Long story short: Woman close to my age who grew up in my current neighborhood (SF Bay Area) was a CA USTA state champ in the 80's. Her daughter is now 9 and competes, and they live in Florida. When they come to visit grandma up the street from me, we all get together and twirl, like a mini-clinic. This year they were working on daughter's routines for Nationals which was coming up the following week. She says I should compete at Twirlmania next year. Sounds like a really fun idea but I think it might be a bit unrealistic, not to mention expensive. So I thought I'd run the idea past you folks.

The question: is there a place there for an over-40 male twirler with lots of enthusiasm but hardly any real training?

Why not??? If you feel insecure, get some lessons, put together a routine, and compete. It's about having fun, and if you like Disney World, it would be a pretty sweet vacation.

Check out the Twirlmania website for categories(beginner advanced etc.) videos, who has attended previously. There are a few twirlers out there still competing post-20s. There are very few male twirlers at any competition.

Next consider the cost. Can you stay locally with your friend or split accomodations? Air fare on President's Day weekend is usually a premium.

It may be different for the men, and depending on how many events you do, but I've found that we have very little time for going to the theme parks.

It is a fun competition, runs on time, and you see a little bit of everything. You can also pick up a lot from watching the elite twirlers who attend.

Best of luck! Let us know what you decide...

Go!! Take a few lessons, get some routines, and work it!

Id cheer you on!

WHY NOT!!!????? If you love something, then you should go for it. Don't let age be a factor. I have won the Men's Gold ompetition for the past 3 years, and Twrl Mania is amazing. There is so much a guy can do there. One year, I was enetered in Freestyle,solo,2,3,pairs,high school classic,and the Gold competition. A guy can do almost everything a girl can, except pageant and strut. I say do it. Age is only a number ...right?

Yes, I agree -- except for pulled muscles, joint problems, and dizziness from a simple 2-spin (none of which I had when I was a gymnast at 12), age is just a number. I guess I'd be entered in something like Adult Open. I went to the TM site but it looks like the calendar of events hasn't been updated since 2007. And that music never shuts off... Anyway, thanks for all the encouragement, I'll give it some more serious consideration because I do think it would be a total blast. It would especially be a treat to meet some of the stars I've been watching!

i thought I saw before that you went to USTA contests in your area: california state and regionals. Why not that. Solo men is 21+. Plus you can enter other open events if you wish: basic, military, etc.

I am 49. i love competition. I love to perform and win (or not win). I have pulled something in my left leg doing 2 spins and am in PT now to get it worked out!!

Practice rolls; hours and hours a day. That you can get good at and its not as much a wear on the body.

Work on contact material. its as important as big tricks, low flips, things under one spins, etc.

If you are flexible to do GOOD illuesions. DONT DO THEM> I did horrible ones for years. Then I quit doing them; havent missed them, better scores, because not those pesky things to draw judges attention to bad form.

You should figure out a way to do a competition. Probably one of two things. YOU WILL LOVE IT and cant wait for the next one. Or you will hate it and never do it again, but be glad you did.

Think about this. You dont want to have the regret of not getting back into it.

Twirltacular is going to have a competition at disney next year in california. Although its upper divisions are 16+ she has novice in all events. And she places folks all the way down. You get good comments from those judges too.

go to ustwirling.com and twirltacular.com. Think about close contests before going to the expense of a national event across the country.

GOOD LUCK
w

*i meant if you dont do a good illusion dont do them. They are hard on the body and if its not good, there are other things to work on;

And dont worry about a new solo routine. You do your best and what you do will be rewarded. There are few perfect routines. Judges are trained to see the good in everything.
And most respond that way. The one's that dont probably shouldnt be judging anyway.

Thanks! Great encouragement. I attended the Western Regionals here in CA once, to cheer on the same girl who was 7 at the time, and hang out with her mom (who is not her coach, btw). My first time at a comp!

There is absolutely no flexibility here, never had it never will. Illusions are great to watch but you're right -- unless they are perfect, they really draw attention to themselves as bad.

Interesting your comment about contact material- when I'm making it up for entertaining an audience, that's all I can think of on the fly. Contact, low flips and simple spins. I plan rolls beforehand, then forget about them under pressure. I'm going to really have to decide on the routine and stick to it in order to get it perfect!

Hello from Twirl Mania,

We have twirlers from 3 to 75, Novice to Elite, and from around the world.

There is something for everyone including competition, parades, and performances. We also added a Men's Masters category this year which consists of Solo, Multiple Baton, and Dance Twirl Solo.

Please send us your contact information and we will be happy to put a brochure in the mail. Complete 2010 information will also be available on the TM website shortly.

For those not able to get the current information beyond 2007, please clean out/refresh your old browser information at you will be up to date.

Look forward to seeing everyone at the Twirl Mania 2010 International Championships. It's the 15th Anniversary.

twirlmania@aol.com

Chacha is right..generally older twirlers are FANTASTIC at rolls and contact material.. work it!

I hope you will do it if you at all have the interest. Then you will know. Good Luck

Dont ever think you're "too old" to do what you love!
trite but: "Just Do It!"

Thanks! My concern wasn't that I personally was too old (not for this!), but that there wouldn't be an appropriate category to compete in. But I know a lot more about the event now than before!

Go for it. If that's what you want to do, I say just get out there and do it. Competing is not for me, but I just turned 40 in Feb myself and am about to start lessons to learn how to do monster rolls and long arm rolls. I don't really care if I ever have an audience, but it's just one of those things that has always been on my 'list of things to do before I die' and I'm going for it. I'll come cheer for ya at Twirlmania!

AH mkyupgoddess, the monster rolls. YES I have been working two years on those. Changed baton lengths twice, back and forth. Now a new competition season is here and they are just not there. Good luck. Some folks make them look so effortless and they are not. But like any, once you get em, you got em.

I'm excited, I found me a coach and will be having my first lesson tomorrow!

How exciting! Learn lots and report back.

What did you decide on your baton length Chacha? I'm twirling 29" Majors at the moment. My sister twirls Skinny Minis, which I hate for most things, but I was actually thinking of going to 30" batons if it might make a bit of a difference in rolls, etc. I am just dying to learn the "Hollie-wood" rolls and those awesome double long-arm things that Jennifer Marcus makes look so smooth.

yeah- I need to hammer out a routine and really get to know it. My tendency is to make up stuff that works great and impresses my friends, but then never do it the same way again. This has presented problems when performing because I'm not 100% sure what's going to happen next. Maybe I should come up with some sort of visual, linear time-grid notation method to record the moves, since music will be driving the performance. (Kind of like back in marching band.) Memorizing the music will certainly be a critical step.

make up section by section. I mean, that's kind of old school, verticle moves, horizontals, fingers, rolls, closing.
But some variations on that helps.
I have basically been doing the same fingertwirl section for over 30 years, no lie. It is always appreciated, especially with NBTA type judges who expect fingers. USTA you can have more contact moves to suffice for fingers in advanced.
Good luck. I really am hoping you compete. you will never know. Again, when I decided to re-enter in 06, I figured it was boom or bust. and I LOVE IT>

and obviously, if TM is having a multi event type thing where you can do a showtwirl, more the better. Consider your style and what works best. I heard LISTEN by Beyonce and knew I had to twirl to that song. Thought it would be corny. Somehow I can sell the slow ones.
good luck

MKUPGODDESS
I went back and forth between 32 and 33. For some reason the 33 were like twirling logs. Cant get used to them. So I am on the 32's to stay. And thats not whats making the difference in the Hollywood/monsters. I just havent given it the dedicated practice with correct turn and consistency. Not going to be able to do them right off the bat standing still like Miss JM does. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Off to Florida Twirltacular this weekend. New routine:: HALO Wish me luck

Music is definitely a difficult choice! I love "Silent Morning" (I'm an 80's relic, can't help it) by Noel, or "Situation" by Yaz, "Blue Monday" by... those guys... but I also think a really good Baroque piece like a movement from one of Telemann's Paris Quartets (flute, violin, bass and harpsichord) would a radical shift from what everyone else is doing (and I like the 1780's too!). And in my other life I write my own music for recorder ensembles, one of those would be a shocker too.