Kersti Ojalill and Helja Aas on the podium last year
To the left of Dagmar Neem is the very energetic Kersti Ojalill, and on the right the gentle Helja Aas, slimmer than her companions. As is customary, one is first and the other the II princess. Plain and simple. The second- and third-place finishers at last year’s competition.
About Kersti
At our aerobics coaches’ brainstorming day back then, Kersti was convinced that second place was in itself already a big win for her. After all, she only came into aerobics two years ago, and she has been getting used to the coaching job since September. The girl from Viimsi did competitive dancing from age four to ten. And then no sport at all. Nature, photos, music, poetry – all of it interested her, as it would any girl that age. It still captivates her today.
After graduating from Westholm Gymnasium at the turn of the century, she made up her mind and went off to study international business management. She studied evenings at the Estonian-American Business College and finished in three years (instead of the prescribed four). The English business-language translator was not satisfied with the dull job of an assistant at a non-profit association, that is, working 8-22. But sport and everything connected with it has always fascinated Kersti. And so the door to the aerobics hall opened. Besides training, she takes on other organizational duties too. She helps with advice and strength in Robocop’s activities. She says a person can always be a little more dissatisfied, which is to say more capable and quicker.
About Helja Aas
Training sessions are in the afternoon. The coach starts up the red Mazda. Classes vary: Viimsi Secondary School close to home, and further afield Albatros, City Aerobics, Status Club. Sometimes it’s three hours in one place, a quick shower, and on to a new hall. Those who put in the work get there.
Helja has three children. Below nine-year-old Christofer come Christlin and Meribel. It is not unusual for the children to ride along with their mother to training. That way her partner Karmo has more time to take care of his own work. Helja is 33. The keywords of her life: Kilingi-Nõmme in Pärnu County, the first grade of Tallinn’s 20th Secondary School, 4th Secondary School on Nõmme Road, and dedication to calligraphy.
On sport: rhythmic gymnastics at the Kalinin District Sports School, ballroom dancing under Merle Klandorf and Aare Orb, and the Mainor dance group. With a touch of pride in her voice, she says she has learned to surf. She was third among Estonian women in 2001. “I have noticed that sometimes a kind of emotional fatigue hits me,” coach Aas confides to the reporter, “everything seems fine, the program is ready, the combinations are clear, you teach and feel that the spark isn’t there.”
Is that why she plays around with surfing? Variety reportedly helps a lot. In mid-May, FAF’s coaches get together. She too will soon have the chance to become one. Helja’s idols are athletes who have reached the top; there’s no need to look far – Andrus Veerpalu is on many people’s minds and lips. She loves reading romance novels. She likes music from the 80s and loves ballads. It makes a good change from the dance music at training.
Author: Aare Kreilis
Source: WHO – physical activity.
Come and train! ArtGym
