Gymnastics Coaching.com

For those who want to fly, Steven Santos posts answers to frequently asked questions on SimplyCircus.com.

This is a superb resource for those wanting to know more about aerial acts: Russian Swing, Silks, Trapeze, Cloud Swing, etc.

It’s part of a bigger project under development, the Simply Circus wiki.

Certainly the more widely distributed this information, the better.

Suspending people in mid-air is inherently dangerous. Damage to persons and property, including death, can result. This FAQ is an attempt to share knowledge and experience and to promote safety. But do not rely on anything you read here without verifying its accuracy and applicability to what you are doing.

The last section — Finding videos on the internet — is particularly useful.

CLICK PLAY to see a lovely Aerial Contortion in Silk performance by Cirque du Soleil Quidam’s Isabelle Chassé — or watch the video on YouTube.

I’ve seen video (Kaspars Garda aka TopEvil) of cyclists trying to learn back flip on dirt by the throw-and-go method.

That’s just stupidity.

Set up a jump into water. Or learn it at a camp with a foam pit.

Forward and backward flips on a bike are not that difficult if you have the right bike, protective gear, a trampoline coach and a safe environment in case of mistakes.

Check out a guy learning a no handed front correctly — into a foam pit at Woodward West Action Sport camp. He has enough speed and confidence to go for good height.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

more posts on Woodward West in California

Thanks George.

At 16-years-old, Ryan Sheckler is already a superstar of extreme sports.

He has his own shoe, toured with Tony Hawk, and has a long list of corporate sponsors. Sheckler is the youngest ever to win a gold medal at X Games (“SBX Park”).

No acrobatic sport has done a better job of marketing than skateboarding. We have much to learn from them.

Ryan Sheckler: Extreme Skateboarding Millionaire Icon at 16

official website – Ryan Sheckler

Chinese gymnastic head coach Huang Yubin shrugged off their eight gold triumph in the Arhus world championships on Tuesday, expecting tougher challenge in the 2008 Olympic Games.

“Of course we are very happy to see the result, especially after the Athens waterloo,” … “But our ultimate goal is the Beijing Olympic Games. There is still two years to go and many things could change as what we experienced over the Athens Games,” he said.

The Chinese squad collected a sole men’s pommel horse gold medal in the 2004 Olympics, a heavy blow to domestic pre-game expectation and a team which won five titles in the 2003 world championships in Anaheim.

Huang contributed the success to their correct understanding of the new rules, which was first introduced into a world championships in Arhus.

“I think we enjoy the temporary leading position because we studied the new judging system maybe earlier than the other teams and therefore understand it better.

“But after the championships, they would learn more about the rules and train better. I believe they would catch up soon.” Huang said.

Gym coach Huang expects tougher challenge in 2008

Michael Sanders put together a cute montage of kids doing circus activities at summer gymnastics camp: juggling, magic, unicycle, and the always dangerous slack rope.

Since we are looking to offer circus gymnastics classes at my club sometime in the future, I was intrigued.

To see Cirque du SMGC click PLAY, or watch the clip on YouTube (where it often seems to stream better).

Now, I am still waiting to see someone muscle-up on to a slack rope from underneath. I believe it impossible. (Could you kip?)

In tribute to the amazing Chinese gymnasts at World Championships.

Chinese Characters for gymnast — learning Chinese

The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil was not a show that was easy or inexpensive to create. It never would have happened without the personal enthusiasm of George Harrison who unfortunately did not live to see the final production.

It is the hottest ticket in Vegas right now.

When I first heard of the concept, I was sceptical. I feared that the acrobatics might suffer with a focus on music.

I was wrong.

There is a trampoline act (actually 8 trampolines and a phone booth) which will freak out any trampolinist. There is an in-line skating number which will freak out any skater. And I feel the Mr. Kite swing solo is the single most shocking act in Cirque du Soleil. (Criss Angel assumed it was an illusion.)

more photos on About.com

My review: Book tickets to LOVE on-line up to 4 months in advance and plan your next holiday to Las Vegas to see LOVE.

Actually, LOVE is still in creation though it may be finalized soon. It’s hard to imagine any other kind of performance in history anywhere having had so many great visuals.

I had forgotten just how brilliant and innovative the Beatles music had been. And some of the remix versions are far, far superior. LOVE samples 130 songs to create 27 musical pieces. The CD goes on sale in November. In the show, each seat is fitted with three speakers including the headrest.

short videoclips are available on the official LOVE webpage

There’s something I really like about the unpretentious format of this videocast.

The 10th instalment of Gymnast TV is a feature on the DU Women’s Gymnastics Team.

“University of Denver assistant coach Carl Leland talks about the upcoming season. We also get to know some of the team girls.”

watch the video on Gymnast TV

Paul Hamm – Olympic Champion 2004 ***

I’ve questioned his victory as often as anyone.

But Bruno Grandi has come around:

“If I were eating a plate of spaghetti with him, I’d say ‘Paul Hamm is the Olympic champion,'” Bruno Grandi said Tuesday, twirling his hands as though he were spinning pasta with a fork.

That was news to Hamm, who conceded it’s the first time he has heard anything amounting to a rapprochement from Grandi, the federation president who suggested Hamm share his all-around gold medal with a South Korean gymnast after a judging mistake in Athens.

“Wow,” Hamm said when told of the statement in a phone interview. “Oh, no, no. It’s never been spoken about publicly. I really can’t be more pleased with it. It’s amazing he feels that way. I’m shocked.”

Two years ago, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) admitted a scoring error was made in the men’s all-around in Athens but repeatedly said it would not change the results. The error came on South Korean Yang Tae-young’s second-to-last event, and he wound up with the bronze.

The Koreans held up Grandi’s comment that Hamm should share the medal as acknowledgment of a mistake, forcing the American to defend his gold all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Two more judging fiascos in Athens, involving Russian Alexei Nemov’s routine on high bar finals and Canadian Kyle Shewfelt’s vault on the same day, reinforced FIG’s problems. …

“I’m actually really happy,” Hamm said. “I think it’s great. I can’t really be more pleased than actually being vindicated as the Olympic champion by Mr. Grandi.”

Gymnastics chief: Hamm is Olympic champ – AP

WCSN.com has some free video clips on their website right now. Also photos and athlete profiles.

Look for pull-down menus on this page.

Better would be to sign-up to see all their coverage for only $4.95.