Ali Raisman in training

You’ve got to admire Ali. She’s looking beast, just starting routines in preparation for American Cup.

She’s the most powerful tumbler of the international elites, so far as I’m concerned.

Click PLAY or watch her on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/MTYxNTk5NjI2?related=1

Watch more video of Workout Wednesday, Season 5 on gymnastike.org

Always suspecting Ali won’t make U.S. teams due to Bars, I’ve been wrong each time, so far.

She’s tough and durable. Having gone ‘pro’, I really do hope she makes the Olympic team. I’ll be in San Jose for trials.

visiting Tumbl Trak

I spent last week with the Tumbl Trak video team, visiting Washington State gyms, brainstorming best use of their products with different kinds of user groups. In different kinds of facilities.

Here we are at rural Brinnon Elementary.

Instruction was provided by Carrie Lennox of Jefferson County Parks & Rec who was there 4 days. Fun and fitness in a safe but challenging environment. A mobile program.

We dropped in (and trained) at the Twisters Adult class in Port Renfrew.

Here’s Carrie’s regular “Kid Fit” Parks & Rec class in Port Townsend, a set-up, take-down facility. She’s worked closely with Tumbl Trak for years.

First day in the program for this lad:

Again, the goal is high activity in a fun, safe environment. Rather than put little kids up high on a rope, why not have them sliding on the floor? Fun … and much safer.

I’ll post details on each of those programs on Rec Gymnastics over the coming week.

John Smith at NASA Gymnastics is genius at coming up with drills for Team. We got plenty of video.

The biggest news at Tumbl Trak is that they have a viral video — nearly 600,000 views. You can’t buy that kind of publicity. 🙂

Check the Tumbl Trak February 2012 newsletter. Subscribe FREE by emailing newsletter {a} tumbltrak.com.

Tumbl Trak is a valued sponsor of this site. Their corporate mission is exactly in line with my own coaching philosophy.

new website EU Union of Gymnastics

Looks great. In French and English.

Perfect domain name: ueg.org

They have RSS, Twitter and Facebook, of course.

(via The All Around Gymnastics News on Facebook)

gymnastics line drill – roll series

Adam Paterson:

… a basic roll routine used on a daily basis with our gymnasts.

Many coaches have their own variations of this routine but these routines generally include many back extension rolls to handstand, with 1/2 turn and full turns.

Depending on the age and ability of the gymnast these rolls can be simplified …

GymnasticsPlanet.co.uk

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

New tag line for this new MAG site:

… News, Techniques & Discussions from the World of Gymnastics

highest rated gymnastics skills

This is a montage of all the two most difficult categories of skills in the men’s code.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Bart & Nadia Festival

In conjunction with the Nadia Comaneci International Invitational.

Feb. 10-12, 2012
Oklahoma City
900+ gymnasts

International Elite division on podium.

The annual Bart & Nadia Sports & Health Festival is coming up to give the community a chance to meet the Olympic Gold Medalists and an opportunity to begin a healthy lifestyle.

Read more

Click PLAY or watch an interview with Bart on News OK TV.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

Looks great. Bart and Nadia Festival home page.

future of American Men’s Gymnastics

Stick it Media has a detailed wrap-up on Winter Cup:

… Assuming Jonathan Horton heals up just fine, which is expected, he should get one of the five spots, along with Orozco and Leyva. It will be an outright barroom brawl for the other two …

John Orozco Owns Winter Cup, Posts 91.35 to Best Field

Site editor Ron Noe tracks the up-and-coming guys:

… Several juniors made great impressions at this meet. Perhaps the biggest one was made by Chandler Eggleston, whose 2nd place (tied with Sender) finish on VT made the highlight reel. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

… Another crowd favorite was Yul Moldauer, who shined on FX, PH, PB and HB. He is one of four juniors competing in the 14-15 age division this season who clearly represent the bright future of the U.S. program. The other three juniors, Akash Modi, Marvin Kimble and Hunter Justus, each placed in the top 20 AA. …

Click PLAY or watch Akash Modi’s Pommels on YouTube.

Depth.