Photo courtesy of Jamie Isaac
Freshman Nick Higgins has been jump roping for seven years and at age 14, has already competed in two jump roping national championships. He has placed in many competitions and his jump rope team has one Grand National title.
For video of Higgins in action, click here
The YMCA based youth program is founded on primary Christian beliefs and is dedicated to promoting physical fitness through jump roping, as well as creating responsibility, leadership, discipline and confidence.
“It’s teaching you to be a good person, care for other people and be responsible for your actions,” said Higgins on the YMCA.
The Super Skippers practice three times a week for about 90 minutes a day, increasing to five days a week when they are preparing for a competition. Higgins focuses mainly on speed, which is completing as many jumps as possible
in a certain amount of time, and his free styling. Higgins also focuses in double-dutch, where he jumps over two crisscrossing jump ropes.
Higgins’ favorite stunt is his front tuck, also known as a front flip. Doing gymnastics in jump roping allows the individual to be creative and show their skills.
“It’s the only trick that I can do and it’s fun to show off,” said Higgins.
Higgins competes in various categories in his 13-14 age division and has won a first place award in a Double Dutch Pairs Speed competition that allowed him the chance to compete in the 2012 National Jump Roping Championship. Higgins qualified for two different events to allow him to compete in the 2012 Grand Nationals.
In the national championship, Higgins competed in Single Rope Pairs Freestyle and the Double Dutch Pairs Speed. The Cary team went on to win the 2012 championship in Long Beach, CA, becoming the 2012 USA jump roping national champions.
Ten players from the Super Skippers were chosen to represent the US team in Tampa, Florida, for the International Rope Skipping Federation World Youth Championships and World Championship. Higgins, as well as four other teammates, came in first place in the World Youth Tournament. Higgins placed first in his division in the World Youth Tournament and third overall in his three events.
As well as being in two National Championships, Higgins has been on the New York talk show Live With Kelly, where to his surprise, he met First Lady Michelle Obama.
“I was freaking out,” Higgins said. “It was a once in a lifetime thing.”
The Super Skippers jumped rope with both the First Lady and Kelly Ripa, and were visibly surprised at how well the First Lady did. Not many kids, and people for that matter, can say they have hugged Mrs. Obama.
“I performed with my other teammates and after that we turned [ropes] for Michelle Obama,” Higgins said.
–By Ryan Millis