Lakeway gym plans move to a larger facility
Flipnastics gymnastics school has expanded its space four times since opening in Lakeway 10 years ago. Flipnastics will expand again when it moves to a new 13,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of RR 620 and Debba Drive this summer.
Owner Rachel Shaffer said the new space is a "dream gym." The new two-story facility will have locker rooms, parent seating, a pro shop, ample office space, a private classroom and a state-of-the-art foam pit, she said.
The additional space will also allow Flipnastics to expand its recreational programs to allow for more students.
"This year we had 57 families on a waitlist for our programs," Shaffer said. "With the new facility that won't be an issue."
Shaffer said Flipnastics will be able to expand its programming to include preschool, mother's day out classes and birthday parties. Cheerleading will get its own floor, and the recreational gym will be separate from the competitive gym.
Shaffer said she is most excited about the giant foam pit—which will occupy a quarter of the gym—and the parent viewing area.
"We will finally have a nice, comfortable, safe seating area for parents," she said.
A former child gymnast and native of Rockdale, Texas, Shaffer discovered Lakeway when she was conducting demographics research just out of college. She said it was clear to her that Steiner Ranch and Lakeway were going to experience a boom, so when she decide to open a gym several years later, Lakeway was an informed choice.
"When I first opened up the gym in Lakeway, people said, 'Why are you going there? It's a retirement community.' But I knew that I just had to wait for my time," Shaffer said.
During the past 10 years, not only has the local population exploded, but so has the notion that gymnastics can be foundational to other sports, Shaffer said.
"All sports include gymnastics now," she said. "Dancing, cheerleading, parkour . . . we've even had wakeboarders and football teams learning how to fall."
Flipnastics' competition team includes 40 children ranging in age from 5 to 15, some of whom practice up to 25 hours a week, Shaffer said. The team competes in seven competitions a year.
Shaffer said her ultimate goal is to be able to prepare her gymnasts to secure college scholarships.
"A lot of gyms burn out their kids at [age] 12," she said. "But if your kids have college aspirations, you pace them [and] protect their bodies. I want to be known for building college-bound kids."
In addition to attempting to build college-bound gymnasts, Shaffer said she focuses on creating a family atmosphere at Flipnastics.
"We coach the entire child and the entire family," she said. "Parents are making a sacrifice. We have an obligation to be morally and ethically sound."
A new parent herself, Shaffer often totes her 9-month-old twins, Harper and Maddox, to the gym with her. When asked whether her daughters will become gymnasts someday, Shaffer responded with one word: "Absolutely."
USA District 4 Championships
Flipnastics was chosen to host the USA District 4 Championships on Oct. 11. The event will bring in 350 athletes from 26 clubs, which is expected to bring more than 1,000 visitors to the area. The event is open to the public, but charges a small gate fee.
Texas USAG 2014 calendar
- Aug. 16—District qualifier
- Aug. 23—District qualifier
- Aug. 30—GAT
- Sept. 6—District qualifier
- Sept. 13—District qualifier
- Sept. 20—District qualifier
- Sept. 27—District qualifier
- Oct. 11–25—District championships
Source: Texas USA Gymnastics
Flipnastics, 15527 Debba Drive, Lakeway (coming summer 2014), 512-782-9457, www.flipnastics.com
- Mon.–Fri. 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
- Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
