Squamish residents will have an opportunity to reach new heights thanks to a new facility coming to town in October.
The Airhouse Warehouse, opening at the Solterra Business Park, will be a 6,000 square foot dryland training centre packed full of trampolines including a 20 foot by 10 foot super trampoline.
Owner Rodney Wilson and consultant Myles Ricketts said the facility will bring something new to Squamish and literally give local people a spring in their step.
“Rodney came up with the idea and I think he realized the lack of something like this especially with the active lifestyle of people in Squamish,” Ricketts said. “He went to me for consultation and safety advice on how to develop the idea so everyone from young kids to high level national freestyle athletes can use it.”
Wilson said the demand came about from friends and people he knows in the sports industry.
“A lot of my friends are coaches and professional athletes and they’re asking for something like this,” he said. “My business partner visited the Red Bull training facility in Santa Monica and wanted to bring something like that to Squamish. We’re opening one here and in LA and we chose Squamish because of the access to coaches of all level that live here. It makes sense to have the first one here.”
He said since the Olympics that Squamish has become a hub of athletes and coaches in the freestyle ski industry.
“This would eliminate the need to go to Whistler to train and we want to help put Squamish on the map as the place to train,” he said. “We have a lot of coaches who came here to train for the Olympics and have made Squamish their home. Squamish is also close to Whistler and Vancouver, so this is a good place to make it happen.”
Ricketts is deeply involved in the freestyle industry, as he was a former athlete, coach and sits on the board for the BC Freestyle Association. He also started the BC Pipe and Park team and said the Airhouse wants to cater to all levels of athletes.
“We want young kids to be able to come in and have fun but also want to be able to have the highest level of freestyle athlete and every level in between,” he said. “Our goal is to look at the Sea to Sky Corridor and adjust our facility to cater to everyone.”
The pair noted that there are multiple freestyle programs throughout the corridor, including the Blackcomb Freestyle club and the Freestylerz junior club, and this facility could help grow and develop future athletes.
In addition to trampolines, there will be a warm-up area with space for aerobic activities, room for obstacle course training and other activities. Ricketts noted it’s a versatile facility and has the potential to adjust to what users want.
Wilson said another thing he’s proud about is the Airhouse’s connection with the late Sarah Burke, a pioneering Canadian freestyle skier who died following a training accident. The super trampoline will be named after her and at the facility’s grand opening there will be a fundraiser for her foundation.
“I’m really excited about the whole thing,” Ricketts said. “It’s great to have another option to promote the active Squamish lifestyle, and this is something new and fun. We have quick access to Whistler and Vancouver and I think this is awesome for coaching and a way to help younger people get into our sport.”
Construction on the Airhouse is set to begin in the next few months, with the facility slated to open in mid-October.
