COVID-19

the champs standard

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SAFETY

Our community is our family,
and like all families, we take care of each other.

Champs is a safe workout environment with plenty of space and options to keep
you fit, healthy and strong

Here's what you need to know about working out at Champs.

HOW CHAMPS IS KEEPING YOU SAFE

We have developed a new internal COVID-19 policy which includes strict protocols, including cleaning, physical distancing and contact tracing. We have rearranged the gym to ensure physical distancing, cleaned & sanitised the gym from top to bottom with hospital grade disinfectant and removed some high risk equipment.

For full information about our policies, procedures and strict protocols, please read through the FAQ's below.

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 FAQ

Where do I get the latest info about COVID-19

www.covid19.govt.nz is the first place you should go for official information. There you’ll find detail on Alert Levels, the latest Government updates, info on the disease itself, how to protect yourself, information for communities and other resources.

What sort of people are at a higher level of risk?

The Ministry of Health says that if you have an underlying health condition and/or are over 70, you may be at greater risk of COVID-19 becoming a severe illness, if contracted. If you do choose to attend the gym please ensure you follow all Ministry of Health guidelines in addition to our club conditions of entry.

What do I do if I think I’m getting sick?

Firstly, if you feel ill at any stage you should stay away from the gym and self-isolate. Follow the health advice at www.covid19.govt.nz and ring the National Telehealth service on 0800 358 5453.

COVID Protection Framework (Traffic Light System)

What is the new system?

The Traffic Light system, also known as the COVID-19 Protection Framework, is the Government’s approach to managing COVID-19 in the community. It came into effect on 3 December 2021.

What will the new COVID-19 Protection Framework mean for gyms?

In the Orange setting there is no maximum capacity limit.
Red setting there is a 200-person maximum limit for indoor gatherings per defined space (e.g. studio). That number limit does not include instructors or trainers.

Will Champs require its members to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

From Tuesday 5 April, there is no longer a requirement to use My Vaccine Pass in gyms in New Zealand. As the Government is no longer mandating the use of the passes, you will not need to have a pass to access Champs Fitness.

What information will Champs hold about My Vaccine Pass?

If you validated your My Vaccine Pass with us, the only information we will keep is that we have validated your My Vaccine Pass and its expiry date. Any collection and keeping of vaccination status will be solely for the purpose of implementing this policy and will be held in accordance with our privacy policy.

COMING TO THE GYM

Do I need to wear a mask in the gym?

We recommend you wear a mask at all times except when exercising, so when entering the facility, changing and walking between areas and rooms. This follows ExerciseNZ’s protocols based on the Government’s new COVID-19 guidelines.

What will your staffed hours be?

‍Our advertised staff hours will remain the same for visitation purposes, however we will extend the staffed hours to ensure protocols in place are being adhered to and adequate cleaning can take place.

Will you limit the number of people in the gym?

‍We will need to be cautious of how many people are in the gym in order to keep proper physical distancing. However, we will monitor this and see if there is a need to introduce a limit. We are hoping that once people return to their normal gym habits, that we shouldn’t have any crowding in the gym.

Will the gym still be open 24/7?

‍Yes, the gym will still be open 24/7 and members will be able to access the gym with the swipe card. We ask that every member using the gym, at all times but especially outside staffed hours, tag in using their Champs tag, maintain physical distancing protocols, standard hygiene practises and wipe down all equipment before & after use. This will be closely monitored to ensure we start each day with a clean and safe environment for everyone

When is the best time to come to the gym?

Everyone has different times they can make it in, but you might like to consider coming when it’s less busy. Check out this little graph to figure out when might be best for you!

What about Personal Training?

‍All of our personal trainers will return to the gym and will be available for your regular training sessions. Our trainers will also be responsible for maintaining a high level of hygiene and strict physical distancing protocols.

YOUR SAFETY

What processes will you have in place?

‍We have developed a new internal COVID-19 policy which includes strict protocols, including cleaning, physical distancing and contact tracing.

What safety protocols and guidelines does Champs follow?

We are following ExerciseNZ’s guidelines on best practice for keeping members safe at all times, which have been developed with both Sport New Zealand and Worksafe using the Ministry of Health’s protocols.

What will Champs do to keep me safe?

Everything we can.
We will put in place extensive processes and protocols to ensure your safety:
- Physical distancing
- Sanitisation stations
- Further equipment cleaning
- Deep cleaning regime
- Wall-mounted and free-standing fans will be off
- Encouraging our members to bring their own equipment
- COVID-19 area-specific signage
- And all of our staff will be wearing masks when required

What about physical distancing?

We will be following any current physical distancing rule in our clubs. When it comes to the studio, that means you’ll have space to yourself. This means that in some classes there will be reduced spaces available. We want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to join the classes, so if you need to cancel a booking, please do so as early as possible.

What hygiene etiquette does everyone have to follow?

We ask that every member takes responsibility for their personal hygiene and also respect the space of others. We recommend wearing a mask at all times except when exercising.
Washing / sanitising hands, covering coughs and sneezes, keeping an appropriate distance from the nearest person, bringing your own towel and using it, and bringing your own filled drink bottle / yoga mat / foam rollers etc, and not sharing or touching anything that you don’t have to.

Will you be doing any extra cleaning?

Yes, you will see more cleaning taking place during the day and at night we will continue doing our enhanced deep cleans throughout the club. We also ask that you wipe down equipment before and after use to help us keep equipment clean.

Will there be sanitising stations available?

Yes, these are throughout the club and at Reception. The Ministry of Health also recommends you wash your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds.

Why have you removed some equipment and what if I want to use it?

‍‍We have elected to remove some items that are difficult to maintain a high level of cleanliness with; including foam rollers, resistance bands, mats, press up handles, massage balls etc. We recommend that if your gym routine includes these sorts of equipment, you supply your own going forward.

What if someone in the gym is not adhering to the new guidelines?

If someone in the gym is not following our new COVID-19 policy, please inform staff in the first instance. We understand some people can find it confronting to be approached by other members, and we want to make the gym a comfortable place for all of our Champs Family, so please voice any concerns with one of our team first.

STUDIO CLASSES

Does Champs Studio operate?

Our Champs Studio classes will still operate under the COVID Protection Framework, however you may notice a few changes. Bikes will be spaced out more during our Pedal classes to ensure physical distancing and participants are encouraged to throroughly wipe down their bikes before and after use. Maxiumum participant numbers may be reduced for some classes to allow for physical distancing. During our HIIT classes, participants will move around the room or swap equipment less, and will be given time to wipe down equipment using the supplied cleaning product before and after use. Some classes may be shortened to allow for more cleaning time and reduce any overlap of participants in between classes.

Will I need to book every class I go to? 

As always, you will need to book on the Champs Fitness App or via your member portal for all classes to avoid disappointment. We have changed the booking time back to our standard two weeks in advance to minimise the chances of last minute cancellations and ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy our classes.

Will the timetables be the same?

Pretty much. For our timetables we’ve had to once again spread our classes out more, so we can manage the flow of people to and from studios and changing rooms, and give ourselves – and you – time to wipe down and clean equipment between classes. We have also shortened some classes as well as added some extra classes to make up for the fact we are unable to fit the usual amount of participants in.
Please refer to the app or website for the latest timetable.