METEORIC RISE OF COMET SKIPPERS

Record Number Qualify for National Competition

Nine to Compete in South Africa at the World Competition

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Mason, Ohio – May 8, 2008 – The Comet Skippers in Mason, Ohio have catapulted to the top of one of America’s fastest growing extreme sports – competitive jump roping.

They arrived on the scene in an intermediate school gymnasium less than four years ago and just qualified a whopping 60 kids and nine adults to the U.S. National Competition June 27 – 29, 2008 at the Wide World of Sports complex at Disney in Orlando. In addition, the team is sending nine kids to compete for World titles in Cape Town, South Africa July 22, 2008.

“We have never had this many kids qualify for nationals,” said Carmen Simpson, who co-head coaches the Comet Skippers with her husband Mike Simpson. “And those going to Worlds are going to have an experience of a lifetime!”

The Comet Skippers routinely draw crowds with their demonstrations of speed jumping, three person Double Dutch, and freestyle at festivals and events throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. But competitive jump roping is different from strict freestyle groups. Competitive categories include Speed Jumping and Triple Unders, where the rope is required to consistently pass under the jumper three times between feet hitting the floor. Individual Freestyle has been likened to a figure skater combining power, speed, placement and presentation among other criteria. Pairs Freestyle requires the skill and endurance of synchronized swimming. Double Dutch Freestyle is a choreographed show that requires elements similar to pair’s figure skaters who have to have everything timed perfectly! One of the most spectacular displays of incredible jump roping talent is Team Show. This includes a little bit of everything and is choreographed to music.

All these and several other different jumping styles were on display at the Ohio & Kentucky Regional in Cleveland, Ohio and the U.S. Trials recently hosted on the Comet Skippers home floor in Mason, Ohio. There are only 13 regions in the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico.  Nearly 1,000 kids will compete in the National competition in Orlando, Florida.

First-time spectators at the regional event wore jaw-dropping expressions as they tried to comprehend how it’s physically possible to jump rope the way Comet Skippers’ boys and girls do, especially considering the team assembled for the first time less than four years ago!

When Carmen and Mike Simpson decided to see if there would be any interest in starting a jump rope team in 2004, they weren’t sure if anyone would even show up for that first meeting.

“Carmen and I walked into the gym with our three kids and a bag of ropes not knowing what to expect,” said Mike Simpson, co-head coach of the Comet Skippers.  “As soon as we set foot in the gym and saw more than 100 kids, Carmen looked at me and said, Wow! we’re going to need more ropes!”

Ever since then, their mission has been to spread awareness about this sport they loved. They constantly seek opportunities to share it with as many people as they can. They are eager to help others form new teams throughout Ohio and the surrounding states.

Their outreach has even extended across seas as the Comet Skippers are becoming world ambassadors of the surging sport of competitive jump roping.

“This is a rapidly growing sport that doesn’t get as much publicity beyond good old-fashioned word-of-mouth channels,” said Carmen Simpson.  “More and more, those in the sport are recognizing that we need to employ a sharing and caring attitude to grow interest and participation, which benefits everyone involved.”

This was most evident when a former Comet Skipper moved to Cyprus. This little girl was very disappointed that there weren’t any jump rope teams in the country. Armed with the knowledge of what it takes to inject interest in jumping, the girl’s mother introduced jump rope at the girl’s school to begin a club. Word-of-mouth rapidly spread and reached the country’s Minister of Physical Education. He was intrigued and wanted to learn more.

Originally, the Simpson’s and their three children were summoned to help approximately two dozen kids get started. But plans quickly changed to match the growing interest and 15 Comet Skippers and members from other teams made the trip overseas. They toured multiple school districts putting on shows earning an invitation to the World’s Fair.

 “Our goal is to spread awareness about this sport we love and share it with as many people as we can,” said Carmen Simpson. “This is why we plan so many workshops throughout the year. We want to help people get new teams started in Ohio and the surrounding states as well as continuing to make new friends overseas.”

Now, some kids on the Comet Skippers are facing a Hollywood-like plot and are working hard for a storybook ending.

Soon after the Comet Skippers qualified nine members at the U.S. World Trials to advance to the World Competition July 22, 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa; they realized they had a problem. This opportunity of a lifetime will cost $39,000! The world championship is only held biannually so the qualifying kids may never have another opportunity to be part of this life-changing experience.

“We immediately decided nobody will be left behind,” said Carmen Simpson. “We decided to do what we had to do so everyone that earned a spot on the national team gets to represent their country without the added pressure of fundraising to secure their presence.”

Still, at least one kid is trying to assist by collecting cans, cleaning houses and babysitting. 

“We do special events wherever people invite us to help grow awareness for the sport, expand interest and raise money,” said Mike Simpson. “We teach jump rope at schools, organize workshops and perform at festivals.”

Since their humble beginning, the Comet Skippers have amassed medals from the USA Jump Rope Nationals, advanced members to the U.S. National Team to compete in the World Championships, and have had team members appear in an X-Box commercial and Disney’s film – JUMP IN. 

Disney’s JUMP IN increased interest in the sport much like the workouts of legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard drew crowds to watch his fancy footwork at jump roping years earlier. Today, trainers in other sports recruit Jump Rope athletes because of their endurance, quickness and conditioning which can enhance play in soccer, basketball, football, hockey, track and field.

But extreme jump roping can also be dangerous. Several of the events for competitive jump rope are speed events where the advanced jumpers use razor thin wire ropes turning at incredible speeds. It’s not uncommon to have cuts result with the slightest misstep.

The Comet Skippers are a co-ed team with 65 kids ages 7 – 18 and nine adults. The team is a competition/demonstration jump rope team affiliated with USA Jump Rope (www.usajumprope.org), the sport’s governing body. The team is also a member of the Amateur Athletic Union (www.aausports.org).

The team’s head coaches, Carmen and Mike Simpson, were introduced to the sport when they lived in Texas and saw their son Stephen participate in Jump Rope for Heart at his school in first grade. Carmen, a U.S. Navy veteran, is a stay-at-home mother to four children. Mike is a former U.S. Navy pilot and currently an MD-88 Captain for Delta Air Lines.

“Carmen and I are not pros at this, just volunteers that try really hard,” said Mike Simpson. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of USA Jump Rope and the National Competition Committee. 

Information about Comet Skippers workshops and events are at www.cometskippers.org.

Contact:

Comet Skippers
Carmen & Mike Simpson, head coaches
5406 Wheatmore Court
Mason, OH  45040

Phone: 513-259-1732
eMail: coaches@cometskippers.org
Web Site: www.cometskippers.org