Turn the world upside down

Article by: BILL WARD , Star Tribune
Updated: September 13, 2011 - 8:17 AM

A few hundred people will perform simultaneous handstands in Minnetonka on Saturday in an attempt to win a Guinness record. And you can be among them.

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Heads up, or not, actually: A few hundred people will perform simultaneous handstands at Mini-Hops Gymnastics in Minnetonka on Saturday in an attempt to win a Guinness record. And you can be among them.

If you don't turn your world upside down often, it's not as daunting as it might sound.

"It's as simple as getting your feet over your head," said Michaela Chelberg, executive director at Mini-Hops. "Even having your feet against the wall is OK. We're going to snap a photo and send the numbers to USA Gymnastics."

Mini-Hops and a consortium of other gyms around the country will attempt to break the record of 2,402, set in Australia in 2005.

Chelberg said participants will be able to go topsy-turvy inside or outside the gym, which is celebrating its 35th birthday this year. Geared toward children from 1 to 18, the gym has one of the state's largest Special Olympics teams, with 30 to 35 members.

Several other activities are planned Saturday, including a handstand clinic that's likely to be attended mostly by adults. "Our bodies are conditioned to be upright and once we're conditioned upright for a longer period, it becomes more difficult" to do handstands, Chelberg said. "But teaching adults is easier because they understand the verbiage, the biomechanics and spatial awareness."

What about the younger set?

"Oh," she said with a chuckle, "kids just have fun getting upside down."

Bill Ward • 612-673-7643

WORLD RECORD HANDSTAND ATTEMPT

When: Noon Sept. 17. Registration starts at 11 a.m.; clinics, activities 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Mini-Hops Gymnastics, 131 Cheshire Lane, Ste. 100, Minnetonka.

Admission: Free.

Info: 952-933-2452, www.mini-hops.com