Balance Beam

Balance Beams

Traditionally the balance beam is a woman’s event. The original routines were based more in dance than tumbling. Poses, leaps, rolls, handstands, each were used and the most acrobatic move used was a back handspring. Once Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci came on the scene the balance beam became more tumbling and aerial skill oriented. Eventually other performers and coaches followed suit and changed the standard of balance beam work. By the middle of the 1980s performers were adding multiple aerial and tumbling elements to their routines. In the modern era performers are looking to push the envelope, adding more difficult moves and the Code of Points defines the requirements for balance beam routines. Certain elements are now required, including a flight element.

Olympics Balance Beam

The Olympics is where everything was set into motion. Olga Korbut helped to pioneer the standards for the new routines, which pushed other athletes to do the same. Nadia Comaneci took what Korbut started and added more complexity to her routine. It has pushed modern gymnasts to continue to originate new moves, innovate better routines with more daring aerial and tumbling elements. Svetlana Khorkina, a 5’4” Russian gymnast, has pushed the development of the balance beam routine even further. She has eight moves listed to her name in the Code of Points and she was originally discouraged from gymnastics because of her height. All beam routines are judged strictly by the standards now set for the performers. Various elements such as the mount and dismount are expected to be innovative but solid. Everything in between those two skills needs to flow or have continuity. A gymnast must find linking moves that she can perform while maintaining balance and look graceful.

Practice Balance Beam

Practice balance beams are portable or low beams where a child can develop some of the basic skills involved with a beam routine. It is a safe alternative to learning the necessary skills on a regulation beam, plus they can be placed anywhere there is a level, stable surface. Some are sectional and made of foam so they can be easily taken apart and stored. Others are low beams set on risers only inches above the ground. These beams are generally only meant for kids allowing them to gain confidence at home before trying moves in their training sessions. The average price of these practice beams is around $100 but they can be more expensive depending on the quality of materials used.