Gymnastic center returns to Bonners Ferry

Cory Bliss’ love for gymnastics has grown.

The 1988 Bonners Ferry High School graduate reopened his 15,000-square-foot gymnastic studio in Bonners Ferry in March. He has 10 students.

“I did not have that in the town of Bonners Ferry, so I want to give to the community,” said Bliss, who has been teaching gymnastics for 20 years. “There are lots of talented children that I see. Just because it is a small town, it doesn’t mean it can’t have the quality gymnastic instruction in a good quality gym.”

Bliss Gymnastics, which once had 75 students from Bonners Ferry, is located at 6678 Alderson Lane and will be open Tuesdays until classes fill up. Then it will be open on Thursdays as well.

“People are starting to find out about us,” he said. “They won’t really know until I do the (Boundary County) fair in August. Two years ago, that is how I advertised. I had 200 children on a trampoline during the fair and got 75 children signed up right away. I know there is potential.”

His Alderson Lane gym is equipped with a trampoline, spring floor, overhead spotting rings, support beams and pommel horse. He teaches students from 3 years of age to 14.

Born and raised in Alaska, Bliss moved to Bonners Ferry in 1978. At age 8, he started trying to do cartwheels in the backyard, and by 10, he had mastered backflips.

Bliss enrolled in Ponderay Gymnastic Center in Sandpoint at age 14 and paid his tuition by teaching classes there. After high school, Bliss joined United States Gymnastic Association.

“I would to the Sandpoint Beach and do 17 backhand springs in the lawn just to kill time,” he said.

Bliss also has a gymnastic studio in Coeur d’ Alene, where he enrolls nearly 100 students in his 12,000-square-foot gym, where he teaches Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“It makes me feel really good and gives me a purpose in life,” he said. “They will have something I didn’t. It was an issue back then and still is now with not having gymnastics so children can learn correctly.”

“I loved it back then and I love it now, and now I can do something about it,” Bliss continued.

Currently, his classes run hourly from 2 to 5 p.m. for $60 per month. Bliss plans to offer classes to all ages from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday starting in the fall.

For more information, call Bliss at 651-3905, or visit www.blissgymnastics.com.