Somersfield Students Join Bermy Bouncers for World Jump Rope Championships

Students jumping rope through the Bermuda Heart Foundation's Jump 2B Fit programme to encourage youth fitness. Interschool performance jump rope team the Bermy Bouncers will be coping in the World Jump Rope Competition in Orlando, Florida, this month. (Photo by Akil Simmons)

June 18, 2014 — At Somersfield Academy, our students continue to excel in both academics and extracurricular activities. One such pursuit is performance jump rope, where Somersfield’s students are making their mark on the global stage. This year, the Bermy Bouncers—a team formed by middle schoolers from various schools across Bermuda—are preparing for the World Jump Rope (WJR) Competition in Orlando, Florida.

The team includes Somersfield students like Yusef Bushara (12), Charlotte Dinsmore (11), and Carissa Da Silva (12), all of whom have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the sport.

Yusef first became involved after a demonstration by the Somersfield Star Squad, a previous performance jump rope team at Somersfield Academy. He was drawn in by the challenge of the sport, saying, “It’s eye-opening, realising how difficult it actually was.” He’s looking forward to returning to the World Championships, having experienced the thrill and hard work involved in such a prestigious event.

Charlotte, who struggled with basic jumps when she first started, now completes 75 jumps in 30 seconds and appreciates the teamwork aspect of performance jump rope. “It’s harder to jump with someone else because you have to accommodate them,” she explained, highlighting the coordination and skill needed for group routines.

Carissa, the Team Captain of the Bermy Bouncers, reflects on how the sport transports her to another world—a sentiment shared by many of the team members.

The Somersfield Star Squad no longer exists as a separate entity because the jumpers have now amalgamated with children from other schools to form the Bermy Bouncers. This change was part of the Jump 2b Fit programme's expansion, which aims to bring together young people from across Bermuda to raise fitness levels and promote healthy lifestyles. As the Bermy Bouncers prepare to compete, some of the former Somersfield Star Squad members will be defending their titles.

Through programmes like Jump 2b Fit, students at Somersfield Academy are not only enhancing their fitness levels but also learning invaluable life skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and self-discipline. We wish the Bermy Bouncers the best of luck in Orlando as they showcase their talent, determination, and sportsmanship on the world stage.

Information sourced from The Royal Gazette article, "‘You can’t jump rope if you are not fit’."