Any parents of gymnasts out there? Where do you travel to during the season?

My traveling for kid's activities are over, but grandkids are just starting. Never had gymnastics though. Would be interesting to hear about your experiences. Don't forget to post pictures as you go along.

Dated a gymnast in college...we did not do much traveling.

I bet you were too busy to do much traveling, eh?

It's a gruelling sport. My daughter is a level 10 (has been at it for 10 years now. She missed the last 2 competitive seasons due to an elbow injury.
They give up a lot (as do athletes in many other sports) - she spends 4 hour days in the gym - 5 days a week. At 15 she is trying to balance gym, private school and friends - it's a lot on her platter.
Travel this year will take us to Champaign, IL; New York City (Manhattan); Orlando; Indianapolis; Columbia, MO; Kansas City, MO and Dallas, TX (if she makes the nationals)

Our daughter did gymnastics for a few years but stopped after becoming more interested in dance. During the gymnastics years I was dismayed at how all the gymnastics schools here (everywhere?) are totally focused on competition and trophies for their school - if you're just there for fun you're a nobody. The dance schools were all the same way, and eventually she stopped that too because she began to have severe knee pain from it.

Like jusforfun said...it was a grueling sport

My son - before he was old enough to trade it for soccer, and both my daughters have been in gymnastics at a local gym called DeVeaus. We never got to the level of the distance travel. My older daughter dropped it for horses, and my younger daughter does cheerleading these days.

Like any sport, you can go as far and wide as your talent and budget will take you. Last year one of the neighborhood girls who practiced at our gym (Sam Pezcek) and another girl from across town (Brigette Sloan) both made the Olympic Team and competed in China. This year Brigette won the World Championship.

With progress like that, the local gyms have just been jam packed for the past few years, and yes, they crank out a bunch of good gymnasts, chasing trophies - but also have "fun" classes as well.

Some other friends of ours had a 14 YO daughter who was on track for that high level of success, and was competing all over the US and traveling down to the Karoly place in Texas - but she got hurt pretty bad this fall, and just decided it was all too much, so they got off the roller coaster.

(Circle of Stars in Indy Justforfun?)

Here's what it looks like when they get pretty good - but also the challenges:

Nastia Luikin, Shawn Johnson, and Sam Pezcek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXYdjsHmBxM

I showed my 2 year old how to summer sault and I got dizzy after one rotation.

Cool video Indy.

Yeah, kinda shows you what's behind the scenes instead of them just competing in the Olympics and winning medals. Nastia's Dad staring her down every time she makes a mistake; the thousands of times they fall off the balance beam, etc.

The B/W video of Sam stretching and nearly kicking herself in the head then bouncing back and forth on a trampoline, and practicing on the beam, from 1:05 to 1:15 was shot in Indy at DeVeau's.

Doggg - if you're going to be anywhere near those towns - I'll have to bring along the shotgun

Indy - we will be at Circle of Stars. The girls you mentioned - the few that make it to the olympics - are in a whole different universe. They have come thru Elite programs where their life is basically the gym (40+ hours per week, scaled down school schedules). The most my daughter can hope for is a college scholarship (if she still wants that route in 3 more years)

Mike - the KC clubs are really geared toward producing olympic athletes (Gage and Eagles especially) - not surprising that those who want to do it recreationally don't find much satisfaction there.

My older daughter competed in Circle of Stars several years ago in gymnastics? My younger daughter will be in it this year for cheerleading. I don't know how many kids compete in that thing but it is massive.

Sam started in the same program all the other kids do, but obviously at some point she took a different path and they hired an elite coach and brought him into the gym, however she still practiced right there beside all the other kids. I don't know her much, but my kids do. She also goes to a normal (private) high school. I think they rearranged her schedule around the Olympics, but she still did the schoolwork.

There was a funny story about her a couple years ago deciding to try out for cheerleading in school - I guess her tumbling skills were a little intimidating to the other girls.

This thread brought back memories for us….
My wife was a gymnast throughout her childhood.

While dating & after marrying; we would be at picnics, parties, etc and she would break out. (usually after a little coaxing and a little wine)
A round-off, back-handspring, back-tuck, front-handspring… a string that left people amazed.
She still has the moves, but a sore wrist (old break) makes her think twice before flipping now.

On training, my wife always wanted our daughters to attend LaFleur’s in Tampa.
Good or bad, our daughters were more into cheerleading than gymnastics at the time…

Grueling sport, but someone had to do it.

This guy is now a local coach.

That video was hilarious. What strength too. He must be a kick to have as an instructor with that sense of humor.