Walking V-ups with ankle weights work good, and then when they are easy for you, you could also hold dumb bells weights like 4 pounds each too - so then that's some legs conditioning, abs conditioning, and arms conditioning!

Learning new skills on bars is my favorite!!! :D Release moves, new combinations, new dismounts! I love to fly!!!

Yeah I just moved up to level 7 a few eeks ago-I got my layout and layout flyaway on the same day(the day after I learned them). Beam's been my fave-switch leaps, split 1/4, front walkover-front handspring, and backwalkover backtuck dismounts!

Comaneci release move youtube video: Nadia Comaneci, Montr

Hey everyone! Grass is a good surface, a basketball court is ok if you know what you're doing, snow not so good! slippery - on ice when they do those gymnastics moves (like Surya Bonali) they have skates on. Not kidding about someone trying in the snow lol: Back Handspring [youtube]WLR2wuIyZn4&mode=related&search=[/youtube] So not good idea!! Plus, the guy doesn't even have any[ Read More... ]

It's lots of fun when you get to learn new tricks!!

During competition off-season it's time for fun with new tricks, and trying out different bar releases / combinations, tumbling passes, to come up with new routines. Fun! And then new floor music and dance! ...Loose-foam pits and good coaches that can spot good are great!

They took out those hip-hititng skills when it was finally agreed that they were detrimental to the health. Here's Nadia's bar routine from '79: http://youtube.com/watch?v=M55LwYOutEM&mode=related&search= , and from Montreal '76 Olympics, compulsory bars: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OvNWOj1CFrE&mode=related&search=

...like when Nadia Comaneci competed! Only Floarea Leonida has experience on the world stage; she did the 2003 and 2005 Worlds and was an alternate on the 2004 Olympic team (you know that won the gold in Athens). They should make it to the top 24 teams though, to advance to the 2007 Worlds in Stuttgard, to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing!! :D

"Romania revamps team for Worlds" --> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/gymnastics/5380090.stm All 6 gymnasts on the Romanian Worlds Team are new - not from the Athens 2006 Olympics.....they can still win of course! The team ages are 19 and under: Sandra Izbasa, Dana Druncea, Loredana Sucar, Elena Chiric, all 16, Floarea Leonida, 19, and Steliana Nistor, 17.

Actually, Europe is the same as Canada - no same song one after the other! Probably, the only place that has this method with the compulsories is USA.