The vibes were high and the music was pumping as three dozen people worked out alongside Canadian Olympian Jenn Gardiner on Thursday (March 20).<\/p>\n
Orangetheory Fitness\u2019s South Surrey location (15355 24 Ave.) hosted a Sweat & Social with the Olympic silver medallist.<\/p>\n
Gardiner, who grew up in Cloverdale, plays for the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League (PWHL) and recently represented Canada on the women\u2019s hockey team in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
The PWHL entered its third season on Nov. 21 with its original six teams: Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Minnesota Frost, Boston Fleet, and New York Sirens, along with the two new teams, Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent.<\/p>\n
Before the class started, Gardiner took the time to chat with many of the attendees, pose for photos and sign autographs.<\/p>\n
Then, when it was time, people moved into the workout studio to start the 60-minute session, which included strength training and \u201cheart-pumping cardio.\u201d Orangetheory members could sign up for the class.<\/p>\n
The class was taught by Orangetheory coach and district manager Sydney Kreps, whose partner used to coach Gardiner back in the day.<\/p>\n
As Gardiner is a local and South Surrey is a small community where everyone knows each other, many of the members at the classes will talk about her and ask if they have seen the Goldeneyes game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vibes are always high, we\u2019re a big community, the members are known to come here 30 minutes early for social hour. I\u2019ve seen the friendships built from someone coming for their first class, and then all of a sudden, they\u2019re workout buddies that are exchanging numbers and go for walks or go for lunch,\u201d Kreps said.<\/p>\n
Gardiner was coming off a big win the night before when the Vancouver Goldeneyes defeated the New York Sirens 5- 2,<\/a> breaking a four-game losing streak.<\/p>\n So she participated in the workout as much as she could, as she was also preparing for a big game on Saturday, as the Goldeneyes take on one of the top teams in the league, the Minnesota Frost.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s what Orangetheory is all about, Kreps said \u2013 whether you are an Olympic athlete or just starting out, everyone goes at their own pace and within their own limits. Coaches are there to give a bit of an extra push and encouragement for those who need it and to cheer everyone on.<\/p>\n .@orangetheory<\/a> South Surrey location (15355 24 Ave) hosted a Sweat & Social with Olympic silver medalist, Jenn Gardiner on Thursday (March 20) pic.twitter.com\/mX6ohcK6bi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Anna Burns (@AnnaBBurns) March 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n When asked what it takes to be an Olympic-level athlete, Gardiner told the Now-Leader that she eats whatever she wants and is not too focused on her diet, except on game days, where she eats the same thing.<\/p>\n As for working out, \u201cI feel most of my hours at the (Pacific) Coliseum are spent hanging out versus the actual workouts, we maybe do a 40-minute lift or primer workout, and then we\u2019re on the ice. I like to skate a lot longer than others, so I\u2019m probably out for about an hour-and-a-half each day.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardiner said she still has not wrapped her mind around the fact that she gets to play professional hockey in her hometown.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I entered the PWHL, it was just a dream, and obviously, I loved my first year in Montreal, and I never would have left. But when there\u2019s a team in Vancouver, how can you not want to go and play on your hometown team?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s just been so surreal every day, get to go to the Coliseum and see our logo everywhere, our faces on the pillars,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s so special knowing that we\u2019re the primary tenant. Like, I can spend eight hours a day at the rink and I\u2019m not being kicked out for somebody else coming in to use their practice ice. And that\u2019s everything that any athlete could ever want to just be set up for success.\u201d<\/p>\n Gardiner said she normally has about 100 people at each home game, from family members and friends to many of the little girls she coaches.<\/p>\n She said she personally knows of some families with season tickets who come from as far as Dawson City and Whitehorse for games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool, and when they come in from far away, it just goes to show how much people want to support women\u2019s hockey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Gardiner added that she thrives on the adrenaline of playing in her hometown, knowing how many people are cheering her and her team on.<\/p>\n \u201cThe feeling of getting to skate out into the Coliseum is so freaking cool, and it just means so much to me to have everybody in the building every night and not just cheering for me, but cheering for our whole team, and our fans have been so fun. I thought Montreal had really good fans, but Vancouver is definitely giving them a run for their money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur home opener is a game I\u2019ll never forget. Same with last year on the takeover tour when we got to play in Rogers Arena, that was probably my favourite game,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Giving back to the community in Surrey is really important to her, and she often comes back after her home games.<\/p>\n \u201cMy biggest supporters are out here in Surrey, everybody, like all of my family, most of my extended family,\u201d she said. \u201cSo whenever I come home, it\u2019s very fun to just kind of reconnect with everyone, and everybody wants to know the updates, like, what\u2019s going on, what\u2019s happening, and so many people are supporting me always and just following the journey, and now get to live it with me in the Coliseum every night.\u201d<\/p>\n About the Author: Anna Burns<\/p>\n I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader.\u00a0anna.burns@surreynowleader.com<\/a>\u00a0Follow Anna on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n