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Doug's Blog
August 05, 2008
On July 2nd, I stopped by Chow's Gymnastics in West Des Moines, IA, home of Shawn Johnson our 2007 World AA champion and member of the 2008 Olympic team. The gym is dried out from the flooding that was so bad in Iowa in June. The whole community, in Chow's area, pitched in to help get the gym back up and going in a few days.
I mentioned to Chow that I noticed only two women at the Olympic Trials were competing a full in full out (tucked double twisting double back flip) on floor, and that they were both coached by Chinese coaches. He said that he loves the Tumbl TRAK to help develop air sense and repeat skills to perfect them. He also made the comment that at the national training center, when they do strength testing, there are several other athletes that show a stronger jump. This makes me wonder how much air sense and technical skill training might it take to have more skills performed like the full in full out. I will see what I can find out after the Olympics.
I spent the next few days at the national Tumbling and Trampoline Championships in Kansas City, MO. The two girls, from Twisters Gymnastics, in Port Townsend, WA, did very well for their first year in the sport. It still amazes me that they were able compete so well without training on the rod floor or double mini tramp that they competed on. Way to go girls!
On July 19 the USAG announced the remaining members of the Womens Artistic Gymnastics Team. Along with Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, Chellsie Memmel, Alicia Sacramone, Samantha Peszek, and Bridget Sloan.were added to the team. The alternates selected are Jana Bieger, Ivana Hong, and Corrie Lothrop. Best of luck to all as they prepare.
In Cheer news, I have been communicating more with John Bencomo, of Top Gun All Stars, FL, and he has sent me more amazing video of some of his crazy guys tumbling with our new 6 ft x 43 ft Air Floors on a spring floor.
Near the end of July, I had another opportunity to work with tumblers at Illini Rumblers, Palestine IL, during some cooler morning hours.
August is coming up and we will again be offering our 15% discount on all products except our Air Traks, Team Tracks, and Sweet Spots.
Have a great end of summer.
Doug
Doug Davis
At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Doug Davis competed floor exercise where Fred Roethlisberger was his coach. Before finishing college, he was the assistant coach for the women's team. After graduating, he coached high school girls' teams and also a college team for several years.
Doug then went to work for Bob Bradley with Milwaukee Academy of Gymnastics. After marrying he and his wife, Diana, moved to Michigan where he joined Midland Gymnastics Training Center coaching artistic gymnastics and power tumbling.
Doug also owned and operated his own gym in Ithaca, MI for three years. After the Ithaca gym caught fire and burned down, he began the company V.T.L., Inc. now known as Tumbl Trak.
