December Newsletter 2023

What's Happening @ WAC?

12.01.2023

As we enter the Holiday season and come to the end of 2023, I want to thank all our members and staff for the joy, fun and adventure you bring to Westlake Athletic Club. Our team works hard to make your experience at the club a positive one, but I think I speak for all our staff to say our members bring a positive experience to our workplace, as well. Thank you for choosing WAC for all your fitness goal and we look forward to seeing you throughout the coming year.

We have had some fun and unusual recent events at the club including the filming of The Golden Bachelor for the Pickleball Date episode. The Bachelor for this 1st season is a huge pickleball fan and we loved hosting the cast and crew. KTLA also filmed at the club when they highlighted the City of Westlake Village. Our club has been around since 1972 and is a huge part of the history of the area. We were honored to be included in the review of the City.

I also wanted to review some additions we have at the club (more details are available under the Fitness and Swim section of the newsletter).

We recently added the Infrared Sauna with Red Light Therapy on the pool deck and have received tremendous feedback from our members who are using it. We offer these two wellness modalities at no cost to our members. Many other boutique wellness businesses in the area charge between $25-$40 per session so we hope you are enjoying the benefits of your sessions. If you are unfamiliar with this wellness modality, please read more about it below.

The Human Touch massage chair that was delivered at the end of summer has been popular with our members, as well. The chair provides full body massage, lumbar heat, zero gravity positioning and acupressure for the arms and legs.

Our members, Shay Shani and Donnelly Wilkes donated the stretch cage located in the outdoor functional gym area. Shay shared a great introduction video to get you started. The link is available below:
"Stretch Cage"

 

Tennis

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Conejo Cup Champions: Congratulations are also in order for the WAC Conejo Cup teams who brought home the trophy for the 2nd year in a row. What an amazing day and the support among all the WAC teams and players was so heartwarming to watch. We have such amazing members. Thank you, again, to Bill Fried with Coldwell Banker Brokerage for sponsoring the WAC team.

Chris Dudeck Honored: Congratulations to Chris Dudeck, our Tournament Director, who was recognized by USTA as Tournament Director of the month. Kudos for his outstanding work in running events that both parents and junior players appreciate

Adult Tennis Camp will be this Friday from 1:00 to 6:00pm. This is a great way to improve your game, meet other tennis players and have a great time while doing so. Cost is $125/player. Sign up in the mobile app.

Pickleball

Our tennis coaches have been busy creating new programming for our members. Chris Harradine's Intermediate/Advanced clinics were well attended and a success and we hope to do more with him in the future.

Miguel hosted a Bump Up/Bump Down Round Robin event and the feedback from the participants has been positive. Congratulations to the winners, Luke Sanson and Mary Conversano.

Tim has added a second clinic on Saturdays for players who have gone beyond their new beginner status and these have been well attended.

Howard is hosting an Intermediate/Advanced Round Robin Tournament with both a Men's Division and Women's Division on Saturday, December 16. The cost is $25 per person. There are only a few spots left, so don't wait to register in the WAC mobile app or click the links below:

Men's Winter Round Robin Tournament

Women's Winter Round Robin Tournament

If you participated in any of these programs, be sure to share your experience and feedback with us. If you were unable to attend, but would like to join in the future, please let us know that as well. We are working hard to provide a robust offering to our members.

Cookie Exchange: Join us for a Holiday Cookie Exchange during the Open Play sessions on Wednesday, December 13. Bring your favorite cookies to share and leave with a plate filled with delicious varieties. I am still figuring out which cookies to bring!

 

Fitness & Swim

imgMeet Victoria Pierruccini, our newest Personal Trainer and Group Ex Instructor. A powerhouse of energy and passion, originally hailing from the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eight years ago, she embarked on a life-changing journey to the United States, bringing with her the spirit of a true athlete.

Victoria's love affair with sports began at the tender age of 4, and since then, she has dominated the high-level competition scene in various disciplines, from the finesse of tennis to the intensity of handball and the lightning speed of sprinting. Her journey in the world of athletics has sculpted not only her physique but also her unwavering belief in the transformative power of a healthy lifestyle.

In 2018, amidst the sun-soaked beaches of Miami, Victoria added a new dimension to her fitness expertise by becoming a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Passionate about sharing her love for fitness, she has dedicated herself to guiding others on their wellness journey, one workout at a time.

But Victoria's impact goes beyond physical fitness. A Certified Life and Mental Health Coach, as well as a Reiki Master, she's on a mission to unlock the full potential of individuals. Her infectious enthusiasm and genuine desire to see others succeed make her a beacon of motivation and support. Whether you're craving a burst of energy in her classes or seeking personalized training in individual or small group sessions, Victoria is your go-to guide.

And here's a delightful twist – Victoria, despite her dedication to a healthy lifestyle, has an unabashed love for chocolates. So, if you thought you had to give up your sweet indulgences, think again!

Get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation with Victoria Pierruccini. See you at WAC, where fitness meets fun, and the best version of yourself awaits!

Just a reminder that the pool area closes one half hour before closing time to allow the maintenance crew to clean the pool, spa, sauna and deck as well as place the covers on the pool.

You may have noticed a new huge monitor located in the yoga/group exercise room. We are almost ready to launch some virtual and on-demand classes from Les Mills. We have some equipment on order that is used for some of their most popular classes. We plan to have a couple of weekly scheduled classes as well as allow individuals and groups to schedule a class on their own. This is not meant to replace our wonderful instructors, but to supplement our current offerings. It also allows our members to have another option when a class is unexpectedly canceled.

We are looking to resume monthly sound baths at the club. We have found a couple wonderful practitioners and we would love to share them with our members. Please give me your thoughts on adding this program.

Members Jennifer Weiderman and Doug Koehler placed 1st and 2nd in the USMS National Open Water Challenge over the summer. Both are members of the Master classes. Congratulations to you both!!

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A few reminders…

AED Locations: Familiarize yourself with the club's AED locations, as seconds matter in emergencies. We have two - One is located in the breezeway near the bottom of the stairs from the lobby. The other is located in the pro shed between pickleball court 4 and Tennis court 11.

Parking: Park between the lines to maximize parking spaces. The area in front of the trash bins gate is not a parking space. Help us maintain a smooth parking experience.

Rainy Season Communication: "Opt in" to receive text / email messages about court status during the rainy season. We send a message as soon as we know whether the courts are playable or not. Please do not call the front desk for the status. We get inundated with phone calls as soon as the rain stops or starts. This prevents us from getting the message out and servicing our members as they come into the club.

The staff determines whether the courts are playable. We have guidelines for determining the safety of play as well as possible damage to the courts. These rules have been put in place based on years of experience and unfortunate incidents.

Finally, Club Closing Time: Finish your evening activities (matches, clinics, workouts, laps) a few minutes before closing to allow staff to lock up promptly. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.