The winner's circle: aerobicsport competitors' secrets to success - includes related article on competitions

American Fitness, Nov-Dec, 1993 by Kathy Fortmann

Capturing the gold medal in a national aerobics competition culminates a year or more of intense training and commitment. The athletes who compete in national aerobics competitions have as much dedication and focus as an olympic athlete.

A growing number of competitions, including the Tone Aerobics & Fitness Challenge, the NationalAerobic Championship and Step Challenge, attract motivated aerobic athletes. Most competitions offer categories including women's individual, men's individual, mixed pair consisting of a male/female combination and teams of three in any gender combination. Most national competitions represent a final stage of a series, with preliminary or regional competitions. International competitions have also evolved, such as the Suzuki World Cup International Aerobic Championship sanctioned by the International Aerobic Federation (IAF).

Two of America's most popular national competitions are AFAA's Tone Aerobics & Fitness Challenge and the National Aerobic Championship formerly sponsored by Reebok. Both programs have similar standards for technical and artistic performance, and requirements for the execution of compulsory moves.

In the National Aerobic Championship, skill criteria is 60% and presentation is 40% of the total score. Each competitor's routine must include four consecutive and identical repetitions of jumping jacks, high leg kicks, abdominal curls and push-ups. Rhythm, range of motion, speed and primary muscle groups used in these compulsory moves must be identical.

The National Aerobic Championship's skill criteria includes strength, flexibility, form and safety. Strength is assessed through compulsory push-ups and abdominal curls. Flexibility is evaluated based on high leg kicks and form is judged on all compulsories. The moves must conform to industry standards for safety. Routines should not include contraindicated exercises. Selection of exercises, transitions and synchronization are all judged as part of the skill criteria.

Aspects of presentation in the National Aerobic Championship include creativity, showmanship, musical selection, musical interpretation, appearance and physique. Creativity refers to how the choreography reflects originality with innovative "signature moves." Showmanship refers to overall presence, including motivation, projection and expression of movement. Musical selection is judged on mood, speed and sound quality. In addition to selection, musical interpretation is judged. Competitors' appearance, comprised of attire, grooming, body composition and muscle balance, is also a presentation factor.

Key components of AFAA's Tone Aerobics & Fitness Challenge are technical merit (60%) and artistic impression (40%). Technical merit criteria includes proper alignment, exercise execution and selection, flexibility, muscular endurance and strength. Synchronicity is also evaluated for doubles or triples teams. Criteria for artistic impression includes the quality of aerobic exercise as it represents the sport of competitive aerobics. Choreography, transitions, musical interpretation and selection and presentation are judged. Partnership for doubles and triples teams is another artistic impression element.

Compulsory moves for the Tone Aerobics & Fitness Challenge include the strength lunge, high leg kicks, abdominal curls, push-ups and eight-count combinations. Unacceptable moves include gymnastics or tumbling, extreme hypertension or hyperflexion of the spine and contraindicated exercises such as reverse hand push-ups with the fingers falling back toward the feet.

Diane Teresi was the 1993 gold medal winner in the National Aerobic Championship mixed pair division. Teresi is a veteran competitor who has captured 18 medals. She won her first gold this year. Teresi started competing eight years ago just for fun an d persisted because it was a gratifying challenge. She maintained a grueling training schedule for nearly a year prior to the National Aerobic Championship finals. Because her partner, Pat Wade, lived one-and-a-half hours away, travel time added to her stress during training. "I had to drive to San Francisco four times a week for a two- to three-hour workout on the routine," she says. "I also used personal trainers three to four times a week for two hours minimum to concentrate on strength moves, weight training and flexibility exercises. "

Weight management is another component of preparation for the championship. Teresi followed the Gold's Gym Nutritional Analysis diet for about two years prior to winning. The diet provided healthy foods in pre-measured portions.

However, Teresi says the most difficult part of training is the mental aspect. "Our choreographer pushed us to do things I didn't believe we could do," she says. "For example, our choreographer wanted us to perform difficult lifts. I just had to believe in myself, apply concentration and courage and work on weaknesses instead of strengths. Otherwise winning won't happen."

Teresi was ready to hang up her competition shoes a year ago. She got discouraged and wondered if she could ever win the gold. However, Wade convinced her to compete one more time. She and Wade won in spite of obstacles. Their original sponsor fell through. Their costumes had to be changed at the last minute before the regional competition. Their choreographer changed their routine one-and-a-half hours before the semi-finals. In spite of everything, Teresi won. "This year was just meant to be," she says.