Whip it good

Doesn’t everyone just love the age old debate, which skipping rope is best to skip with?  Well, I’m not here to tell you definitively which rope is best for you, but I can give you an insight into what i like and what i don’t so much. 

So, let’s start with....the rope itself.  Many a folk will argue that buying a certain rope is the key to being able to skip easily.  I agree to a degree, however not everyone wants to spend loads of money on a rope, nor do they want to be able to jump rope like a pro-boxer.  Basically anything that will enable you to do a complete revolution whilst jumping over it will benefit you.  You can always make it more challenging by attempting double unders (two revolutions in one jump), single leg skipping, backwards, crossovers...and the list goes on really.  I’m sure if you checked out http://www.skippingaustralia.org.au/ you will be filled with wonderful skipping ideas and exposed to some serious skipping athletes!

So, let’s look at a few different ropes i have been exposed to in my time...starting with the one I currently use and love...this rope also happened to be used by the “Fittest Man on the Planet” – Rich Froning Jr at the 2011 Crossfit Games.

RX Jump Ropes

This rope reatils for about $35US, so it is not cheap.  However, if you are into your skipping an dlove doing double unders...get around it!  I used to find it was my forearms and/or shoulders that fatigued well before my lungs gave way, but not with this baby.  Be mindful of the size before you order though as they are not adjustable.  Check out..http://store.rxjumpropes.com/brands/Rx-Jump-Ropes.html if you want to buy one and review the sizing lesson on Youtube to get it right.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4d6ZrPLqAo&feature=player_embedded  Once you have bought one, you can always order different size cables at a much more reasonable rate.

The rope i used to use before the RX jump rope was  a

Cable Speed Rope from Fitness Town in Canada

I was and still am a big fan of this rope.  It retails for about $20CAD and is adjustable.  This rope is probably a good transition rope for someone wanting to learn double unders, but allows you to still feel the weight of the rope as you bounce effortlessly between each jump.  Be careful though as the cable can leave severe whip marks ...see below..  There are also variations of this rope which have a plastic covering on them rather than the exposed cable.  Fitness Town also sell ropes equivalent to the RX jump rope, unfortunately though i haven’t tried one so can’t provide my input.

Damage from a Speed Rope...

Of course there are much cheaper options too if you don’t want to spend $20 odd dollars on a rope.  Rebel Sport, Kmart and even the supermarket and local milkbar sell skipping ropes.  There is also the option of finding some old rope in the garage and jumping over that too. 

So, if you want an inexpensive, simple exercise that can be performed in a park, home , sidewalk or even indoors then skipping is worth your time.  You can skip without having to seek out a coach.  It develops and enhances coordination and rhythm between hands and feet movements.  It strengthens your bones and increases your stamina, endurance, reflexes, balance and posture.  It can make you more vigilant and alert and can be practiced by all age groups and genders.

It also allows you to increase your heart rate without having to run and doesn’t require a lot of space.  In order to avoid boredom, frustration and fatigue, aim to alternate from single skips, to double unders, one leg, high knee, side skipping and the list goes on!  Just a warning, skipping can be hard work on your achilles and calves and of course some joints, so be sure to warm up and stretch after jumping rope and ease into it if you are a beginner.

Enjoy and happy skipping!!