THG team training for the 2006
rope skipping world championships
By
Howie Baker, THG Sports
Three
members of the Hoosier Gazette staff are training for the 2006
International Rope Skipping Federation (IRSF) world
championships. This biannual two-day event will be held in
Toronto, Canada beginning on July 22 of next year.
Chris
Kasinger, John Andrews, and Josh Whicker plan on contending
for records as individuals and in double and team competitions
as super heavyweights (over 105 kg).
Video
Whicker practices his footwork
After
challenging for the single rope single freestyle title,
Whicker, the fourth-ranked speed jumping super heavyweight in
the world, will team up with Kasinger for the single rope
pairs freestyle competition. Andrews will join them in the
Double Dutch speed relay after participating in the
improvisational rope dance.
The
division they will be competing in is the class most jump rope
experts agree is the most demanding.
“Being a
super heavyweight is extremely difficult because you not only
need endurance, speed, and skill, but most of us have a lot of
fat that bounces up and down. Every competition I have seen
at least two super heavies have had heart attacks,” said team
captain Kasinger, who will be competing on the international
level for the first time. “In a way, we are kind of like
gladiators, risking our lives in the arena.”
Whicker and Kasinger work on their doubles routine
Whicker
believes their toughest competition will come from Belarus and
Malaysia. “Rope skipping is the national sport of both
countries and both have international record holders in
several events and divisions. It is important to have a good
showing in the preliminaries against their top individuals if
we want a chance to win.”
Training
to take on the best of best in the world of rope skipping
hasn’t been easy for the trio. “I had to quit smoking,” said
Andrews, “and believe-you-me, that was no picnic.” “I might
have to quit smoking too,” said Kasinger, “and my back hurts a
lot after I jump rope, and I have a couple of welts on my back
from when I screwed up my routine. Those speed ropes are like
whips. Sometimes I lay in bed at night racked in pain.”
So why
do it?
Andrews skips to sounds of Lionel Richie’s ‘All Night
Long’
“For the
glory. Walking off stage with those trophies in our hands
will make all the blood, sweat, and tears worthwhile,” said
Whicker.
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