Territories due to the different nature of his program.
"I think it's just very exciting to bring a different way of table tennis in, as well as an aerobic workout," Gohl said.
With funding from the Mackenzie Recreation Association, Rowe will first be heading to Yellowknife on April 12 and 13 to run Weledeh School students through their paces, before making the trek further south.
Once in Fort Providence, there will be sessions for the community as well as for people who are interested in learning to teach aerobic table tennis.
Rowe developed aerobic table tennis initially as a method of getting women more involved with the sport. Following a step-step-shot progression, the workshop includes agility speed ladders, small hurdles and cones.
Gohl said aerobic table tennis is more about mastering techniques than it is about playing table tennis. Aerobic table tennis is played to music and involves "a good workout," he said.
"So if you do a forehand topspin, you go by the beat. Every time you hear the bass, your arm moves forward," he explained.
In an e-mail, Table Tennis North president Jim Snider said the organization is excited to have Rowe come to the territory.
"Aerobic Table Tennis will fit in perfectly into the North, keeping children and adults active," he said.
The workshop also received an endorsement from Table Tennis Canada CEO Tony Kiesenhofer, who said the program has Table Tennis Canada's full support.
The workshop will coincide with territorial table tennis championships. On April 6, Table Tennis North confirmed the championships would be going ahead in Fort Providence from April 15 to 17.
"I think we're going to go through with it because it's a great experience for the kids," he said.
"If we have 10 or 15 kids, that's a good start - and then we can (build) from there. Next year, we can say, we'll get five or 10 more."
