This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
news and jobs updated daily on www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk edited by tom walker. email: tomwalker@leisuremedia.com


20120-Physical HCM strip ad:Layout 1 1 forward thinking fitness equipment


PEOPLE PROFILE spenser pession


After spending his childhoold in the Italian Alps, Pession was a member of the British Skiing Team from 1992 to 1995, taking part in the 1994 Olympics. He now works as operations manager at Sutton Arena


Was a career in active leisure/ sport always your dream? I was fortunate to fi nd out, at the early age of three, what I was good at and most importantly what I enjoyed doing – skiing and ski racing. I won my fi rst ski competition at the age of three and my sporting career spiralled up from there. When it came to deciding what career to follow as an adult, I tried to re-live my experience as a three-year- old, choosing to do what I thought I was good at and enjoyed doing. This brought me to the leisure industry.


What was the high-point of your competitive skiing career? Taking part in the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, where I came in 31st in the Giant Slalom race. I was British National Champion in 1993. My career as a youngster peaked in 1985 when I won the World Children’s Alpine Ski Championships (“Topolino”) in Italy.


You worked as a skiing instructor after your competitive career? Yes – I wanted to give back to the would- be ski racers what skiing had given me over the years. I spent a number of seasons in Bariloche, Argentina, and in Cervinia, Italy – coaching up-and-coming kids between the ages of 11 and 16.


What made you change your career and start out in fi tness? A long nomadic lifestyle – in between snow seasons – was the reason why I wanted to settle down, as well as having a family. Once I took this decision, I chose to focus on an industry to which I knew I could bring a wealth of knowledge and experience: the sports and leisure industry.


How has your career in fi tness progressed? Once I left the ski racing world, I completed a Sport and Exercise Science


april 2012 © cybertrek 2012


Degree at Brighton University. I then worked in the fi tness industry as a fi tness instructor and ran Martin Bell Ski & Training Camps in the UK for children’s athletic development and racing skills. I diversifi ed from the fi tness to the


management line of work by fi rst becoming a lifeguard, then a leisure centre team leader, then a duty manager, to my current role as operations manager. I remained connected to the ski world


throughout. I ski coached in Argentina and Italy over several winter seasons. I’ve recently been selected to act, along with other former Olympic athletes, as a motivator to up-and-coming young athletes by accompanying them to watch events at the London 2012 Games.


What is your typical day-to-day? I run the operations team at Sutton Arena until around 6 or 7pm. I oversee a number of full-time and part-time staff across the site that look after health and safety, activities, events and customer service. Every day is different, which is what makes the day exciting.


What do you think is the biggest weakness in the fi tness industry? One of the biggest problems the fi tness industry faces today is fi nding ways to engage and encourage people to be consistently physically active. The challenge is to integrate being active as a natural part of people’s daily lifestyle – Everyone Active’s policy of encouraging fi ve 30-minute activity sessions each week aims to motivate activity in daily life as well as in Everyone Active centres. The economic climate is also a challenge


to our industry – one in which people may have less spending possibilities. ‘Pay as you go’ options, as well as better value memberships, are essential.


What drives you? My family – my wife and my son.


T: 01494 458 970 W: www.gravityuk.net


Functional Training Specialists


CompleteStudio Solutions


T: 01494 769 222 W:www.physicalcompany.co.uk E: sales@physicalcompany.co.uk


The future of functional training


8


DiverseRange of REPSCourses


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84