Gymnastics Coaching.com

I find horses dangerous enough when I rent an old nag for a trail ride.

Acrobatics on a horse?

That’s just CRAZY.

original – flickr – amandine299

Equestrian vaulting is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, and like these disciplines, it is both an art and a highly competitive sport. It is one of ten competitive equestrian events recognized by the International Federation of Equestrian Sport …

… The German vaulting squads are highly ranked and very competitive on the world stage. Vaulting is also especially well established in France (where it is known as Voltige), Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands. Enthusiasm for the sport is also growing in Brazil, Australia, and in the United States. …

Equestrian vaulting – Wikipedia

video – American Team at FEI World Equestrian Games 2006, Germany

The latest gymnastics calendar month, distributed by Rik Feeney, is available. Here’s a small version:

Available FREE online – GymnasticsTrainingTips.com

While you are there, check out Rik’s Gymnastics Journal & Meet Survival Guide, a new book for competitive gymnasts.

Final results:

1. Russia 272.450
2. Germany 269.575
3. Romania 268.950
4. Belarus 266.450
5. France 266.350
6. Ukraine 265.875
7. Switzerland 264.900
8. Italy 263.475

France qualified 7th. But led for much of the competition — until they got to Pommel Horse. Legend Dmitry Karbanenko will compete for the last time in this meet. His first European’s were 16-years-ago.

Russia is European Team Champion, Germany wins silver – GYMmedia

gymnast Meredith Vieira – coach World Champion Shawn Johnson

I’m off to grab a Diet Coke.

Thanks Peter Korman.

Wow. Impressive All-Around scores. Higher than I would have guessed.

1. Jiang Yuyuan (63.300)
2. Yang Yilin (62.550)
3. Deng Linlin (61.600)

By comparison, the current World Champion Shawn Johnston won in 2007 with 61.875.

Now that Jiang Yuyuan is competing Yurchenko 5/2, she joins the group of possible AA winners. In fact, she may now be the favourite.

Click PLAY or watch her vault on YouTube.

I saw these scores on International Gymnast.

NCAA Women’s Championships, elevating the prestige of the event, wants to host their annual showcase event on podium.

That’s terrific in many ways. It provides a much better “show” for the audience and TV.

On the other hand, you don’t want to be volunteering for the crew setting it up and down. That’s a LOT of work.

Athens, GA 2008

A parent new to Parkettes has some good feedback:

… I’ve watched the level 10’s and elites practice and there is no yelling or berating that I at least have witnessed. It is a good place and as a parent I will always keep my eyes open, but that goes for any gym. I just wanted to go on record with positive news from Parkettes, since they’ve suffered enough bad press. Bad press is only hurtful to the gymnasts that train at the gym being criticized.

So, bottom line, Parkettes has been a good thing for my daughter. She is flourishing there and has had very good experiences with the coaching staff there. …

Chalk Bucket

No program in North America has had as much bad P.R. as Parkettes. Nice to hear the other side of the story.

I doubt Jennifer Sey will be attending their 40th anniversary reunion.

Related:

bad ‘press’ for elite gymnastics

is ex-gymnast author Jennifer Sey a liar?

Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics’ Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams

I’ve seen good high school athletes drop out of training merely to get a crappy minimum wage part-time job. One of their reasons is the high cost of training in gymnastics and acrobatics.

Here’s something interesting:

The Minnesota Gymnastics – Men’s Scholarship Foundation, in partnership with USA Gymnastics and Minnesota USAG Member Clubs, has instituted a scholarship program to financially assist qualified high school student/athletes by offsetting the costs of advanced gymnastics training.

This milestone program will enable these student/athletes to continue their training and gain the skills and experience necessary for future careers in collegiate gymnastics.

details on the scholarships

Leave a comment if you know more about this program.

Team Competition:

1. Great Britain 265.475
2. Russia 263.300
3. Germany 258.475
4. Switzerland 255.275
5. Ukraine 255.075
6. Spain 252.975
7. Greece 252.900
8. France 250.950

All Around:

1. Daniel Keatings GBR 89,700
2. Daniel Purvis GBR 87,600
3. Gustavo Simoes POR 86,500
4. Amin Garibov RUS 86,050
5. Petro Paknjuk UKR 86,025
6. Christian Bazan ESP 85,950
7. Sam Oldham GBR 85,875
7. Igor Pakomenko RUS 85,875
9. Andreas Toba GER 85,675

Keatings is still a Junior? He’s been competing against the big boys for quite a while. Senior champion of England in 2007.

Here is Daniel swinging pommels in 2007. World class.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Congratulations to the UK. Quite a showing.

more details on European Championships linked from GYMmedia (German and English)

related: British Juniors Stun Europe – IG

Yuck.

I was going to write a post on yet another bad invention designed to get cheerleaders over on backward handspring before they are physically and technically ready to do so.

Then I saw the ludicrous price tag — $1450 plus estimated $240 shipping.

That’s even worse than the product itself.

The Handspring Trainer is shipped via a truck and shipping is added based on shipping destination. The Handspring trainer weighs only 55lbs. and it’s dimensions are 60″x48″ when the mats are folded up.

see a video on CoreAthletics.com

In the hands of a good coach, this invention could be useful. In the hands of a cheer coach not capable of spotting bigger athletes, it will — at best — teach bad habits. Spend your $1450 on paying for a spotter, instead.

(via Chalk Bucket)