If you or your kid has lots of energy and you need to channel it somewhere, maybe hoisting giant iron plates above your heads will do the trick. Larry Mather, a provincial coach in Alberta certified in Olympic weightlifting says inquiries about competitive weightlifting are up post-Olympics. Much of this interest has come from young women who no doubt noticed Canadian weightlifter Christine Girard win bronze in London.
Mather says weightlifting is good training for other sports and a great fitness vehicle.
How much?
The basic costs to start are about $60 a session for several one-on-one sessions with a trainer to get the right movements down, then about $50 per month for a weightlifting club membership -- all depending on age. (There may be an extra annual fee -- about $25 -- if you need to join an association).
Where to start?
Look for a local Olympic weightlifting club if you're interested in competing, and make sure the coaches are certified in Olympic weightlifting. Mather advises joining a club for a month to see how you like it. Contact your provincial weightlifting association, like the B.C. Weightlifting Association (bcweightlifting.ca) or Ontario's (ontarioweightlifting.ca) for more information about training.