The is another great option available in GAR's Club XRKade!  1 month for $30.00.  New games have also been added including bowling, golf, fishing and tennis, just to name a few!

GAR World Champion Tumbler Mo Dunker has been selected to join the cast
of Cirque Du Soleil.

When Mo reached his goal of World Champion in Tumbling, he knew he wanted more…wanting to utilize his expertise in tumbling in a more
rewarding and self-fulfilling way. Mo has always loved theater and mom (mom’s know everything…don’t they?) suggested going on the website for
Cirque Du Soleil. THAT WAS IT…THAT’S WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR!! After finding out about the criteria for the auditions, he made a demo video
at GAR (under the direction of Whitney Miller, GAR tumbling coach).  After the video was submitted, a representative from Cirque contacted
him to audition in Las Vegas. The audition was judged by booking agents, casting directors and casting coordinators from Cirque (7 total) and,
after the longest hour of his life, the competitors were called together and Mo found out that he had been selected as a cast member. As of this
writing, he is still waiting to find out in which of the 20 Cirque Du Soleil shows world-wide he will be performing.

The National Competition Team of Excel Academy of Tae Kwon Do went to Bloomington, Minnesota for the 32nd Annual Diamond National World Karate Championships on October 9th and 10th. This is a “5A” rated event in the North American Sport Karate Association circuit and is considered one of the largest, most prestigious Martial Arts tournaments in the world. Excel Academy brought home four National Champions in seven different divisions. They are as follows:

Ember Bitner,12, of Winnebago, IL. -National Champion in 2 divisions: Creative Forms and Sparring,
Trevor Rouley, 13, of Poplar, Grove, IL. - National Champion in: Creative forms,
Tanner Rouley, 11, of Poplar Grove IL. -National Champion in: Traditional Forms,
Tori Smith, 24, of Magnolia, WI. - National Champion in3 divisions: Musical Weapons, Traditional Forms and Sparring.

The National Competition Team is coached by Mrs. Janne Hoyum of Rockford IL, An Excel Academy Instructor of 10 years and a Martial Arts
practitioner for 20 years, and Master Bennie Gonzalez of South Beloit IL. Master Gonzalez is a 5th Degree Master and 2 time Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee, for Instructor of the Year. The National Competition Team trains at Excel Academy located inside the Gymnastics Academy of Rockford Sports Complex on Spring Brooke Rd. For more information on Excel Academy of Tae Kwon Do please visit our website at www.xcelacademy.com or call us at 815-520-4631.

CONGRATULATIONS TO K. J. HEGER!!! K. J. is part of the GAR Trampoline Team and has been selected for the World Age Group Championships that will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia in November 2009. K. J. will be competing in three different events: Trampoline, Double-Mini Trampoline and Synchronized Trampoline. K. J.’s father, Carl Heger, was named as a judge for the World Championships and World Age Group Championships.

Backyard Adventures and Essentials...The Pro Shop New Hours:

Monday - Thursday  11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Saturday  9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday and Sunday -- By Appointment Only

The Daystar Gazebo is constructed of western cedar, noted for its beauty and longlife durability.  The carefully handcrafted roof, wall, and floor panels are engineered of all components and features, along with large scale manufacturing capabilities enables Daystar to produce a high quality product at an attractive price!  The combination of unique designs, exceptional materials, quality control and fine craftmanship results in a superior finished product.  In addition to ensuring ease of obtaining building permits, you get the comfort of knowing that whichever Daystar Gazebo you choose, it can endure the elements of weather and environment.  There are two styles of Daystar Gazebos' set up at Backyard Adventures, our indoor showroom has the Summer Breeze model and on the outer lawn off Spring Creek Road is the Summer Classic model.  Stop in and learn more about these incredible Daystar Gazebos.

EXCEL ACADEMY OF MARTIAL ARTS IS NOW IN GAR SPORTS COMPLEX

Excel Academy has been open since 1992 and has earned a reputation for developing some of the areas most competitive marital artists in both Tae Kwon Do and Kick Boxing. Master Bennie Gonzalez has been the cornerstone of Excel Academy since 1996. Master Gonzalez was inducted into the "World Wide Martial Arts Hall Of Fame" in 2003, and into the "Universal Martial Arts Hall Of Fame" in 2008. He was recognized both for his ability to develop great martial arts competitors and his contributions made to the art over the last 26 years. 

CLUB XRKADE ADDITION

GAR is excited to include Club XRKade to our long list of activities we offer to families. Club XRKade will provide new and exciting activity options for local youth and teens. Club XRKade is a cutting edge environment and experience complete with the most advanced active gaming and entertainment systems where people become a "human joystick". Club XRKade includes equipment like Dance...Dance...Revolution, Treadwall, Flight Simulator, XBoard and more! Participants will get to engage in unique physical challenges while getting the added benefit of moving and being physically active. Club XRKade is also available for "XTREME PARTIES' . You have a choice of a 2 1/2 hour party for up to 30 games or a 4 hour party for up to 50 gamers!  For more information on XTREME PARTIES, click on the XRKade link on our home page.

NEW 4 HOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!

Start your 4 hour birthday party in the Backyard Adventures for 40 minutes, spend 2 hours and 20 minutes in the gym or in the Backyard, and the last 40 minutes in your private party room in the Backyard Adventures.  Cost for a 4 hour party is $395.00 (up to 25 kids) and each additional child is $15.00 each.  Available times for the 4 hour parties are:  Saturdays from 2:40 - 6:40 pm and Sundays from 4:20 - 8:20 pm.  Please call GAR at 815-654-3867 to reserve your party.

BACKYARD ADVENTURES IS NOW YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR DAYSTAR GAZEBOS