14 April 2005
Les Mills takes top New Zealand Gym Award
Les Mills Extreme in Wellington has been named the inaugural Fitness Life Fitness Centre of the Year at a presentation
dinner in Auckland last night. The award is the latest in a series of accolades that includes Les Mills being named Best
Gym by Unlimited Magazine; being awarded a Sony Ericsson Urban Lifestyle Award; and Phillip Mills being named the Ernst & Young New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year 2004.
The Fitness Life Awards celebrate excellence within the fitness industry, and this year the judges commented that “the
quality and the passion of the entries show the true dedication and commitment that is evident in fitness centres all
over New Zealand”. Judges said it is apparent Les Mills Extreme has dedicated itself to not only offer members a
full-service of fitness services, but also out-reach to the community through the inspirational and kid-focused 24 hour
Heart-beat Fund-raiser Challenge in 2004.
The centre, which is based in Taranaki Street, has positioned itself as the dynamic fitness hub of a community of
Wellington people. Its gym attendance is amongst the best in the world, it provides extensive resources for its members
and the broader community. “It was the community initiatives and overall energy, professionalism and enthusiasm of the
Les Mills Extreme team that tipped the balance and put Les Mills Extreme ahead of all the other entries,” said the
judges. Les Mills also won the premium South Island award, with Les Mills Christchurch being awarded Fitness Life Centre
of the Year Award for Gyms in the South Island with more than 500 members.
The calibre of staff was highlighted when Les Mills Christchurch’s Bevan Eyles was named OMEGA SEAFOOD Group Fitness
Instructor of the Year. Judges commented that his win was “because of his attitude towards being a role model and
coach”. Les Mills Christchurch personal trainer Jean Scott, who joined the fitness industry twenty years ago as a
freelance aerobics instructor, was named the South Island’s top personal trainer.
CEO of Les Mills New Zealand, Reece Zondag, said that the award was a true reflection of the world class facilities and
people that make up the company. “The quality of entries overall was incredibly high and to win against such stiff
competition is an achievement of which Les Mills can be very proud,” says Zondag. “To be judged by peers as the best in
the country is a true industry honour”.
Les Mills’ Group Fitness classes such as BODYPUMP® and BODYBALANCE® are now taught in over 9500 gyms in more than 50
countries around the world - in an industry where participants have doubled in the last ten years to become the biggest
participation sport in the world.
About Les Mills
Les Mills is New Zealand’s leading gym chain, recognised as one of the world’s most innovative and professionally run
health and fitness organisations. Established in 1968 by Olympian Les Mills, there are now nine Les Mills clubs in New
Zealand with 40,000 members.
His son Phillip Mills, is now one of the most in-demand speakers on the world fitness circuit. Les Mills fitness
programmes are distributed to more then 9,500 fitness clubs in over 50 countries, with an estimated three million
participants a week. Les Mills’ mission is to make a major difference in the lives of New Zealanders by dramatically
improving their fitness, health and happiness. For more information visit www.lesmills.co.nz .
ENDS