Category: gymnastics

Karl Zinsmeister – Karl SpinMeister?

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, humourLeave a comment

Bush’s new domestic policy adviser (What domestic policy? Empty the treasury?) is aptly named.

Zin’s getting good reviews so far — except one slight smudge.

Thanks to sharp reporting by Josh Gerstein of the New York Sun, Zinsmeister’s appointment was marred by the discovery that he had doctored quotes in a newspaper profile about him that was posted on the AEI Web site. In an August 2004 article in the Syracuse New Times, Zinsmeister had said, “People in Washington are morally repugnant, cheating, shifty human beings.” On the AEI site, he changed his quote to read, “I learned in Washington that there is an ‘overclass’ in this country stocked with cheating, shifty human beings that’s just as morally repugnant as our underclass.”

Bruce Reed on Slate.com

It really is tough being squeaky clean enough to be a politician these days.

new – GymnasticsCoaching.com

On By Rick McIn blogs, Cirque du Soleil, gymnasticsLeave a comment

I spun off a blog of interest to all coaches of acrobatic sports. Gymnastics and trampoline are fundamental to everything you do later in sports like diving and break dancing.

Go to my new blog for everything gymnastics.

GymnasticsCoaching.com

logo

Last summer at Woodward camp I coached high level mountain bikers, in-line skaters and skateboard punks. Their lack of skill on trampoline was shocking and dangerous.

Two gymnasts, the sons of former Olympian Phillip Chartrand, trained gymnastics one week — then switched to in-line skating for the next week. The in-line coaches told me they were instantly the best students due to their solid gymnastics background. Those boys were cast in the new Beatles Cirque show “LOVE”.

Brian Bakalar, GymnasticsRevolution.com

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, internetLeave a comment

The best use of the internet for teaching skills I’ve seen is The Front Handspring Vault by coach Brian Bakalar of Gymnastics Revolution, Connecticut.

vault-heel-drive

Then check Brian’s photo and photo sequence database of basic skills he calls Gymnastics Interactive.

Altadore gymnasts ready for Nationals

On By Rick McIn gymnasticsLeave a comment

Shaun Ehman, Level 6.

gymnastI was over at my old club, Altadore Gymnastics, in a volunteer advisory role. Seems I am a wise elder statesman at this point in my life. Funny how that happens.

The boys were looking strong, ready for National Championships this year to be held in Quebec.

Alberta may be the team to beat in Level 6. They already won Westerns.

Good luck Altadore! I’ll be cheering for you.

gymnastics movie – Stick It

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, moviesLeave a comment

I’ve been waiting for this.

The successful predecessor to this film, Bring it On, helped popularize cheerleading. Stick It will do the same for gymnastics, I think.

Reviews have been less-than-Oscar-worthy so far. To see for yourself click the video below to watch the trailer.

Stick It – official website

Canadian Men’s Gymnastics Team

On By Rick McIn gymnasticsLeave a comment

gym team

The boys from Calgary, are on a roll.

They won the Commonwealth Games last month. And now stepped up to defeat the States, China and Korea at Pacific Alliance in Hawaii. That’s a first.

CONGRATULATIONS!

In fact, they were only 0.2 away from Olympic Champions Japan. (We need to improve our Rings.)

History in the making! Silver medal for the Men’s Team at the Pacific Alliance Championships

Olympic Floor champion Kyle Shewfelt reminded the world that he is still the man to beat. He brought home gold on Floor and Vault. In fact, Canada and China split the available individual gold medals.

See you in Beijing.

Gymnastics Rec Retreat

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, photosLeave a comment

The second annual Alberta Gymnastics Rec Retreat was a blast. People who love recreational gymnastics are some of the most fun, most energetic, I know.

The whole weekend was super. But the most memorable part was not my presentation on Coach Team Building. It was the high ropes course.

straddle jump on a log

See 50 more photos of the Recreation Retreat by jumping to the permanent webpage in Rick’s travelogue archive. OPEN icon

video – high ropes course

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, humour, moviesLeave a comment

At your annual retreat you could do something fattening — like a barbecue workshop.

Or you could ask people to climb a wobbly telephone pole and jump for a slippery trapeze. That’s what Alberta Gymnastics did at YMCA Camp Chief Hector on April Fool’s Day, 2006.

You should be able to watch a short video clip below.