VEGA Camas and Big Air Gymnastics compete together for the first time. Coaches and kids see it as the beginning of something special. Contributed photo

The Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy is expanding to Vancouver, but Camas will always be home.

Once homeless, the group rented training space from two high schools before striking a partnership through Ernie Suggs, who at the time was the Community Education Director of the Camas School District. Suggs provided VEGA with a small training space in the Camas Armory.

Doors opened to the public on Aug. 30, 2004 with only a few coaches, 17 registered gymnasts and a dream of creating a positive, excellent and stable training environment. By 2005, registrations at VEGA vaulted to 225. Every year, the number of gymnasts inclined. The rest is history.

"When we started VEGA, we were nomads," said owner Jaime Parra. "We rented space from Prairie High School and Battle Ground High School, or wherever we could get it. We didn't find a home until Camas Community Education opened its doors to us.

"By then, the VEGA name had already been established. They wanted us to change our name to CEGA," Parra recalled. "Now, we are back in Vancouver."

Proud of its history, the amount of children using the 5,500 square foot space in Camas has grown at a fast pace. VEGA serves more then 1,100 members in gymnastics, dance and Italian fencing, and provides music lessons for piano and guitar.

Parra kept a curious eye on Dave Hancock, an elite level and collegiate coach with Utah State University who purchased the Gold Star Gymnastics facility in Vancouver. In November, Parra approached Hancock at his Big Air Gymnastics Center. Both of them had the same crazy idea.

Read the rest of the story in the March 9 issue of the Post-Record