Last week, Hong Kong had the honour of hosting the 10th International Rope Skipping Championships. While the sport has been gaining more momentum since the establishment of the International Rope Skipping Federation in 1997, it is still largely viewed as a niche sport by many. The schoolyard connotations lead some to write it off as a simplistic children’s activity, but the Coconuts HK team soon found out that it is the very antithesis of that.
Within the first minutes of arriving at the Coliseum, we learned that this level of rope skipping actually incorporates a huge amount of athleticism, creativity, and teamwork, not to mention multi-tasking – can you do handstands while having ropes whipped about your body?
The skipping routines are judged on three fronts: accuracy, creativity, and difficulty. Skippers are also tested in the category of ‘Single Rope Endurance’, an exercise that tests the athletes’ stamina and speed. Essentially, they’re charged with pummelling the ground in rapid fire jumps, before proceeding to more complicated freestyle routines.
There were teams from all across the world taking part in the Championships, but those with the most spring in their step seemed to be from Hong Kong (obviously), Germany and Japan. Despite the fact that all teams were similarly matched in terms of ability, the overall effect of each country’s style was vastly different.
The Hong Kong skippers were clearly influenced by breakdancing and martial arts, something that team member Steven confirmed was a result of a “fusion of interests”.
One of the HK Double Dutch teams getting down
One HK competitor shows off his martial arts-inspired kick
The German team, on the other hand, more partial to a gymnastic focus, were technically flawless and clearly more seasoned than the rest of the competitors. We later found out that some of the members had previously competed in eight championships, confirming, rather predictably, that they were indeed a heavyweight force to be reckoned with.
The German female Double Dutch team displaying their gymnastic prowess
Members of the German male Double Dutch team in leapfrogging mode
However, perhaps the most creative and exuberantly joyful team was from Japan. While others chose to use more obvious songs (we’re looking at you, Sweden. ABBA medley – really?), the Japanese jumpers were hopping and skipping gleefully to pop culture hits like “Let it Go” from Frozen and “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. They were having a good time, indeed!
While rope skipping has yet to gain widespread attention in Hong Kong, that may now change after the discipline was this year’s theme for Sport For All Day. As it coincided with the final of the IRSF championships, skipping demonstrations and group skipping activities were held in various places all over the territory to gain public awareness and support.
And Hong Kong did indeed end up with plenty of accolades in the championships: 19 year old Timothy Ho Chu-ting won the individual championship by winning three medals (one Gold, one Silver, one Bronze), and broke his own record in the speed test with 522.5 skips in three minutes, while the Hong Kong team won the overall competition with a staggering 92 medals! Go us!
Check out this video for more footage of the standout routines of the day.
Videos: Sol Han
Text and photos: Annette Chan
