air bag pit for gymnastics?

Tom Trapp, Diving coach, wonders whether there’s potential to use an extreme sports air bag for gymnastics?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That one is the Acrobag.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion on whether it could be used by circus acrobats, divers or gymnasts.

Woodward Copper Mountain should be the place to test one.

NCAA Championships 2012

Apr 19-21st, 2012 Men – Norman, Oklahoma
2013 Men – University Park, Pennsylvania

Apr 20-22nd, 2012 Women – Duluth, Georgia (not Athens)
Apr 19-21st, 2013 Women – UCLA

I’ll be attending the women’s competition this year, hosted by Georgia Tech.

details

Canadian L3 coaching courses

My courses upcoming for Artistic NCCP Canada:

• L3 Practical – SUN, May 27th, Regina (after Nationals)
• L3 Practical – FRI, June 22nd, Red Deer, AB
• L3 Technical – June 22-28th, Red Deer, AB

All 3 are MAG and WAG. Ken Soehn will be expert guest coach at L3 Tech Red Deer presenting Trampoline for Gymnasts.

Winning Balance – Shawn Johnson

“Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams”

… The writer is Nancy French, who co-authored Bristol Palin’s book, “Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far.” …

Amazon

Scheduled June 5, 2012 in the build up to her attempt to qualify for a second Olympics. On the same day, Dominique Moceanu’s Off Balance: A Memoir will be released.

via @ShawnJohnson

Ponor – Who said I would retire after the Olympics?

From an interview with Elena Rotaru in Observatorul de Covasna:

Was your decision (to make a comeback) based on this year´s London Games and on your desire to end your career on a high note?

– It was 100% based on these Olympics. No matter what will happen, nothing will keep me from getting to my second Games. And why not, with God´s help, maybe even win a medal, even if it´s silver or bronze.

Then Catalina laughed and asked me: “Who said I would retire after the Olympics?”

What is next for Catalina Ponor, beyond the Olympics?

– There is nothing planned for now. I honestly see myself in the gym in the next 7-8 months.

translated by Romanian Gymnastics Fans on Facebook

Is Catalina Ponor cool, or what!

Tsukahara 1969 Muscle Beach

Chris Castner posted this pic of Mitsuo Tsukahara:

… We were working out at Muscle Beach when a bus dropped off members of the touring Japanese Mens’ and Womens’ Olympic Gymnastics Teams…to see this world-famous location.

… No warm up…he didn’t even unbutton his coat or loosen his tie! (Note the Olympics logo on his jacket). At the time, the Japanese Men were the best gymnasts in the world…

See the original on Facebook.

Tsukahara was recently back in California, training at Byers with the Japanese girls.

Ron Bell (coaching out of the Stanford Gym) recognized Tsukahara and shared the photo. Thanks.

Daniel Corral MEX – Olympian

There are a number of athletes who qualified for Olympics you might question. (See the full list.) But not Daniel Corral — this guy’s the real deal. Loaded with potential. The best gymnast representing Mexico since the great Tony Pineda.

Click PLAY or watch his P Bars from Mexican Open 2011 on YouTube.

He won P Bars at the London Test Meet.

Read the Examiner profile – Daniel Corral: “I just can’t describe the feeling” of Olympic qualification

Olympic persistance

An inspiring Powerade TV ad.

At certain points in their journey, every athlete faces moments that make them want to give up. We asked four athletes how they Power Through… in the hopes of making Olympic history in London in 2012.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

gymnastics Twitterverse

In the era of smart phones, Twitter has caught on with gymnasts, especially from the USA, Canada and Great Britain.

Couch Gymnast posted a few to humourous effect, including this one from Danell Leyva (who’s flooding my Twitter client. Slow down, dude.)

see more gymnastics tweets