Log rolling classes at pool teach kids balance, coordination

It's a sport that the Northwest knows well — the desert Southwest, however, not so much. But that didn't stop area youths from trying out the newest sport to come to town: log rolling.

For the first time, Pavilion Center Pool, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive, offered log rolling classes for children ages 7 to 17. The city purchased two synthetic logs at $1,400 apiece and offered classes on Saturdays in late October through November.

View visited the Nov. 7 session. Nine youths had signed up.

Ruth Leamy brought her three children — Lydia, 14; Annika, 11, and Martina, 9 — to experience the unique water sport.

"I'm from the coast of Washington," Leamy said, "a little town that hosted a logging festival where they do this. So, this class, it seemed like a wonderful way to have the kids explore some of my culture."

Leamy is from Aberdeen, Wash., a town that was incorporated in 1890, during the logging heyday.

She gets her children memberships to Pavilion Center Pool each summer. They were there swimming when the modern-day version of the "log" arrived and got the chance to try it out.

"We were here a month and a half ago, the only ones here, and they were doing a demonstration," Leamy said. "My kids got to play on on it for, like, an hour. They had so much fun, we signed them up for the class.

"I have one in grade school, middle school and high school, so it's nice because it's an activity all three of them can do together."

Trying to stay atop the synthetic floating log, the children said, was very cool.

"It's really fun, but you're falling off a lot," Martina said. "I learned I had to move my feet really fast. ... It's basically just running on a log."

Sierra Kaye, 18, the diving coach at the pool, coached the log rolling class. She said it was a good opportunity for kids to learn a sport that had never been offered in Las Vegas before. She stressed learning timing, coordination and, most important, balance.

"It's critical," she said. "If you can't keep your balance, you're going to fall off."

She started the class on the pool sidelines, leading the youths in stretching exercises. They then lined up on a crack in the pool deck for some footwork exercises.

That done, it was into the water where Jonathan Rees, 18, had already positioned the floating log. It was outfitted with fins at each end to counteract its tendency to spin when mounted. He and Kaye stationed themselves at opposite ends to control the log, standing in about 4 feet of water.

The rule of the day: Cheer on your fellow classmate when they take the log. Some girls took the order to heart and played cheerleader, chanting that person's name.

Kaye gave everyone a "nice job" no matter how much time they spent on the log. Some participants managed to stay atop as long as 8 or 9 seconds. Some barely stood up before they lost their balance and fell into the water. One child did a version of tippy toes to stay up. Annika showed up everyone with her ability to cope with the log as it was rolled one direction, then the other.

Parents pulled out their cellphones to take shots as their child climbed onto the log. Other people at the pool watched from the sidelines.

Andy and Kristy Studd brought their child, Nathan, 8, who had been taking swim lessons when he learned about the log rolling sessions.

"It was his idea (to sign up)," his father said. "We watched videos on YouTube to see what it was all about, and he wanted to sign up right away."

Halfway through the 45-minute lesson, Kaye added another element to the instruction — hopping on the log. She demonstrated, then gave each of the children a chance.

"It helps them with their balance," she explained. "It'll be used later in competition to help knock an opponent off the log."

Facing an opponent was a ways off. For now, the kids were simply learning to stay on the log for two minutes. From the giggles and shrieks of laughter, it was clear they were having fun trying.

"Log rolling is a great way to learn balance, agility and how to be quick on your feet," said Tamara Hawkins, the city of Las Vegas' principal aquatics specialist. "The creators' goal is to build the sport up enough to eventually become an Olympic sport."

Jace Radke, senior public information officer for the city of Las Vegas, said the city plans to offer more log rolling classes in the future. The cost was $45 for five classes.

For more information about Pavilion Center Pool, call 702-229-1488 or visit tinyurl.com/q5u85a5.

— To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.