Local jump rope team gets ready for competition in Portugal

Its unlike many sports, competitive jump rope is gradually making it’s way up to mainstream sports.

A local jump roping group called Proform Airborne Jump Rope Team made up of competitors from Rexburg and Ammon are getting ready to travel to another country for a competition.

They’re traveling to Portugal in two weeks for the World Jump Rope Competition. Each year, they travel to either a national competition or a Pan American Jump Rope Championship.

Jump ropers practice year round,with very minimal breaks in preparation for nationals during summer.

The members of this team range in ages, the youngest being 14 years old to the oldest 21 years old.

This year, the team is working on their free style routines along with fusion. Fusion is a dance collaboration with jump roping.

Jump rope assistant coach Melinda Andrus said in the past they have placed high in double dutch and free style.

“Right now we are practicing about 15 hours a week, we have nine hours that are required. But they’re also putting in a lot of extra hours on their own,” Andrus said.

Andrus also said we would love for more people to get involved in the sport.

“It’s something easy and inexpensive to get involved in you just need space and a jump romp,” Andrus said.

Competitive jump roper Kaitlin Cook, 18, said her brother got her into the sport.

“I’ve been jumping since I learned how to walk. My brother was on a team and I grew up watching the sport and going to all the practices,” Cook said.

Cook said the team did endless fundraisers to pay for them to attend the competition.

They will be competing with other jump roping teams from all around the world.

After the competition is over, competitors will attend a camp where they will learn more tricks and connect with other jump ropers.