2009 Pacific Coast Classic gymnastics

2009 Pacific Coast Classic and the Pacific Coast Collegiate Classic

Oakland Convention Center

February 20-22, 2009

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Hosted by 1984 Olympic Gold Medalists Tim Daggett and Peter Vidmar.

Featuring some of the top collegiate gymnasts from JAPAN and 5 of the top 8 U.S. collegiate teams!

Don’t miss this preview of the 2009 NCAA National Championships!

One of the biggest and best men’s gymnastics competitions of the year.

official home page

(via Stick It media)

Canadian fitness tax credits

Good news for gymnasts?

Starting with the 2007 tax year, the Government of Canada allows a non-refundable tax credit based on eligible fitness expenses paid by parents to register a child in a prescribed program of physical activity. …

The children’s fitness tax credit lets parents claim up to $500 per year for eligible fitness expenses paid for each child who is under 16 years of age at the beginning of the year in which the expenses are paid.

Canada Revenue Agency

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Most likely this is short-sighted, doomed-to-fail, do good Socialist economic quackery.

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Now, in the Province where I live in Canada — Alberta — an additional $500 fitness tax credit might soon be available.

I’m not the only doubter:

Scott Hennig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said the tax return on that $500 could be as little as $50.

“All it does is make our tax code more complex and offers people very little in terms of real dollar value.”

Canadians might as well take advantage of these deductions, while they can.

USA Pan-Am Gymnastics Team

For the 2007 Pan-Ams they sent Liukin, Johnson, Hong and Bross. Pezek and Trani.

This young team, for the new quadrennial, looks superb:

  • Rebecca Bross (2007 Junior National Champion) … rumour is she is injured
  • Olivia Courtney (2008 Olympic Trials participant)
  • Samantha Shapiro (2008 Junior National Runner-Up)
  • Corrie Lothrop (2008 Olympic alternate)

    Olivia is a teammate of Shayla Worley at Orlando Metro.

    Olivia.jpg

    On the men’s side:

  • Glen Ishino (2008 Junior National Champion)
  • Danell Leyva (2008 J.O. National Champion)
  • (via About.com Gymnastics)

    Inside Gymnastics bungles again?

    Inside Gymnastics, an American gymnastics magazine (whose online coverage has been extremely intermittent and generally disappointing lately) will launch a radio program this Thursday, November 20th at 5 p.m. EST.

    The C Score

    Every time I get excited about Inside Gymnastics, they find a way to let me down.

    Remember Inside Gymnastics Television?

    iGtvLogo.jpg

    That link is still on the site … but the last new episode was posted YEARS ago.

    Now I’m excited about the recently announced Inside Gymnastics Radio:

    …is coming to the internet airways this week! Look for our debut broadcast airing November 21st with athlete interviews, insight from the world’s top current and former gymnasts, expert commentary as well as Q&A segments with listeners.

    Hosted by three-time Olympian John Roethlisberger, monthly broadcasts will be streamed live on InsideGymnastics.com.

    IGradio.jpg

    With Roethlisberger on the mic, this is a guaranteed winner!

    But where is it IG?

    A full day after the promised Nov. 21st debut broadcast nothing is linked from your website: IG Radio

    Lame. Lame. Lame.

    NCAA Pre-Season Gymnastics Poll

    The list looks familiar. It’s the coaches poll.

    Which team will move up the most in 2009?

    1. Georgia – 814 points (26 first-place votes)
    2. Utah – 770 (2)
    3. Florida – 742
    4. UCLA – 699 (4)
    5. Stanford – 676
    6. Alabama – 640
    7. LSU – 634
    8. Michigan – 579 (1)
    9. Oregon State – 526
    10. Oklahoma – 525
    11. Nebraska – 487
    12. Arkansas – 467
    13. Penn State – 382
    14. Denver – 370
    15. Auburn – 323
    16. Illinois – 230
    17. Michigan State – 228
    18. Arizona – 218
    19t. Boise State – 216

    UCLA Gymnastics

    Coach Dan Kendig hosts Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska on Apr. 16-18, 2009.

    Nebraska.jpg

    NCAA Gymnastics Championships 2009

    The University of Minnesota will host the 67th National Collegiate Men’s Gymnastics Championships April 16-18, 2009. …

    Minnesota head coach Mike Burns, who is heading into his fifth season at the helm of the Minnesota men’s gymnastics program, said he was thrilled that Gophers will have the honor of hosting the championship in the team’s home gym.

    Gopher Sports

    Click PLAY or watch a video promo on YouTube.

    (via Saving Sports)

    Karolyi calls his accusers TRASH

    How did Bela react to the allegations that he “beat” gymnasts in the distant past?

    Gymnast_says_trainer_Karolyi_beat_her.jpg

    … Karolyi told a reporter that he doesn’t regret anything he did and that he ignores the recent abuse allegations.

    “I’m not even commenting,” he said. “I don’t appreciate at that level even to have a word on this. These people are really trash, and I’m not messing with that.”

    Former Olympic gymnast Trudi Kollar (Emelia Eberle), who raised the accusations, said she’s not surprised.

    “The fact that he says he does not deny it — that should say a lot. And calling people ‘trash,’ you know, it’s a very ugly way of making comments about people. …

    Karolyi: ‘These People Are Really Trash’
    Former Olympic Gymnastics Coach Responds To Abuse Allegations

    WESH.com

    For someone with his media savvy, Bela could not be handling this worse.

    I think he’s finished as a TV “expert”.

    Next …

    How will Marta answer these allegations?

    2008 Olympic Gymnastics AA Final

    More TV coverage of Beijing is showing up online, the copyright holders no longer demanding takedown.

    If you’ve not seen the BBC British coverage, check this video.

    It opens with that “perfect” vault of Nastia Liukin.

    Click PLAY or watch Part 1 on Gymnastike.

    Since YouTube clips are (normally) limited to 10min, the coverage continues with Part 2 linked from the same page.