Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Deer
Hi Cameron, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello hello. I started gymnastics when I was four years old, smallest brother of five boys was lucky enough and talented enough to hit a level in which I was able to be at the national and professional level. I was lucky because I was trained under Gene Watson, one of the founding members of the junior development program for gymnastics in the United States and the mid 70s. When I turned 18, I moved to Houston Texas to train with Olympic coach Kevin Mezika at Houston gymnastics Academy. I stayed there till the end of 2011 where I finished my career at Cypress Texas under Tom Meadows in 2012. Falling short of my goals retirement came due to a femoral head transplant with a hip reconstruction because I did 20 years of gymnastics on a hip with dysplasia. At the age of 25 my athletic career is over however at this point, I had already been teaching and coaching for 10 years. I took that into a career of private training individuals and small groups spanning from one year-old to eighty-year-olds from Child development D1 athletes and special needs. Subleasing and running my own business for eight years until Covid hit sadly the exact same time my dad passed away. So in doing so I disbanded my business and took over his gymnastics competitive team for a year and a half and at that point, I knew it was time to open my own facility And that was September 2021. Private Practice Athletics is a dreamscape for me. I get to come to work every day and improve on the craft that I’ve been doing for the past 23 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, never do I believe success is paved on a smooth road. Athletic wise when I was 15 I partially tore my quadriceps, at 18 I broke three vertebrae in my back, the rest of my gymnastics career was an uphill struggle from there.
As a business owner; 10 years in building enough of a clientele base and experience level to where I could start my own brick and mortar facility. Once I did that being a first time commercial property renter took a leap of faith from me and a bigger deposit to the landlord.
I had a two months of renovations. Definitely learned as I went. I opened and went the first year without a paycheck.
I love having free rein over my facility; yet one of the harder things is being by myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I have been teaching for 23 years. I help people with their motor skill development through gymnastics fundamentals. What sets me apart is ,I specialize in the ability to coach all ages and all skill levels, truly spanning from one year-old to 80-year-olds, child development through D1 athletes circling back around to special needs. I’m incredibly proud of the brand I created because it was a silly idea on how I saw my future and now I’ve come to live it every day. Daily I get individuals who come into my facility, looking to better themselves either physically mentally or emotionally and through building the basics of gymnastics I’ve been able to help people for the last 15 years on the specialized training programs.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m not the first person to say, nor will I be the last but you have to take risk to get outside your comfort zone to grow. I started the business with every penny I had and a few pennies from a couple of supportive clients.
What I won’t take a risk on is my client safety. I know that I teach my clients acrobatic skills slower than some other coaches out there, but I will always take the safe route to ensure client safety.
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