Author: Rick Mc

We’ve linked to a trampoline and tumbling blog posted by American Brett Miller under both Trampoline and Tumbling in our right hand navigation column. And subscribed.

News and information from the world of Trampoline and Tumbling (with a special focus on Missouri and Region IV)

It’s well done.

Check Brett’s sample post regarding Facebook:

While exploring in Facebook, trying to understand more about the site, I found that there are a couple of groups set up specifically for trampolinists and tumblers:

• USAG – Tumbling & Trampoline: For all us who know that tumbling is not “just rolling on the ground” and trampoline is not “like what you do in your backyard.” Just figured this was a good way for all of us to stay in touch with each other. (created by Gino Mortillaro)
• Elite Trampolinists and Tumblers: For every elite trampolinist and tumbler. (created by Nate H)
  
  Tramp and Tumble across the web

You need to be a member of Facebook (free) if you want to see those pages, of course.

This is Dr. Jeni McNeal, a sport scientist to whom we frequently link from this site. She works with the U.S. Elite Coaches Association and the U.S. National Diving Team amongst many others.

We got in a day hike after Adlard’s High Performance Training Camp.

photographer – George Novak – larger original

TOPs National Testing at the Women’s National Team Training Center in Texas.

TOPs National Testing – flickr – more photos

TKO has been commenting on different BIG release skills.

When asked about Gaylord 2 on Women’s Bars, I was left scratching my head. Had it ever been done?

Click PLAY or watch Chelsea Otto’s bar routine at the 1999 American Classic on YouTube.

That’s what Men would call a Gaylord 2. The unusual dismount is full-twisting double back OVER the bar.

For comparison, watch mighty Mo Huilan at the 1994 Asian Games on bars doing what Men call a Gaylord 1 (double front over the bar to regrasp). It’s now called the Mo Salto on Bars in her honour.

Click PLAY or watch Mo on YouTube.

And wrong-way el-grip dismount.

Interesting release move on horizontal bar despite deduction for extra swing.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks TCO.

Leave a comment if you know the athlete.

We’ve raved about this site before.

Have you been frustrated by the incredibly limited coverage of gymnastics by major networks? (How few routines can they show in an hour?)

If so, try WCSN instead. They show a TON of routines.

Those of you in the USA can try it for FREE this year.

World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) … announced that the entire International Gymnastics (FIG) season will be available free to everyone in the United States to watch live and on-demand.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) will sponsor key gymnastics events on WCSN.com as teams prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. …

They have an impressive line-up of events planned:

* World Cup from Barcelona, Spain (Jun. 30)
* FIG World Cup from Shanghai, China (July 27-28)
* Rhythmic World Cup from Maribor, Slovenia (Aug. 31-Sep. 2)
* World Championships from Stuttgart, Germany (Sep. 1-9)
* World Cup from Ostrava, Czech Republic (Sep. 16)
* Rhythmic World Championships from Patras, Greece (Sep. 19-23)
* World Cup from Glasgow, United Kingdom (Sep. 20-21)
* Rhythmic Berlin Masters from Berlin, Germany (Oct. 13-14)
* World Cup from Stuttgart, Germany (Oct. 27-28)
* Arthur Gander Memorial from Morges, Switzerland (Oct. 31)
* Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships from Quebec, Canada (Nov. 2-4)
* Swiss Cup from from Zurich, Switzerland (Nov. 4)

Actually, the rest of us non-Americans can check it out for free, as well:

To kick off the promotion, fans around the world can watch the 2006 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on-demand today at no additional cost.

This is a great promotion. The normal $4.95 monthly subscription is an excellent deal anyway if you want to watch any of those meets. (What would it cost you to travel to see them?)

Gymnastics is only one of 60 sports included. WSCN is the future of on-line sports coverage, I believe.

News: World Championship Sports Network delivers free live and on-demand coverage of gymnastics season – Gymnastics USA

WCSN – gymnastics home page

I have noticed the odd glitch. If a page doesn’t load correctly the first time, try it again.

One of our favourite clinicians has another new and interesting release. It’s actually the video version of one of her most popular presentations:

Stall Bar Drills for Conditioning and Flexibility.

Tammy Biggs describes using the stall bar for flexibility and shows a series of conditioning drills and exercises using the stall bar.

This DVD is a must have for clubs with stall bars or one that is thinking of getting some. This is a re-digitized DVD version of Tammy’s very popular lecture on using the Stall Bar for conditioning and flexibility. This DVD is also great for staff training.

Go to GYMSMARTS.com to see this DVD and many more.

Every year I see increasingly fit Yoga practitioners.

A non-gymnast friend, Andy, recently told me he learned straddle L-sit press to handstand (in middle age) though Yoga training. That’s impressive considering he was primarily a wrestler in his youth.

This is NOT Andy.

photographer Josef Vital – original on flickr

So says an article on the topic of the “cost” of high performance sport.

Big Expenses for Small Athletes

Shawn Johnson is on a six-day-aweek workout schedule. The 14- year-old gymnast from West Des Moines trains 25 hours a week at Chow’s Gymnastics & Dance with her coaches, Liang and Li Chow. She already competes on the national team, and now she is hoping to earn a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

Big Expenses for Small Athletes – Health – RedOrbit

I would be very impressed if an Olympic medal contender like Shawn trained that few hours. It would be a brave and confident decision by her coaches who are aware the rest of the National team train well over 30hrs / week.

(Shawn said in a 2006 interview that she trains 4hrs / day after school. Leave a comment below if you know Shawn’s exact training hours over the past number of years.)

Courtesy of Jason Harris – Sports Illustrated

I’d expect Shawn to be the favourite at the upcoming Pan-Am Games.

More discussion on the Gym Chat forum: What it means to be elite

…gymnastics venue for the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, July 11, 2007. The games, which will feature more than 5,000 athletes from 42 countries, begin Friday.

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull) ESPN – Gymnastics Photo Wire