Shane Lauder strikes a boxing pose.

Shane Lauder has a passion for sports. He knows how to succeed and he's learned from his successes and failures both on and off the field.
The Penticton resident is spearheading an ambitious program for elite young athletes, Rise Above, an eight-week program at City Centre Fitness.
"Here is where you are now, this is what you have to do to get to the next level," said Lauder, a multi-sport athlete during his youth who has since taken up boxing and mixed martial arts as a young adult.
"I've modeled the program after my own personal experiences. Growing up I was
fortunate. I had my dad as a coach and he was phenomenal and handed so much knowledge along to me. Not everyone has the benefit of having great coaching. There's excellent potential in some athletes from lower-income families who just don't have the opportunity."
Growing up, Lauder played football, coming out of Richmond, which had one of the top high school programs in the country. He was often told he was "too small" for his position but persevered and overcame adversity.
He was also a championship golfer, high jumper and baseball player.
"Bleeding is pain but pain is friendly. It won't kill you and it will help make you a better person," he said.
He's always loved to win, hated to lose.
Lauder openly discusses his previous battles with addictions and mental illness and said sports was often his salvation. He credits his wife and children for their incredible support.
City Centre owner Kirby Layng said similar programs have been offered during City Centre's history but this one is certainly the most ambitious. The instructors hope to cater to club athletes, not presently
affiliated with a club or elite training program.
Others involved with the Rise Above elite program include:
¥ Russ Parry, ISSA, fitness instructor weight trainer and nutrition consultant
¥ Mike Yates, certified sports physiotherapist, athletic therapist, CAT acupuncture
¥ Vickie Kampe, certified clinical counselor
The program includes an evaluation of muscle imbalances, increasing strength and work capacity, interval workouts, advanced strength training, intense strength and
explosive power training, injury prevention (including ACL and concussion awareness), sports psychology and health and diet nutrition.
Lauder is intrigued by the philosophy of sport noting one of the many issues is what happens to elite athletes once their careers are over.
The eight-week program has a cost of $599 and it's open to all elite athletes in any sport with a ratio of five-to-one athlete to trainer ratio. Groups will be male ages 12-14 and 15-19 and females 14-17.
For more information call City Centre Fitness at 250-487-1481.