want to work for Cirque?

Here’s the YouTube version of the Cirque du Soleil’s casting website intro video.

Cirque du Soleil casting

There’s an audition scheduled in Montreal on Monday, April 27, 2009.

The relevant categories of talent for these auditions are:

Floor Acrobatics
Aerial Acrobatics
Manipulation
Balance
Others

details

(disclosure – I love Cirque du Soleil)

National Handstand Day pics

Added by Tom Bertrand to the event “National Handstand Day” on Facebook.

handstand2.jpg

handstand-drinking-tea.jpg

Leane Grant plans to make this an annual event.

I was happy to see that gymnasts from my club participated. (They were in a shopping mall.)

ban TCO … aka apolytongp ??

by site editor Rick McCharles

This is one of the few interactive gymnastics websites where a regular commenter who goes by the name TCO … or, more recently, as apolytongp … has not been “banned” or, at least, edited.

At a key stroke I could ban him too.

But I don’t want to at this time.

He’s boring. Repetitious.

An Amerocentric war monger.

A gymnastics substance abuse conspiracy theorist.

On the other hand, apolytongp’s many times been first to find gymnastics stories on the internet. He’s passionate. We’ve had some very good conversations online.

The internet is all about giving EVERYONE an equal voice. Even apolytongp. He’s trying to limit the profanity on my request. I appreciate that.

I just wish he’d start his own blog. We’d all then be able to leave our comments there.

Note that the comments are pretty much “buried” on this site. Most people don’t read them. I rarely read comments on sites other than this one, especially YouTube.

13 flips, 11 twists – Legendre

That Floor routine everyone is talking about — Steven Legendre — was originally posted by Don Eckert of saltocafe on YouTube.

The most difficult ever performed under the new code, I reckon. (UPDATE: No time limit in NCAA competition.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s 16.7 start, 16.9 if he does whip -> 2.5 twist as he originally intended. Right?

NICK calculates only 16.6….F(6)-F(6)-[C+D](3+1+4)-B(2)-C(3)-[D+C](4+1+3)-C(3)-E(5)=4.1+2.5+10=16.6

UPDATE: From Geoffrey Taucer:

Actually, Nick’s off by one tenth; according to the latest NGJA interperetations release, the value they’ve given the DLO 5/2 is a G, not an F. Otherwise, his calculations appear to be accurate (assuming the final pass is an arabian double pike and not an arabian double lay; which is probably an accurate assumption).

This would put the start value of this routine at 16.7.

Don Eckert posts by far the most interesting gymnastics videos on the internet. And now he’s sponsored by Gibson (Mats, Beam, Bars, Grips, …)

See all 142 videos (so far) on the Gibson Saltocafe YouTube page. Subscribe. Comment. And link to those videos.

Shawn Johnson moves to Hollywood

… Shawn and Teri Johnson will be leaving for Los Angeles this week. They’ll be moving into an apartment in Hollywood, where Shawn will work with Ballas.

Teri left her job in the West Des Moines school district. Her husband, Doug, a trim-finish carpenter, will stay behind to work and fly in to watch her compete.

“We’re pretty much moving out there for as long as she’s on the show,” Teri said. “I don’t feel we’re Hollywood folks. I guess we’ll find out.”

If Shawn decides to try for London, maybe this experience will help her “artistic presentation,” as the experts say.

“Ultimately,” Teri said, “this could be a huge benefit for her. She’s never concentrated on her grace and flexibility before.” …

Shawn.jpeg

Medals, tour, ‘Dancing’ turn Johnson, 17, into an old pro

Do people return to Iowa after moving to HOLLYWOOD?

another 10 on vault for Zamarripa

Zamarripa Perfect Again On Vault As UCLA Wins Quad Meet

Watch the video.

Not quite as perfect as the first one. But good enough for 10.0 in the NCAA.

best Floor – Steven Legendre

UPDATE: watch the video.

Steven Legendre’s FX (13 twists, 11 flips in total!)

See if you can count the flips and twists!

There are no names yet for the Hypolito variations he’s added. (with double twist, and full twist in layout)

There’s no doubt that the WOGA product, now training at OU has the most difficult Floor routine in the world. He’s BIG and STRONG.

Seems a shame the code motivates him to include a relatively easy whip double twist. It was intended to be whip 2.5 twist.

OU bio – Steven Legendre

Sister, Jessica, is a member of the OU softball team.

American Cup this weekend

Feb. 21st in Chicago.

Normally this showcase of American gymnastics is a bit of a let down. More sizzle than steak.

And the women’s field is not all that strong this year:

Brittany Rogers, Canada
Youna Dufournet, France
Kim Bui, Germany
Rebecca Downie, Great Britain
Koko Tsurumi, Japan
Amelia Racea, Romania
Kristina Goryunova, Russia
Bridget Sloan, USA
Jordyn Wieber, USA
Jessica Lopez, Venezuela

I have already spoken on my excitement about Bridget (paticularly since reports that she’s been training a front triple twist!) and I’m sure Jordyn will do fine. It’s also nice to see Jessica Lopez back as I felt her floor was a standout last year. Plus, Koko Tsurumi is always good to see and Brittany Rogers is one of Canada’s outstanding new seniors. But I have to say that the person I am most excited about (hopefully) getting a peek at this comp is Becky Downie. …

perfection is possible

I too find myself more interested than usual, I think because it’s the first Scam American Cup of the quadrennial. Let’s see “what’s new” for this cycle. Is Wieber the next big American star?

Click PLAY or watch the TV commercial on YouTube.

official home page

The Men’s meet just might be excellent. Hagerty is in shape. If the international competitors are, as well, it should be interesting.

NCAA Gymnastics top 12

Florida climbs back up to 6th.

NCAA-rankings1.jpg

GymInfo

Commentary on Gymblog:

… In the battle of the surprise contenders, Auburn (Alabama) knocked of Arkansas, 196.175-195.400. Not that the Razorbacks were terribly displeased. “We went 24-for-24 with a few minor bobbles,” said Arkansas co-head coach Mark Cook in a press release, “but nothing we can’t correct in the gym. We fought hard in a tough environment and I’m proud of our efforts.” …

NCAA report!

Yurchenko.jpg

larger original

UPDATE:

Freshman Vanessa Zamarripa scored her second perfect 10 of the season on vault to lead UCLA to a quad meet victory over Boise State, Washington and Cal State Fullerton in Pauley Pavilion …

… The Bruins, who were competing for the first time since being hit with the norovirus the last weekend of January, got off to a monster start on vault, scoring a season-high tying 49.525. The score was the seventh-best vault total in UCLA history. …

… Hopfner-Hibbs won the all-around …

UCLA Bruins