Nebraska lost to #1 Utah this weekend.
But the one routine I want to see is Kassandra Nathe on Vault: Handspring-on-to-the-beatboard Handspring Front Pike. (The Nebraska website won’t stream video on my Mac.)
Rarely done, because it’s so difficult, this vault should get COOL bonus.
… “If you had told us early in the recruiting process that Kassandra was going to be one of our all-arounders this season, I don’t think any one of us would have guessed it,†Nebraska gymnastics coach Dan Kendig said. “That’s why you don’t prejudge. I think she’s earned an all-around position by working hard. She works smart in a lot of ways. She has a great attitude.
…
Nathe, joined by senior Kyle Stone, are the only two Huskers to make appearances in the all-around competition so far this season. …
Nebraska Student-Athlete Spotlight: Kassandra Nathe
UPDATE:
To see another gymnast, Michelle Browning – Iowa State, compete it click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
19 comments ↓
Rick, what’s the start value for that vault?
I don’t know if I’m a huge fan… it looks so… awkward
I thought you weren’t allowed to do tricks prior to hitting the horse? Or is that just from the board to the horse?
Love that vault. I think that’s only a 9.9 start value though, right?
This vault has always been allowed since I first saw it back when the Yurchenkos began. I coached a girl Royanne Wilson who trained and competed it at University of Calgary in the 1970s.
Not sure of the start. Same as Handspring front pike, I assume.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to do tricks prior to hitting the horse? Or is that just from the board to the horse?”
FIG rules.
I can’t see any difference rules-wise between round-off and handspring.
Either both would be banned. Or neither.
” Either both would be banned. Or neither.”
This is the FIG we’re talking about. But maybe it’s not banned. I thought I saw something which indicated the front handspring onto the board wasn’t allowed as a mount on any event but I can’t find it now.
What a cool vault. I really like vaults that look a little different from everyone elses.
I’ve been waiting for someone to do this vault for years! I’m sure it’s been done but this is the first I’ve ever seen.
It’s my understanding you’re allowed one “entry” trick. In theory, if you wanted to do an aerial cartwheel, you could (I might be wrong about that, I didn’t check before I posted this). But the better question is: Why?
The point of the round-off entry is to get turned around backward, fast. If there was a way to run fast backward, we’d do it. But we can’t (not just because it’d be blind, but because we physically cannot run backward very fast). We don’t round-off for cool points, we do it because it’s the most effective way to turn around fast (albeit, it does still slow down a bit. But not nearly as much as other options).
So my point is, why bother doing a front-handspring onto the springboard when you’re already running forward? It’s not speeding you up, it’s not getting a better angle, it’s just “cool points” which, in my opinion, doesn’t justify doing it if the end result is losing some speed/technique in the rest of the vault. I question whether any of these athletes, if they are powerful enough to pull off the FHS/FHS/Front, aren’t just powerful enough to twist a regular FHS/Front.
If all we wanted were cool points, then just tumble the whole way down the runway. I think everyone would recognize how silly and ineffective that would be.
I’m not knocking these athletes, it obviously takes talent and skill. I am, however, questioning the decision of the coach. If they can explain the reasoning behind it, I’d welcome the insight, but as of right now, I don’t see the wisdom behind it.
Of course you’re right, Just another opinion.
This might not be the right place to do a “cool trick”.
They need an NCAA All-star showcase … or something like that.
I think it was around 1992 that I saw an athlete do a 1 1/2 front tuck onto the vault and a simple handspring off. I was later told that these types of vaults along with one-armed vaults were no longer allowed.
The British male gymnast did front 1.5 salto on, handspring off.
The “May” it was called … before being banned.
I checked the men’s code of points…..
“The only element that may be performed before
the vaulting board is a round off.”
“Vaults with saltos during the first flight phase and vaults with
straddled legs are neither listed nor permitted.”
To “Just another opinion,”
I would agree that your logic is sound re: the use of a roundoff to maintain speed while changing direction to generate power for the take off on the vault, but a front handspring is also a power generator right? I would say that it’s generally much easier for athletes to execute front handspring front salto tumbling on floor instead of just punch front tumbling…although maybe that’s just because it’s easier to set the skills out of the front handspring instead of by punching into the skill ?? I wonder if by doing the front handspring onto the board, it enables the athlete to punch to the vault table better? I think it probably just depends on the athlete, but in any case, I really like this vault, but would agree with your argument about it not being necessary.
Is this entry just for show, or does she get some extra push from it? As someone who sucked on vault, I know the help a Yurchenko can do. I can’t see it with a front handspring entry, though.
I can’t see any way that any athlete can gain power from the Handspring approach.
This is simply a novelty to show it is possible.
[...] We’ve posted this before. [...]
The phrase dont knock it till you’ve tried it doesnt begin to cover it here. first its not just “cool trick” it gives forward momentum and leaves you in a correct position. its very hard to master, and yes we would be able to twist out of it but why should we if you cant do it dont judge us for being creative.
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