Author: Rick Mc

I arranged for Chris and James from Tumbl Trak to visit Oakville Gymnastics in Toronto.

They did interviews on the theme of “positive coaching” with coaches Kelly & Sue Manjak, and Tumbling / Acrobatic Gymnastics Head Coach Don Holmes.

Don

They also interviewed (potential) Olympians Peng Peng Lee, Jessica Savona and Mikaela Gerber. The Oakville girls are going for it. They’ll need everything they’ve got to qualify for the Canadian Team to London. No playing safe. Peng showed major upgrades on all 4 apparatus since Pacific Rim.

Tumbl Trak brought in some equipment for testing, including these “Fitness Wheels“, not yet available for sale.

Thanks Kelly, Sue, Lorne, Don, Greg and everyone else at the club for making us feel so welcome.

Tumbl Trak will be posting video from our visit. I’ll link from here once that’s available.

More photos.

Congratulations.

… As a GK Endorsed Athlete, Raisman joins a select group of gymnastic champions, past and present, who choose GK. Raisman will beautifully sport GK gymnastics apparel at events, grace GK catalogs, and will promote GK across social media and advertising campaigns. …

GK Elite blog

Dian Nissen Ramirez on Facebook:

It is with great sadness that I must share with you the passing of my mom, Annie Nissen. She passed away peacefully in her home in San Diego on April 3, 2012. She led an incredible life beginning as a Dutch acrobat in Amsterdam Netherlands, eventually joining with my dad, George Nissen. Together they brought the sport of trampolining to the world. They were married 59 years until his passing April 7, 2010. I miss you Mom and Dad.

I saw this first on Toudo.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Stoi – Bars Upgrades for Komova.

Don’t tell me you’re one of those parents who blame their lack of a fitness regime on their children.

Be like this Dad. Resistance is useful.

See original on Facebook.

I can’t think of any more difficult handstands than those done on a swaying slack rope.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Is this guy now in Cirque du Soleil’s OVO?

(via Niclaes Jerkeholt on Facebook)

Renmore in Ireland posted a graphic showing their proposed new above ground pits.

comment on the Facebook photo

This was a set-up, take-down gym just a couple of years ago. Now they have their first gymnast representing Ireland — Ellen Hynes at the Celtic Cup 2012. Congratulations.

Amanda Robinson via email:

to undisclosed recipients

Hi,

We appreciate your interest to provide coverage for our upcoming events, but unfortunately, we are unable to approve your media credential request. We have limited media space and used our media accreditation policy to allocate the available space. …

Best,

— The USA Gymnastics Communications Staff

At least I got a personal reply. 🙂

Of all the terrifying YouTube clips, this one freaked me out most, so far.

I Believe I can Fly ( flight of the frenchies). Trailer
by sebastien montaz-rosset

Tancrède, Julien, Seb and Antoine are pioneers in ‘highlining’ – a vertiginous combination of climbing, slackline and tightrope walking.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo. (full screen!)

Song: The Rural Alberta Advantage.

… Tammy Biggs breaks down the round-off and gives several drills to make your round-off great. She covers the side cartwheel, the one arm cartwheel, cartwheel with ¼ turn in and out, the short and long round-offs, and how to connect back tumbling to it. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Personally, I like the leg straight on hurdle for beginners, thinking it helps kids lunge late. As she says, it’s not the end of the world if they do lift the knee — it works for some gymnasts.

That clip’s from Tammy’s Developing Great Round-offs DVD available from GymSmarts.