tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports …

This week’s episode was the lamest, yet, IMHO. A “dramarama“.

The only redeeming moment was seeing a Ponds twist belt used in a tumbling harness. Nostalgia. The last time I saw that set-up was in the 1970s.

Sasha looks terrified of spotting. He needs the belt. Or to let the gymnasts coach each other on new tricks.

If you’re hooked like me, Episode 16, Save the Last Dance, is online free if you live in the USA at ABCfamily.com. And online here if you live outside the States.

Rama margarine ad in Romania. Posted by Nadia on TwitPic.

My friend Karl Balisch, formerly of Gymnastics Canada, just emailed a great full-time opportunity at Vanda’s gym.

Tumblers Gymnastics Centre is a not-for-profit organization based in Orleans and is one of the largest programs in the province with over 2000 members annually. The Centre is presently seeking a Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Coach / Program Coordinator to oversee the competitive and pre-competitive programs. We are looking for a dynamic individual with proven communication skills to provide vision, planning, mentorship and coaching within the program. Our WAG competitive program has 80 developmental, pre-competitive and competitive athletes in various competitive levels both Provincial and Invitational.

This individual will have the following qualifications or equivalents:

• Minimum N.C.C.P. Level 2 certification (theory and technical – Women’s and Trampoline);
• Choreography experience an asset;
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) in English; French an asset;
• Current GO Risk Management and First Aid Certification.

Non-Canadians should check with Karl regarding equivalency.

kbalisch AT tumblers.on.ca

A 10yr-old street dancer and Glasgow ballet group impressed on a British reality TV dance contest.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

via @icclevix

Danell Leyva, the young American World Championships Horizontal Bar finalist, recently added Liukin (Layout Tkachev 1/1 twist) into his long, difficult routine.

I hadn’t realized that Stanford’s Alexander Buscaglia caught Liukin Day 1 of Winter Cup. (Leyva missed it Day 1.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Wasef Burbar (age 16-18) is competing it too. You can see video of Wasef doing it in training on YouTube.

Thanks Jeremiah for sending us the links.

==== melanie ponders whether we’ll ever see a female gymnast do this trick. I think we will, but not for many years yet. We need layout Tkachev first.

by site editor Rick McCharles

Jim and Hannah Holt, the co-coaches of the Bellevue High School gymnastics team, have fashioned careers as freelance international gymnastics coaches. They have coached in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, Bolivia and Chile, to name a few countries.

Steve Kelley in the Seattle Times posted a glowing article on gymnastics coaches Jim and Hannah Holt. Great buzz for our sport: Changing the world, one gymnast at a time

I’ve posted about Jim, a friend of mine, in conjunction with the release of his gymnastics book, Chasing Impossible Dreams.

When I think of Jim, I often recall the competition when we first met. He was a gymnast competing all-around with only one leg. (Jim was born missing a tibia, fibula and patella.) One of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen!

Try dismounting Rings on to one leg. Never mind Vault!

On Pommels, a judge who shall go nameless (Francis Tally) deducted Jim for NO SCISSORS. Yes, we were outraged for him that day many years ago. And I’m still irked today.

Judging is about good judgment. Not every special case can be included in any set of regulations.

Just checking out a new system of women’s gymnastics handguards from a company called Panfilof and Daughters.

… a new fastening system—ratchet buckles. This system is more convenient to use than the grips with Velcro or the grips with regular buckles. The ratchet buckle grips are fast and easy to tighten exactly as needed. Ratchet buckles prohibit spontaneous opening of the bracelet. …

Narrow grips have neoprene fasteners on the tongues of the finger holds which makes it possible to regulate the size of the finger holes by moving it inside or outside.

Grips page

The company, out of Eugene, Oregon, touts many celebrity endorsements, including WOGA coaches.

If you’ve seen or used these grips, and have an opinion, post a comment. They also sell “wristbands” and “bracelets“.

Seems the I.O.C. is finally starting to understand social networking.

Shaun White’s 93,000 followers (including me) will be getting personal updates, legally, from Vancouver.

… there is no Olympic rule that sets up a blackout period for athletes according to Bob Condron, the Director of Media Services for the United States Olympic Committee.

“Athletes are free to blog during the Games,” says Condron. “And Twitter is just a blog that’s written 140 characters at a time.”

There are some restrictions on what athletes can do online during the Olympics. … people must keep their posts confined to their personal experiences. “You can’t act as a journalist if you aren’t,” says Condron. “You need to do things in a first person way.” …

The other most significant restriction on athletes posts is a ban on references to sponsors or advertisers who aren’t official Olympic partners. …

WIRED – Athletes Confused by Olympic Social Media Rules

Katrina sent a link to clarifications from the “IOC Blogging Guidelines for Persons Accredited at the XXI Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010? and the “IOC Internet Guidelines for athletes, coaches, trainers, officials and any other accredited participants” documents:

SWEET.

The latest update has it that 3 superstars from China are all coming to compete at the Wild Rose competition in Edmonton, Alberta.

April 2-5, 2010.

Sui Lu was the 2009 World Championships Bronze Floor medalist.

Recall that 2008 story about dictator Vladimir Putin having an affair with former Rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva.

It was eventually debunked. It seemed at the time.

That story has resurfaced. Scandal rag NY Post in December:

… Vladimir Putin has a lot to celebrate this Christmas. Not only has the Russian strongman consolidated his control over the proletariat — and all their oil and gas — he’s also been given his first son, sources say.

Alina Kabaeva, the gorgeous, 26-year-old rhythmic gymnastics champion, recently gave birth to a boy in Moscow and named the baby Dimitry …

A son in Putin’s Yule stocking

They intimate the boy is Putin’s son.

And more recently:

… Kabaeva, who named the boy Dimitry, has all but vanished. “Her numbers have all been disconnected, and only five people are in touch with her — her ex-coach, her parents and two other gymnasts who serve in the Duma [the Russian parliament] …

Putin hides baby mama

Likely the story is untrue. But I wish it was true.

Putin is a megalomaniac. He nominates beautiful young women and his favourite Pop stars as political candidates.

Likely Alina is simply on maternity leave. But someone ask Khorkina where she is, exactly.

One of the most talked about routines at Winter Cup. Danell catches Liukin (Tkachev layout full).

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

UPDATE: Jeremiah tells that Wasef Burbar (16-18) from Buffalo Grove Gymnastics caught Liukin at the Windy City Invite.

So odd. So original. This is spooky good.

naimushina dudnik mostepanova baraksanova chudina bicherova omelianchik

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Perhaps I’ll evolve into a recluse who refuses to listen to any music later than 1989. Or to watch any gymnast after Omelienchik.

This was chosen by the new montage blog, Quitter’s Try. Thanks!

That video was posted by gentilly86 from France. I instantly subscribed.

… Mas Wanatabe shows a drill for working the punch off the table and post flight that you can use to increase the number of repetitions you can do by using two spring boards and a pit. Mas Watanabe is currently the vaulting coach for the US National Team.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mas is working with the American National Team? Awesome. He’ll be a wise, calming influence.

The Gymnastics Minute is provided free by GymSmarts. Thanks!