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Fairgoers' fitness routine is jumping

Posted August 16, 2007 11:00 pm

Daniel Pike

Amelia Yarbrough was looking for a way to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. She definitely found it in jumping rope.

"I like being active," Amelia, 12, said Friday at the Illinois State Fair, where her team, the Jumping Beans of Calumet Park, won a bevy of trophies and medals during the Illinois Department of Human Services' Fit 4 Life Jump Rope Olympics. "I can't stand being bored."

There's not much chance of dozing off during these jump-rope activities. More than simple exercise, competitive groups such as the Jumping Beans perform intricate, energetic routines and patterns.

Dozens of jumpers from across the state participated in the jump-rope olympics - including double-dutch and single-jumping contests - that took over the area near Main Street and Illinois Avenue for a couple of hours Friday morning.

The competition was part of DHS's fitness campaign, and the agency tries to host an appropriate event each year at the state fair. Last year was a hula-hoop challenge, said Carol Adams, secretary for the department.

Although prizes are awarded, Adams said the event is meant to convey that "fitness is for all generations."

"Every year we try to have something at the fair that will engage young people and adults and remind them of fun ways to keep fit," Adams said. "(Jumping rope) is something really that anyone can do. Maybe not as elaborately as the young people today in the double-dutch, but anyone can jump and keep fit."

The Jumping Beans were among the most-decorated teams at the end of the competition. The squad, which consists of jumpers between 7 and 14, placed in categories such as the compulsory contest, fastest jumping, most creative jumping and freestyle.

Coach Eldora Wines said the team is one of the best in Illinois, and it has qualified for national and worldwide meets in recent years. The jumpers practice three times a week and compete monthly during the season.

"It takes determination, lots of practice and a good attitude," Wines said. "Attitude is No. 1. I stress good grades - all of my jumpers go to school every day. I don't have any problems out of them with attitude, and most of them are honor students."

Amelia started jumping about four years ago, when a friend's mother told Amelia's mother about the Jumping Beans. She took a few weeks to learn the ropes, so to speak, but soon discovered she had a real talent.

"When I could do everything that the older girls showed me - that's when I knew that I was getting good at it," said Amelia, who won a first-place medal in the compulsory event, along with second places in freestyle and speed.

Teammate Briana Allen, 12, who's been jumping for about three years, was named most creative jumper, along with taking a first-place medal in compulsory and seconds in speed and freestyle.

Briana, who likes to jump to R&B and hip-hop music, said she prefers the freestyle competition.

"You can do whatever you want to," Briana said. "It's fun. It keeps you the most active."

While competitive teams such as the Jumping Beans were the main draw, the event offered novices the chance to jump as well, Adams said, including adults and very young children.

The department plans to return for next year's fair, but Adams was cagey when asked what activity that will feature.

"I'm not ready to divulge that yet," she said. "My staff would hate to find out about it in the paper. They do know that I think a year ahead, they know that. So I got it all right."

Daniel Pike can be reached at (217) 788-1532 or daniel.pike@sj-r.com.

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