DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
More than 400 sports-minded youth from across the Northwest Territories flocked to Fort Providence, Yellowknife and other communities for an aerobics workout with a table tennis twist.

Youth participating in the aerobic table tennis workshop got more than they bargained for during a photo-op.

Taught by United Kingdom instructor Steve Rowe, the workshop hit Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Chief Sunrise School on K'atlodeeche First Nation, Ecole Boreale in Hay River and Weledeh Catholic School in Yellowknife over the course of the weekend from April 13 to 16, with the last few days spent in the South Slave.

The workshop involved learning the techniques of table tennis to music, following a rhythmic exercise pattern instead of focusing on the ball.

It was hosted by Table Tennis North.

Facilitator Thorsten Gohl said one of the sessions at Weledeh School involved 250 youth and children all playing at the same time.

As for Fort Providence, four workshop sessions brought together around 100 young people with 20 to 30 per class.

Rowe, who has since returned to the United Kingdom, said the best part of the trip was seeing how much participants loved the game.

"My visit has been a great experience, with the highlight (being) seeing the big smiles on the children's faces," he said.

He added he hopes to return to the country in the future to run his program in other areas of Canada as well.

When asked whether Table Tennis North plans to bring Rowe back in the future, Gohl had one word to say: "absolutely."

"Physical literacy is what we need in our communities. That's the most important by far," Gohl said.

Gohl and six other participants joined up for an instructor course, taught by Rowe. That course differed from the workshop's other sessions.

"The biggest component of that was focusing on the techniques, because it should lead up to playing table tennis," he said.

"The instructors need to know their techniques because the kids will imitate what the instructor does."

Table tennis on hiatus

With 23 tables now in schools throughout the territory - including tables given out to each community that participated in the weekend's concurrent table tennis championship - Gohl said it is time for a break while he works on ramping up funding.

Table Tennis North is already organizing for the 2016-17 ping-pong season, and Gohl said that could include bringing in a former national team coach.

Additionally, the organization has plans for a December tournament instead of mid-April, which Gohl said would allow more communities to attend.

The weekend workshop was funded by the Mackenzie Recreation Association and Rowe's Construction.