Off Topic Introductions Thread (2025 Version)

[skschlag]

Hi! I am the mom of an NCAA MAG gymnast I have been around this sport now for 20 years! I cannot believe he is a senior

 

[AlexandraU16]

Hi I am a mom of 3- currently one competitive gymnast and one preschool gymnast. Oldest tried for a while too but didn’t love it and struggled as her younger sister was moved into higher levels quickly and so moved onto other things.

Middle daughter recently turned 7 and is finishing up her second season competing (xcel bronze last year, now xcel silver) at a small gym that uses xcel instead of compulsories. She started preschool gym at 3.5 and was quickly moved to pre team and team by 5. Since then she has been working hard and making steady but reasonable progress. (no elites, major fast tracking, TOPS/HOPES at our gym or even in our area)

I have always loved gymnastics (didn’t do much myself as a kid) and am a gym nerd through and through. I’ve fallen in love with the technicalities of the sport and learning the deductions and proper shapes etc. I’d love to be a judge someday but since I have little personal gymnastics experience I’d feel unqualified. I try very hard not coach my own daughter and not point out her deductions but I have enjoyed helping parents who ask about their kids’ deductions on gymnastics scoring groups etc.

We are a homeschool family (unrelated to gym) and spend a lot of time hiking, fishing, and generally having a good time in our Appalachian mountains.

 

[CreateMagic]

Hi! I'm a mom of 2, my 10 year old son is competing level 5 division 1 this year (and also next year, because we don't do level 6, and he'll still be too young for 7), and my 6 year old daughter is in rec. I've been coaching gymnastics since I was 15, despite never actually being a gymnast, and is been so fun to share my love of the sport with my kids. My absolutely favorite part of this sport is that it teaches kids patience, delayed gratification and resilience. All things that kids, like my own and myself, with adhd, tend to struggle with naturally. My least favorite part is the expense.

 

[Jerode]

Which does she like better, gymnastics or wrestling?
We have had gymnasts do both, but they eventually choose one or the other.

She is doing gymnastics in PIAA WIPAL. We are one of the districts that have a program.

 

[JBS]

Welcome to the site everyone... ChalkBucket is getting busier again! Help keep the site active by posting whenever you log in!

 

[NGAgym]

Hi! I am a 13 year old diamond. I do a program called NGA and it’s not really called “xcel” it’s just a regular level. I am on track to be a level 9 by 14 and a level 10 by 16. I am currently working on overcoming a mental block. I am also working on aerial back-tuck combo on BB. I currently train 17.5 hours a week(plus privates so more like 19 hours a week)

How I got into gymnastics: my older brother(now 20) was a Boy Scout and the building they had was right next to gymnastics facility. I saw a girl doing sole circles on strap bar and I remember thing and it was so cool. So me, my mom and my dad walked in and 2-3 days later I was a gymnast! I started as a preschool gymnast but then moved up to rec, then a couple months later, I was in preteam. I started competing in level 2 then level 3 then I was going to compete level 4 but then I had to move. I moved but my coach didn’t let me compete level 4 until the last meet, then the pandemic shut my gym down. It opened up 8 months later and I went back to competing.

For my non-gymnastics life: I am in 7th grade and started do homeschooling after 2nd grade. I have so many pets. I did ballet for like 1.5 months but absolutely hated it.