News & More
Gymnastics Looks to Build on Success
Bama Bounders Gymnastics and Foley Sports Tourism have a long and storied partnership. The next chapter in that partnership begins with the new Winter Beach Bash taking place at the Foley Event Center January 17 – 19.
The Bama Bounders were the first group to ever host an event in the Foley Event Center in September of 2017. That first competition was the Bounders Beach Bash and it’s been held annually in Foley ever since. Over the years the group has also brought numerous other competitions to the City, including state and regional championships. Now they are looking to build upon that success by adding a January installment of their long-standing gymnastics meet and calling it the Winter Beach Bash.
Bama Bounders founder Eric Kightlinger said they are expecting about 600 participants from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. He said part of the reason they developed the new event was to take advantage of school breaks.
“With Martin Luther King Jr Day it’s a three day weekend for a lot of people,” Kightlinger said. “There’s so much Foley has to offer to fill a three day weekend outside of the gym, even during the winter months.”
City of Foley Executive Director of Leisure Services, David Thompson, said it’s the strong partnership between Foley Sports Tourism and Bama Bounders that has both organizations seeing the opportunities for launching new events.
“Bama Bounders understands the beauty of Foley is something that can truly be shared year round,” Thompson said. “We’ve worked with them to host regionals in May, state championships in December, and they are on our calendar every single year in September. They see the opportunity our climate offers and they work with us to help share that with as many people as we can.”
The Winter Beach Bash has an entry fee for spectators, $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6 and up, and children 5 and under get in for free. For more information on this or any FST event, visit our events page.
