Why you are here at my acro page...

Well, you are here b/c 1)u have no idea what the heck Sports Acrobatics is + you want to find out, or 2)you know what Sports Acrobatics is and you just want to surf the net and find other acrobats out there. Either way, you are here, + that's a good thing! FYI: this page may not be entirely correct, it's based on my personal knowledge of USSA (United States Sports Acrobatics) and competetion. (please e-mail me and let me know if I gave some wrong info, or feel free to sign the guestbook!) I'm not a coach, or an official, so in no way do I know everything there is to know about Acro. But here is my best attempt...

What is Sports Acrobatics??

From the CPAT handbook... "The history of Sports Acrobatics goes back all the way to the time of the ancient Greeks. Imprints of acrobatics exercises can be found on ancient amphora's vases and monuments. The word "acrobat" originates from the Greek language. China, too, has a rich history of Sports Acrobatics. At the end of the 18th century the sport started to flourish in Europe, especially with the popularity of the circus.

As with many other sports, acro flourished in the 20th century. Acrobatic exercises were not only included in acrobatic gymnastics, but in numerous other sports, too. Today, there are various competitive sports in which acrobatic acts play a very important role. Examples are diving, trampoline, rock-n-roll dancing, ski-acrobatics, ice skating, artistic roller skating, and vaulting on horseback.

Modern Sports Acrobatics began in Russia with the formation of the International Federation of Sports Acrobatics (IFSA) which is housed in Sofia, Bulgaria. The United States Sports Acrobatics Federation (changed from USSAF to USSA this season) was founded in 1975 and is a member of IFSA, USA Gymnastics, and the US Olympic Committee. The Executive Office is located in Riverside, CA and serves the membership through sanctioning of competetive events, a bimonthly national newsletter (Acrosport), publications, and merchandising."

Sometimes called Acrogymnastics, or just plain Acro, it's basically the BEST and most exciting form of gymnastics. Boys and girls, ages 5 and up are eligible to compete in acro. The season is from August to July. There are two parts to the competition + you can participate in one or both. Tumbling and Pair/Group...

NEWS: Acro is now the the 5th and newest discipline of USA Gymnastics check it out

Tumbling

There is men's and women's tumbling. The tumbler has to perform three series of passes: a series of somersaults , a series of twists, and a combination of the two. (that is only level 1 and elite, I think the lower levels only must do 2 passes). The tumble track is made up of fiberglass rods, snow skis, springs, or a foam block floor. The levels go downward as the tumbler's skill increases (like men's artistic gymnastics). Level VI is the lowest level in competition. Level V is just front/back handsprings and pretty simple stuff like that. Level IV includes a back tuc or something. And it keeps increasing like that. Level IV is the lowest level included in national competition. I competed in level V last year, but am now a level IV and hopefully III soon.

Pair/Group

These are partner exercises that include balance and tempo. The balance exercise focuses on agility, flexibility, and dance and is filled with balancing skills performed on a partner. The tempo exercise focuses on synchronous and dynamic performance by partners, one enabling the other to perform spectacular somersaults and twists while being tossed into the air. The combination exercise combines the balence and tempo elements into o ne routine. Level 1 + Elite do all 3 routines, but lower levels only have a combo routine. The routines are done on a 40' by 40' spring floor. The levels also go downward, starting at V, as the skill level increases. Level III is the lowest level in national competition. There are 5 divisions included in pair/group category. Men's Four (men's group), Men's Pair, Mixed Pair, Women's Pair, and Women's Trio (women's group)...

Men's Four

This is the most uncommen group in acro. Just like it sounds, it involves four men and can be the most suspenseful to watch b/c they can build a four man high pyramid! It scares me to watch, but it looks really kewl!

Men's Pair

This is also pretty self-explanitory. There are two men involved in this category. I think, depending on the type of music and dance they incorperate in it, they can end up looking either kinda feminine or real masculine. (Hope I didn't offend anyone !) I've seen it look both ways.

Mixed Pair

This involves a guy as the base and a girl as the top. This is my second favorite kind of group. The girl is usually very flexible and the way they do their dancing together can be really cute/romantic/etc.

Women's Pair

This has 2 girls and is pretty much the chic version of a men's pair. I like this one more though, b/c I think the girls look a lot more normal doing their dance elements than the guys.

Women's Trio

A women's trio has a base, a middle, and a top. This is my fave kind of group. Probably b/c this is what I have always been in. I also think it's the most exciting and prettiest to watch.

Acro + Me

*NEW* As of 8/24/98 I am no longer an acrobat! I was overwhelmed with schoolwork (I'm a junior now, most important + hardest year) + an ENORMOUS hatred for my coach, which can be a slight problem! But who knows, maybe I'll come back to competing in this great sport once I'm out of college! But meanwhile, keep me updated on meets + whats going on + send me pix if ya'll scan any! Thanx + I'll try to keep this page updated! :)

Here's a pic of my trio in '98 b4 we got Ashley...Denise (middle) + Nicole (top)

(1997) I competed in a class III Women's Trio in the 14-18 age group. My top was Kristen Fesnac and my middle was Nicole Johanson. Our meet results: 1st place in 1st local meet; 2nd place in our second local meet; 2nd place in our state meet; 1st place in our regional meet; and 16th place in our national meet. I also competed in level V tumbling. My passes were 1) roundoff back-handspring, back-handspring, back-handspring, 2) front-handspring, roundoff back-handspring. I got 1st place in both the local meets, the state meet, and the regional meet. Right now, I am in a level II trio but we didn't compete this season (1998) because all the acro partners got switched around, ppl quit + joined, + we got a new coach.

This is a pic of my trio from last year, during a warm up for one of our local meets.

CPAT

Otherwise known as Carolina's Premiere (PowerHouse) Acrobatic Team. This is my team, and we train in Charlotte, NC at Weyendt's PowerHouse Academy of Gymnastics. We have e fewer members this year than last, due to poor advertisement and knowledge of the sport.
In '98 (when I quit) we had:
Andrew Leventis (jr. elite tumb)(due to severe tendinitis he hasn't been to the gym in quite a while)
Me, Heather Wilson (B)(level IV tumb) + Denise Carty (M)(level IV tumb) + Ashley Peeples (T)=(level II trio...soon to be elite! hehe, age group 14-18)
Michelle Testa (B)(level VI tumb) + Kristen Fesnak (T)(level IV/III tumb) =(level II Women's Pair)
Natalie Younts (B)(level VI tumb) + Barrett Keith (T) or Lindsey (T) =(level III women's pair)
Stacey, Danielle, ... waiting for partners
Our coach used to be Nugzar, from Georgia (in Russia), but we got a new coach in March. His name in Georgie, + he's from Bulgaria. He's completely awesome! He was in an elite men's four but I don't know what else he was in but he's an great coach + we're all improving soooo much!

Acro Nationals 1997

Well, nationals were a TON of fun!!! Even though my trio didn't do so well! My middle (Nicole) kind of spazzed out! She didn't do her tumbling pass, and messed up on a couple of other individual elements. We did pretty good on our moves, but came down a sec too early on our last one. But overall, it was an awesome experience for all of us, and I had a great time! They were in Houston, TX and when we weren't practicing or competing I got to go to Galveston Island (the Gulf of Mexico)and the Space Center. Also, the USSAF had a welcoming party where most of the teams made skits and stuff and they also had an awards banquet with a very fancy dinner and a dance at the end which was probably the most fun I had on the whole trip! Well, it was a great experience anyway! Nationals will be held in Dayton, OH for the 1998 season. Hopefully I can go to atleast watch b/c we aren't competing this season :(

Acro Linx

Acro Update Newsletter
ASAP~a sports acrobatics page
Australian Fed of Sports Acro
Ceres AcroGymnastics~a gym's page about their team
CUC Acro-Airs Mission Control~a college team
FlyingWallenda's Acrobatic Homepage~the page of an acrobat on Hill's Illusions Sports Acro Team
Gymmedia online~has a section on how acro began
Hungarian Acro Page~not in English, but kewl pix
Irish Sports Acrobatics
Kevin's Acro Page
Novak's Acro Team
Portugese Acrobatic Federation~kewl info + pix
Power Club Express
Sports Acrobatics~another kewl page w/ pix
USSA official page
USA Gymnastics Acro page

Other Gymn Linx

Denise + Olivia's Gymn Page
FX music~good if your trying to find some music for your routine
Gymn Forum
Pam's Journal~a level 9 gymn
USA Gymnastics Online

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