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| R doing a straddle |
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| J doing a star-jump |
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| L did a flip! |
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| M doing a herkie |
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| A tuck for L |
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Trampoline
Kayak
Kayaking and canoeing have been featured in the Summer Olympics since 1936. There are two disciplines: whitewater slalom and a sprint on calm water. The women's events only use kayaks, with either 1, 2, or 4 kayakers.
There's not a lot of whitewater rapids around north Texas, but we do have a river with calm water, and kayak rentals at the Panther Island Pavilion. We rented some one person kayaks and two person canoes (the two person kayaks were already rented out). They did not have 4 person kayaks, so we used a 3 person canoe, to get the feel of having multiple rowers. We slalomed through some bouys, and completed both the 200m and 500m sprint distances.
There's not a lot of whitewater rapids around north Texas, but we do have a river with calm water, and kayak rentals at the Panther Island Pavilion. We rented some one person kayaks and two person canoes (the two person kayaks were already rented out). They did not have 4 person kayaks, so we used a 3 person canoe, to get the feel of having multiple rowers. We slalomed through some bouys, and completed both the 200m and 500m sprint distances.
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| R, M, and J do a triple canoe, while K is in her kayak in the background. |
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| R in a single kayak |
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| L and J doing doubles |
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| L and R in a double canoe |
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| Kayaking was tons of fun! |
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Rugby
In 2016, rugby will return to the Olympics after an absence of nearly a century. Rugby union has only been featured in four Olympic games, the latest in 1924. When US team defeated France in Paris angry fans invaded the field and the French team and police had to protect the US team. This gave rugby a bad reputation, and the IOC cut rugby in favor of focusing on women's and individual sports.
Men's and women's rugby sevens will be played in Rio. Sevens is a version of union that features only seven people per team, and has a shorter playing time. Panther City Rugby has a women's team (the Pink Panthers) and they let us come join one of their practices. They are always looking for "sturdy" women to play with them.
To warm up, we just formed into two teams and tried to get the ball into the end zone by running and passing. We didn't worry about rules or positions at this time, we were just practicing throwing, catching, and playing in a group.
We then worked on some drills to learn proper rugby techniques. You can only pass the ball to a teammate behind you on the field, so we lined up and ran across the field to do just that. Its actually harder than you think to not run in front of the person with the ball.
The Pink Panthers played a two-hand touch game with one of the men's teams on the next practice field, but we didn't participate. The coach took some time to explain to us more of the rules, and how scrums and rucks work. We've watched rugby on TV a few times, but we were not familiar with the rules at all. The things we thought were important turned out to not be important at all, and we had no idea what the real important aspects were. We had a lot of fun, and would like to go back and maybe join that two-hand touch game. Its always nice to find something that appreciates sturdy women.
Men's and women's rugby sevens will be played in Rio. Sevens is a version of union that features only seven people per team, and has a shorter playing time. Panther City Rugby has a women's team (the Pink Panthers) and they let us come join one of their practices. They are always looking for "sturdy" women to play with them.
To warm up, we just formed into two teams and tried to get the ball into the end zone by running and passing. We didn't worry about rules or positions at this time, we were just practicing throwing, catching, and playing in a group.
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The Pink Panthers played a two-hand touch game with one of the men's teams on the next practice field, but we didn't participate. The coach took some time to explain to us more of the rules, and how scrums and rucks work. We've watched rugby on TV a few times, but we were not familiar with the rules at all. The things we thought were important turned out to not be important at all, and we had no idea what the real important aspects were. We had a lot of fun, and would like to go back and maybe join that two-hand touch game. Its always nice to find something that appreciates sturdy women.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Track Cycling - Keirin, Omnium, Pursuit, Sprint
There are only three Olympic size cycling tracks in the US, and the Superdrome in Frisco conveniently happens to be one of them. After BMX we were feeling more comfortable with our cycling skills, but the velodrome quickly humbled us. It is intimidating to just look at the steep sides, which are banked 44 degrees in the turns, and 13 degrees in the straights.
You need to take a course before you're allowed to ride on the Superdrome, and Suzie was able to give us a private class. The bicycles are a little different than regular bikes - there are no gears, and no brakes, and the pedals are directly linked to the back wheel, so you constantly have to be pedaling. Our first lesson was simply getting on the bike and taking off. Suzie gave us all a push, and we rode around the concrete infield.
Then we had to learn how to stop. You resist the forward pedaling motion with your legs to slow down, slip one foot out of the pedals, and when you think you're going slow enough you put that foot on the ground. After a few tries we were all able to stop successfully, which means we moved up to the track. We started out riding around the apron, then gradually moved further and further up the track. There is a minimum speed limit of 12 mph in order to not fall down in the turns.
The steep turns did not get any less intimidating as we rode on them. Although we were all doing a fine job riding, we were still a little nervous, and glad we had plenty of room on the track to spread out. We lined up along the rail to practice race starts, but we gave each other plenty of space.
The current Olympic lineup for track cycling includes the events of Keirin, Omnium, Pursuit, and Sprint. We never got comfortable enough to complete an event, but we are very proud of the fact that we rode on the Superdrome. We took a few tumbles, but no one got hurt. I think track cycling is the hardest event that we have done so far, mainly because of the fear of the track.
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| Turn 2 |
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| K starts off. |
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| J is off to the warm up track. |
The steep turns did not get any less intimidating as we rode on them. Although we were all doing a fine job riding, we were still a little nervous, and glad we had plenty of room on the track to spread out. We lined up along the rail to practice race starts, but we gave each other plenty of space.
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| No crowding |
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| To start, you push off the rail and pedal furiously |
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Shooting - Pistol, Rifle, Air Pistol, Air Rifle
In addition to Trap and Skeet, there are four other shooting Olympic events for women: Sport Pistol, Rifle Three Positions, Air Pistol, and Air Rifle. We met at Winchester Gallery to work our way through these.
Sport pistol, officially known as 25 meter pistol, is an event done one a 25 meter course with a .22 caliber pistol. All firing must be done with one hand, unsupported. We didn't have a .22 pistol, so we used a 9 mm, and needed to use both hands to support the recoil. We also didn't have our target 25 meters away, as this was the first time that some of us had ever fired a pistol. We all did really well though, hitting our targets most of the time.
In rifle three positions, shots are taken from prone, standing, and kneeling positions. A .22 caliber rifle is used, over a 50 meter course. We did have a .22 rifle, but we set our target at 25 meters. It was a little awkward to get into some of the positions in the range, but we did it.
After using the 9 mm and the .22 rifle, the air pistol and air rifle felt very light. Both of these events are done on a 10 meter course. I actually found it harder to aim the air pistol, maybe because I was used to the heavier, more substantial feel of the 9 mm. Unfortunately, our air rifle wouldn't work, but we got the idea of it.
Sport pistol, officially known as 25 meter pistol, is an event done one a 25 meter course with a .22 caliber pistol. All firing must be done with one hand, unsupported. We didn't have a .22 pistol, so we used a 9 mm, and needed to use both hands to support the recoil. We also didn't have our target 25 meters away, as this was the first time that some of us had ever fired a pistol. We all did really well though, hitting our targets most of the time.
In rifle three positions, shots are taken from prone, standing, and kneeling positions. A .22 caliber rifle is used, over a 50 meter course. We did have a .22 rifle, but we set our target at 25 meters. It was a little awkward to get into some of the positions in the range, but we did it.
After using the 9 mm and the .22 rifle, the air pistol and air rifle felt very light. Both of these events are done on a 10 meter course. I actually found it harder to aim the air pistol, maybe because I was used to the heavier, more substantial feel of the 9 mm. Unfortunately, our air rifle wouldn't work, but we got the idea of it.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
BMX
There are two types of BMX - racing and freestyle. BMX racing is a sprint race on a single lap track; BMX freestyle involves jumps and tricks. In 2008 BMX racing was added to the Olympics for men and women. We met at Cowtown BMX to give this new sport a try. No one did any front flips or tail whips or 360s, but we weren't supposed to. We did ride as fast as we could around the track.
BMX courses typically have a steeply sloped starting gate, and a serpentine dirt track with hills, rollers, and banked turns. BMX bikes are typically low, with no gears, and you don't sit on the seat while racing. Cowtown BMX allowed us to use our mountain bikes, but some of the other racers there let us try out their real BMX bikes. It took us between one and two minutes to complete the lap, and was a great workout.
BMX is tons of fun. Some of us admitted to having missed out all these years, and some of us are definitely planning on going back for more.
BMX courses typically have a steeply sloped starting gate, and a serpentine dirt track with hills, rollers, and banked turns. BMX bikes are typically low, with no gears, and you don't sit on the seat while racing. Cowtown BMX allowed us to use our mountain bikes, but some of the other racers there let us try out their real BMX bikes. It took us between one and two minutes to complete the lap, and was a great workout.
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| The ramp was intimidating at first, but we soon became comfortable with it. |
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| M and R going up a hill. |
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| L going into a turn. |
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| L's turn on the rollers. |
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| M got some air with her front wheel. |
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| L has a large lead on J |
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| Big smiles from J |
BMX is tons of fun. Some of us admitted to having missed out all these years, and some of us are definitely planning on going back for more.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Handball
Handball is probably the most obscure sport we will play. The US has not qualified for Olympic handball since 1996, and only about 300-500 people in the country take handball seriously. We purchased an official handball from Amazon, and looked up the rules on Wikipedia. The ball can be passed or run, and while running you must dribble once every 3 steps. Goals are set up at the end of the field, and you must throw the ball into the goal, and past the goalie. We basically played basketball, then threw the ball at the goal rather than in a basket. Its a fun, fast paced sport, and really got our heart rates up.
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