Here on Jumper Spotlight we highlight someone who is, or has been, important to our sport and community. The people we highlight can be athletes, judges, announcers, coaches, or just someone who’s passion for the sport has impacted you, your team, our community, or our sport in an important way.

If you would like to be spotlighted, or have someone else you think should be spotlighted feel free to e-mail us at [email protected]

Today’s Jumper Spotlight is, Billy Jackson, known also as @billyjumprope on Instagram. Billy is also our guest on the 14th episode of the Jump Rope Jam Podcast. You can listen to Billy Jackson’s episode here, or on your phone through iTunes.

The #amazing #jumper @billyjumprope will be a #guest on the next #episode of the #JumpRopeJam #Podcast
@flightcrewjumprope @wejumprope @nickwoodard87 @jumpropechampion @eileagiven @kaitsimpson17 @ultra.rs @worldjumprope @hotdogusa @usajumprope
#jumprope #ropeskipping

Billy Started jumping when he was 7 years old, and has been jumping for a total of 20 years. He started jumping with the Louisiana Jazzy Jumpers, jump rope team. As a child, Billy’s mother told him he had too much energy,  so he was pushed to start jumping as an after school activity. After going to workshops, and after school classes twice a week, Billy soon fell in love with the sport, and then at some point it became his career.

Billy Jackson was Brandon’s first boss in the sport of jump rope. Billy was impressed with Brandon’s speed, and his freestyle skills. So, when he was casting for Cirque Dreams, Billy asked Brandon if he was interested, and, the rest was history.

Billy enjoys the performance and finesse side of the sport. Through Billy’s love of dance he has combined his dance techniques with his jumping techniques. Billy describes his jumping technique as, “full of Pizzazz!”

Billy’s first professional job was the movie “Jump In!” at the age of 16. Long time Jump Rope Jam listeners will recognize the title of the movie as being the same film that our co-host Brandon jumped in too. When Jump Rope Jam streams clips from the movie Jump In!, Billy will be joining us too!

Billy is apart of the famous jump rope team, Flight Crew, which you might have seen on America’s got Talent. Flight Crew is a performance-based jump rope team made up of the greatest jumpers in the world. Their mission is to spread jump rope throughout the world.

Here on Jumper Spotlight we highlight someone who is, or has been, important to our sport and community. The people we highlight can be athletes, judges, announcers, coaches, or just someone who’s passion for the sport has impacted you, your team, our community, or our sport in an important way.

If you would like to be spotlighted, or have someone else you think should be spotlighted feel free to e-mail us at [email protected]

Today’s Spotlight is, Erica Nicole, known also as @erica_nicole_0924 on Instagram. Erica is also our guest on the 13th episode of the Jump Rope Jam Podcast. You can listen to Erica Nicole’s episode here, or on your phone through iTunes.

#Dancer Erica Elliot, @erica_nicole_0924 will be a #guest on the #JumpRopeJam #Podcast
Erica talked about herself, dance, her #knowledge of #JumpRope and her #advice for #proper #foot placement and #technique

Erica Nicole has been a dancer since the age of 2. Studying Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical, Erica started competing at the age of 6, putting in at least 4 hours of training a day.

Erica has competed in Nationals with her dance studio and also had the privilege of dancing at numbers of steer fairs and plays. She currently teaching at Prodigy school of the arts and dancing out in the city at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway.

Erica loves dancing Ballet, however,her favorite types of dance are Jazz, and Lyrical. She loves those two types of dance because she feels that those types let her express herself more than ballet.

Erica’s understanding of the competitive sport of Jump Rope comes from the 2007 movie Jump In! which she saw when she was 12. Her initial reaction was at the surprise at how fast she saw the jumpers moving their feet. She sees a big connection between our sport (Jump Rope) and her sport (dance). Watching the movie made Erica realize how much of an intense sport jump rope is.

After I reached out to Erica and asked her to come onto our podcast, she began watching jump rope videos on Youtube. Erica had the same reaction when she watched the videos as she had when she was 12, the sport was and is amazing to her. She also sees how much technique and skill is needed to jump successfully.

When we recorded with Erica, Brandon was not available to join our conversation, and since we had a great time talking with Erica Nicole, we plan on having her back on the show sometime soon.

Here on Jumper Spotlight we highlight someone who is, or has been, important to our sport and community. The people we highlight can be athletes, judges, announcers, coaches, or just someone who’s passion for the sport has impacted you, your team, our community, or our sport in an important way.

If you would like to be spotlighted, or have someone else you think should be spotlighted feel free to e-mail us at [email protected]

Today’s Jumper Spotlight is, Nick Woodard, known also as @nickwoodard87 on Instagram. Nick is also our guest on the 12th episode of the Jump Rope Jam Podcast. You can listen to Nick Woodard’s episode here, or on your phone through iTunes.

#Listen to Nick Woodard on #Monday’s #episode of the #JumpRopeJam #Podcast
#jumprope #jump #rope #ropeskipping #fun #subscribe #download
@nickwoodard87 @kaitsimpson17 @wejumprope @ultra.rs @jumpropechampion @kayleefaith320 @eileagiven @rebels_o.k._rope_skipping @worldjumprope @hotdogusa

Nick is a native of Houston, Texas.  He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a concentration in Business Management.  Nick began jumping rope at the age of 6 with a team called Razz-Ma-Tazz and has now been actively involved with the sport for 21 years.

Throughout Nick’s jump rope career he has been blessed with many opportunities to travel around the world promoting the sport through workshops, exhibitions, shows, competitions, etc.  He has earned several titles including Grand National Champion and Grand World Champion.  Nick has traveled to 30 states within the United States as well as 16 countries across 5 continents.  Notably, in 2012, Nick received the honor of jumping at the Olympic games in London with Get Tricky, a well-known jump rope performance group.

Nick has also performed with Cirque du Soleil, jumped for several television networks, and been featured on a documentary called JUMP!.

Currently, Nick resides in Seattle, Washington where he serves as the head coach for Hot Dog USA, competes at the international level, and leads the ambassador group for World Jump Rope.

Nick Woodard’s passion for children, athletes, and the sport of jump rope is evident to everyone he meets.  He consistently serves as a valuable leader in the sport and strives to use his abilities to positively impact everyone around him.  Nick is thankful for the gift of jump rope and looks forward to many opportunities to expand the sport in the future.