Meet Our Staff
Dirk Ooijkaas,
Head Coach, Master Clinician
Owner of Flying Dutchman Gymnastics
Coach Dirk Ooijkaas was born in Rotterdam, Holland. He became an athlete as a young boy practicing ice skating, judo and diving. Dirk started competing gymnastics in 1967, joined the junior national team at 11 and became National Champion in gymnastics by age 15. From the National league, Dirk then qualified to compete at the 1975 European Championships in Bern, advancing to the World Championships in 1978 in Strassbourg. The next year, he competed at the world championships in Forth Worth, TX.
Dirk gained his Masters Degree in Physical Education from The Hague Academy of Physical Education. He went on to teach in the Dutch public school system. But the gymnastics world wouldn’t let him go! He was contracted back By the Dutch gymnastics federation to lecture at artistic gymnastics academies across the Netherlands, as a Master Clinician.
In 1988, Dirk was invited to travel to the United States under his Master Clinician status. He taught for several gymnastics academies, producing State and Regional champions. In 2001, Dirk founded San Francisco Gymnastics in the Presidio District of San Francisco. In 2013, Dirk was hired to assist at a local Marin gymnastics program. From this program Coach Dirk helped several gymnasts to take first and second places at Regional Championships.
In January of 2015, Dirk founded Flying Dutchman Gymnastics. Today, there are many agile children cartwheeling through the streets of a small community called Fairfax in California.
On his free time (if there is any), Coach Dirk enjoys working out, riding motorcycles, tending to orchids and drinking Kombucha. He can often be seen at the local Good Earth for breakfast or at Split Rock for dinner.
Carrie Kelman
Administrative Director, Assistant Head Coach
Coach Carrie Kelman was born to a local Marin family in San Geronmio Valley. As a young athlete, Carrie competed in horseback riding and excelled in Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation. She graduated highschool from Drake High and was accepted on scholarship to Seattle University. She then went on to study in Puebla Mexico at the elite Universidad IberoAmericana and was accepted for accelerated linguistic study to the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Mexico.
After returning to the United States, Carrie began competing in Figure, Fitness, and Bodybuilding. Carrie has a background in classical ballet, contemporary dance, competitive dance, and modern technique. Carrie began coaching gymnastics and began choreographing for JO optional gymnasts. Her work with JO optional gymnastics would produce State Champion routines.
Carrie went on to receive her USAGymnastics professional certification and is certified in safety & risk management, USA Gymnastics Fitness, Sport Science, Preschool fundamentals, and Acrobatic Gymnastics.
Coach Carrie began teaching for Dirk Ooijkaas at Flying Dutchman Gymnastics in 2015. She enjoys travel, dogs, and cheeseburgers with French fries.