Greg Almon
Greg made a name for himself by throwing a few things in his backpack and leaving for China in 2006. He spoke not a word of Mandarin and left for a 90 day contract. Four years later at the Vancouver Olympic games his women's Short Track National Speed skating team dominated the podium winning 7 gold medals.
Since returning to Calgary Greg's vision has been to create a step by step multi year training program that creates extraordinary and radical changes to his athletes physiology and psychology. The foundation of the radical and extraordinary changes must stem from teaching athletes to have the correct mindset.
The Jungle is a place where our athletes are physically and mentally challenged to rise to their potential. In a world that often prefers "ice cream", we serve the vegetables that our athletes need to grow grit. This earned grit will be forged by new habits. A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit. Habits are safer than rules; you don't have to watch them. And you don't have to keep them either. They keep you. Greg feels strongly that we are entitled to nothing and we must work for everything we get.
When Greg isn't coaching he enjoys reading the back of cereal boxes, collecting bottle caps and making beetles fight. Greg also likes to spend time out wrestling his son Max (age 12), and reciting lines from " Rambo, First Blood"
Charmayne Chou
Charmayne was a former figure skating and gymnastics champion. After living and working abroad for years, Charmayne moved to Calgary and discovered her love of working with young people. Her outgoing and happy personality help our youngest athletes feel welcome and our older athletes feel they are in their second home. Charmayne is the director of operations, performance coach, ambassador and Jungle mother to many.
Charmayne likes to spend her free time building lego, collecting used batteries and taking apart old flip phones. She is passionate about the physics of star trek, turfgrass science and bagpiping.