Meet the woman behind the Roughriders' new gym equipment

A little over a year ago Gina Sutherland, a welder with a decade of experience, got laid off.

She debated giving up on her career, then got a call from one of the owners at the gym she trains at, Mettle Performance Training Centre, looking to start a company that manufactures strongman and powerlifting accessories.

Sutherland had been building strength equipment for the gym out of her garage, but a year ago, it turned into afull-time job. "It was a big surprise," she said.

Roughriders a big client

That's how Regina-based Nova Strength Systems Inc.was born. The company now ships its products across North America and has helped furnish the Saskatchewan Roughriders' fitness facility at the new Mosaic Stadium.

The team continues to be one of the young company's biggest clients.

"It was a pretty amazing opportunity," Sutherland said of building products for the Roughriders.

She said since opening a year ago, business is really picking up. Sutherlandbelievesthe company has aleg up on the competition because the products are designed and built by people who actuallytrain, which allows them to fine-tune the equipment.

She currently remains the sole welder who brings fruition the ideas and products sketched up by Nova Strength SystemsownerTyler Harnett.

"It's nice to be able to just tune everybody out and get your stuff done," she said.

Over a third of products exported

Sheestimates about 30 per cent of the products built are sold within province, with the rest are exported toB.C., Quebec, Ontario and elsewhere.The company produces equipment for CrossFit gyms andpowerlifting associations.

Sutherland said she can build just about anything a customer is looking for from speciality sports and gym equipment to just the basic benches.

Some of her handiworkcan be seen in this weekend's War of the West strongman and strongwoman competition at theMettle Performance Training Centre.

The event begins Sunday at 11a.m.