Jessica Burggaller might be the fastest jumper in the West.
In one minute, the 10-year-old from Agua Caliente Elementary School can tap her foot on the ground 146 times, all while jumping rope.
"You have to work really hard when you're doing speed jumping," she said. "I practice when I'm at home, too."
She's the youngest member of the Tucson Twist-Its, a competitive jump-rope team that will compete in the USA Jump Rope national championship next month in Galveston, Texas. The team is one of three local competitive groups and recently competed against teams from seven states at the USA regional championships, team manager Heather Burggaller said. Here's a look at the team and the sport:
• It's hard. "Ten minutes of jumping rope is the equivalent to 30 minutes of jogging," said Hseth Burch, a 19-year-old UA junior who participates and coaches the team with UA student Lauren Klipp. "The rope is going under us more than one time, if not three, four or five times, while we're crossing our legs and arms and tying ourselves in knots. And then we're changing our center of gravity. Jumping on our hands, jumping on our feet. Jumping on our butt. You'd be surprised."
People are also reading…
• It's competitive. The championships will feature both individual and team events. Categories include individual jumper, pairs, double-Dutch and freestyle events. Besides the speed event, winners are judged on artistic merit on a 1-to-10 score.
Teams don't sing songs while doing double Dutch, the way you'd see on a playground. This is serious business.
Elizabeth Hurd, a 12-year-old from St. Cyril of Alexandria School, said the competition isn't too cutthroat. "We hope to win, but mainly just to have fun and meet new people," she said.
• It's for all ages. The nine members of the team — eight girls, plus Burch — range from 10 to 21. Klipp, the coach, spent her 21st birthday with the squad.
"We had a piñata and 'My Little Pony' bracelets," she said. "We had fun with it, and the older ones were good sports about it."
Jaime Brooks, a 15-year-old freshman from Sabino High School, doesn't mind the age range. "It's actually really fun," she said. "We used to be their age, and we started when we were that age. It's like growing up with them."
• You can do it too. To help pay for travel, the team will host a summer jump-rope camp next month. The cost is $70. Call team manager Heather Burggaller at 1-520-400-5611.
