This Old Dog Can Learn New Tricks

The video above is from my second gymnastics competition in 10 years. I added 2 new tricks to my rings routine for this meet that I had never done before – a cross pull out and a back uprise-cross. This was a local competition for me at Aspire between Arizona State University and the University of Michigan. It was hosted by ASU and Scott let me compete along with a few other individuals from my old gym in Mesa (AZ Flairs).

I was happy to add a couple new tricks in my routine but due to my wife being in school full time I was driving the kids around most of the time between RMO and this meet so I only made it to the gym twice. My lack of practice time showed in my execution and scores. I improved my start value (based on the skills in the routine) from 14.7 at RMO to 15.1, but I actually expected 15.2. I believe I wasn’t given a ‘C’ value credit for the back uprise straddle planche because I didn’t go straight into it.

After coming up with a good idea for a bunch of different exercises I could try to do for one minute to increase my stamina, I got pretty busy with work and didn’t sleep or eat as well as I’d like the last few weeks. But I was a bit surprised at losing 5 full points (I scored 10.1 with a 15.1 start value) for execution – I guess judges have more room for deductions now since they don’t start from a 10.0 max score anymore. 🙂

I also was busy putting out fires at work in the morning and forgot my gym bag at home with my grips. Fortunately one of the ASU team members who wasn’t competing that day let me borrow a pair of grips (I think I broke them in – they were flat like they just came out of a leather cutting machine) but I wasn’t able to find any spare wristbands. I ended up wrapping my wrists with a few layers of coach tape which did the job, but I’m nursing a couple bloody rips now – I still prefer a good pair of wristbands.

About Robert

I competed in gymnastics for 16 years through college at Arizona State University. After 10 years and 5 (now 6) children, I have returned to gymnastics as a competitor. I am a lifetime gymnast. :)
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