GIVING ATHLETES A PLACE TO TUMBLE GYM RAISES FUNDS FOR TRAINING PIT.Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer CANYON COUNTRY -- It was Chris Waller's determination that led him to the 1992 Olympics, and now he's using that same drive to develop a gym to train others for world-class competitions. Waller and wife Cindy own Wallers' GymJam Academy and are raising $50,000 to build an in-ground training pit where athletes can flip, twist and vault their way to award-winning routines. They've raised $10,000 already. ``In order to take it to the next level and be competitive with the best gyms in the world, we need to do some renovations,'' said Chris Waller, who took fifth place in the pommel horse pommel horse or side horse Gymnastics event for men. It uses a padded rectangular apparatus supported by legs and with two pommels (U-shaped handles) on the top. competition at the Olympics. The pit is actually a big hole dug through the foundation 6 feet deep, 20 feet wide and 18 feet long, then sealed with concrete. A trampoline trampoline Resilient sheet or web (often of nylon) supported by springs in a metal frame and used as a springboard and landing area in tumbling. Trampolining is an individual sport of acrobatic movements performed after rebounding into the air from the trampoline. bed is then installed about 4 feet down into the pit. The feature allows gymnasts to learn new techniques and land safely until their skills are mastered and they can perform the stunts on the regular floor or other equipment. Waller said athletes practice their most difficult skills in the pit most of the time and as competitions draw near, they take the routines to the floor. The pit lets gymnasts train without taking a pounding on a hard surface. But the pit isn't just for Olympic hopefuls. It's used by gymnasts of all levels to develop their skills and to work their way up to larger challenges. Classes at the facility start at age 2 and go through adult. After his Olympic appearance, Waller turned to coaching and trains others vying vy·ing v. Present participle of vie. vying vie for a shot at the gold. One gymnast who came his way was Mohini Bhardwaj Mohini Bhardwaj (मोहिनी भारद्वाज) (born September 29, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American gymnast. . The UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX graduate won a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics in the women's team competition. Today she's a coach at Waller's gym. When the Wallers have their fundraiser next month, Bhardwaj and other former Olympians, such as Kristen Maloney Kristin Ann Maloney (born March 10 1981, Hackettstown, New Jersey) is an American gymnast who competed in the 2000 Olympics. Maloney trained at the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was a consistent member of the U.S. and Canada's Kate Richardson Kate Richardson may refer to:
It all takes place from 6-8 p.m. June 10 at Wallers' GymJam Academy, 26515 Ruether Ave. sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5254 |
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