 Press
Two Sports
in One, by Patrick Miller, Albuquerque
Journal
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Our
November 28, 2003 vaulting clinic
at the Las Campanas Equestrian Facility
with Matthias Lang, of France, the
vaulting world champion, was featured
in the Albuquerque Journal.
Think horseback riding,
and it's a safe bet that a lone rider,
perhaps riding bareback, comes to mind.
Think gymnastics, and perhaps you picture
an athlete doing a handstand. Combind
these two and you have vaulting, an uncommon
form of equestrian competition that traces
its roots to ancient Rome.
 Matthias
Lang, 26, of France, the vaulting world
champion, hosted a clinic Friday at the
Las Campanas Equestrian Center.
The air in the cavernous
arena was frigid and laced with the smell
of damp earth. Parents and coaches milled
about as Lang quietly gave tips to his
young charges as they rode their horses
around the arena.
Marcy Grace orrganized
the clinic. "Vaulting is dance and
gymnastic movement on the back of a cantering
horse," she said, sipping hot chocolate.
A horse's stride is
classified according to its rhythm, she
explained. A canter, for example is an
undulating gait that helps vaulters propel
themselves into the air, she said. Relatively
uncommon in the states, vaulting is popuar
in Europe, with Germany being the center
of the sport, Grace said. She estimated
the country has more than 150,000 vaulters
and almost every town has a vaulting
club.
 Grace
added that vaulting has grown in popularity
in the United States and there are more
than 70 vaulting clubs across the country.
She started Santa Fe's first vaulting
club, Free Spirit Vaulter, in September.
The club has 12 members, one of whom
happens to be her daughter, Isobal Rippel,
12. The mother discovered vaulting when
her daughter read about it in a magazine.
That was two and a
half years ago, and Isobel Rippel is
now a champion in her category, she said.
She's ridden horses since childhood,
but loves vaulting because it encourages
her to be creative, she said. Anything
you want may include handstands, cartwheels
or dancing, since the sport places a
premium on creativity. Vaulting can be
compared to figure skating. Skaters first
perform a compulsory routine, a series
of standard maneuvers, followed by a
freestyle routine where creativity is
highlighted.
 So
it is in vaulting. The compulsory routines
are difficult enough Grace said. "Add
ballet moves and handsprings to the mix
and you have a form o f competition that
is probably one of the most exciting
spectator sports you'll ever see," she
said.
Lang said vaulting
has been popular in Europe for centuries
when it was curtailed by world War II.
As such, the level of competition in
Europe is far beyond what is found stateside,
which is why he's touring the United
States. He wants to improve the caliber
of riders here so they can better compete
against Europeans, who dominate the sport.
Grace said that Americans
tirelessly compete in European events,
but have so far walked away empty handed.
Nationally, Anna
Schulte, 30, from Cuba, NM, has consistently
placed at the top of her category.
 Schulte
placed 13th at this year's national tournament,
she said as she went across the arena
to her horse.
Nicole England-Czyzewski,
19, drove down from Colorado to work
with Lang, she said. She's been vaulting
for 12 years and placed eighth in the
national tournament. She hopes to compete
in the world championships in Europe,
but doesn't expect to make the cut this
year, she said. Whether she winds up
world champ, here skills have a stateside
application. She's aiming to be a stunt
woman in Hollywood, she said.
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