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An interesting trend are the increasing number of athlete highlight video clips on the internet.

The best are action sports: skateboard, rollerskating, free running, cycling, etc. Some of those are at the level of professional documentary. The video is the performance.

Much less evolved are tribute montages dedicated to gymnasts. But with increased availability of video editing software, I expect to see tens of thousands listed on YouTube in coming months.

I link to this one mainly because I am such a big fan of Hollie Vise, 2003 World Champion on Bars. Hollie will compete for University of Oklahoma starting this season.

Click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.

official website – Hollie Vise

More gymnastics tribute videos on YouTube – GymMaverick’s play list.

Rick McCharles

Just received an award for 20-years of volunteer service from Gymnastics Alberta and I am tickled.

Spending association dollars and time on these kinds of self-congratulatory parties and gifts is controversial. Is it money well spent?

If done well, I am for them. Amateur sport is still very much volunteer driven. We need recognize unpaid sport leaders.

Quite a bit of discussion was generated when spotting Pak (part 1) was posted on this site.

Many gyms are just introducing this excellent skill.

At a coaching clinic Patrick Carmichael came up with a foolproof spotting method when introducing the skill to beginners. The youngest kids on this footage (demonstrators) had no concept of what “Pak” meant before we filmed them.

Click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.

Pat is one of the excellent young coaches I like to profile on this blog. He has a command of the art and science of coaching well beyond his years. Pat is coaching full-time at the Island Gymnastics Academy in Charlottetown, PEI.

I’ve long awaited “gymnastics TV”. And here it is.

GymnastTV

But this show is far different than I imagined.

1996 USA Gymnastics Olympic Team Member and Hall of Famer Mihai Bagiu takes you behind the scenes with Brett Brown for unique interviews with some of the world’s top gymnasts, past and present. Only 2 more years until Beijing. The countdown to Olympic gold has started!

The interviews are long and in depth. Mostly the top men in the USA. The focus is on the gymnasts as people, far more than the gymnastics. It’s definitely worth checking out!

Click PLAY to see the promo clip or watch it on YouTube.

See more on GymnastTV or search for “GymnastTV” on iTunes.

Episode 2 is a great in-gym feature with US Champion Artemev and his father.

I’ve heard good things about a youth circus school in St. Paul, MN called Circus Juventas.

Since my gymastics club is considering starting “circus classes”, I did a little research on their website. And some other circus school sites.

About Circus Juventas.

Circus training seems ideal for the kind of kids who love to perform, but not compete.

from St. Paul Winter Carnival

I love these acrobatic demonstration teams.

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-4192902383586122669&hl=en

They remind me of the made-for-TV Slamball competitions. I look forward to Slamball making a comeback.

The episode — Thursday, Sept. 21st on CBS in many locales — opens in the Cirque du Soleil KÀ theatre.

Cameras are never allowed in KÀ , except this time.

Check sneak preview footage from the episode in John Mayer’s new music video.

Does this error look familiar?

A coach needs to progress carefully to avoid the arch on the upswing of a giant swing.

Brian Bakalar has a nice overview of the giant on his Gymnastics Revolution website. The images on this site by Brian and photographer Philip Morton are simply the best on the net.

more Gymnastics Revolution articles

I was surprised to see how well the best in the world handled the new mega Big Air ramp at X Games this summer. It looks far too dangerous. Especially from the 80ft-high roll in.

Great- Wall-of-China-jumping Danny Way is still the man. He is starting to make his gainer back somersault look easy.

I won’t blame you if you skip this one. But click PLAY if you want to see the insanity. Or watch insanity on YouTube.

Today Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique confirmed the seven member men’s team for next month’s world championships in Aarhus, Denmark. The team is Nathan Gafuik (U of Calgary), Grant Golding (U of Calgary), Ken Ikeda (Abbostford Twisters), David Kikuchi (Alta), Brandon O’Neil (Capital City), Kyle Shewfelt (U of Calgary), and Adam Wong (Calgary Gymnastics Center).

2006 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Gymnastics Canada

The Canadian team is one to be reckoned with. They have never been stronger.

Interesting sidebar is Grant Golding who went to Cirque du Soleil for months of training (after Pacific Alliance) and is back on the National Team roster. One day he may be a performer in a show — but for now look for him at Worlds in Denmark.