No substitute for experience

Kaiya Huta. File pictures by Rebecca Grunwell

Kaiya Huta says the experience from competing in his first World Age-Group Trampoline Championships will help him as he prepares to take on the best age-group competitors in St Petersburg, Russia, in November.

The 16-year-old Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui student finished 27th out of 89 competitors in the 13-and-14-year division in Denmark in 2016.

“It was my first world champs and so far above anything I had ever competed in before,” said Huta, who is one of the Gisborne Trampoline Club members taking part in the Rotorua champs this weekend.

“I’ve got three competitions before I go to Russia — Rotorua, the Auckland champs and then the nationals in Tauranga.

“After the nationals, in October, I move to Auckland to stay with one of my New Zealand teammates and train with Jarrod Heriot, one of the New Zealand coaches.

“These three champs plus the lessons I’ve learned from Denmark will help me in Russia.”

Huta, who has been competing since he was seven, said his goal was top 20 at least.

“But once the competition starts I’ll be going for it.

My degree of difficulty is 11. Some of the other countries competing have trampolinists with a DD of 13 — harder tricks, 180-degree twists, somersaults . . . but having a higher DD doesn’t mean you win.

“The harder moves can take away from your form, and that’s what counts in the end: form.

“I’ve been training with my club coach Doug Callahan, improving my skills and form, and this time around I won’t be as nervous as I was in Denmark.

“Before Denmark, the biggest number of competitors I had been up against was 20, at the Australian champs. In New Zealand it’s usually around 15.

“But when I got to Denmark there were 89, which meant a lot of time waiting around watching other competitors and then waiting on results.

“Now that I know what to expect, I can time-manage better.”

Huta, who is also competing with Hamilton-born, Auckland-based Ethan Bai in the 17-21yr synchronised event, said Heriot had set him a challenge of doing 100 sets between now and November (10 skills make up each set in both compulsory and voluntary routines).

“I usually do four sets a session,” Huta said.

“I’m also working on my conditioning, improving my flexibility and strength. I’m really determined to do well in Russia.

“My ultimate goal is the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.”

Huta does not lack for determination.

He suffered concussion after hitting his head on the metal under the padded frame of a trampoline. That kept him out action for four months.

“But I was always going to compete again,” he said.

Huta’s mother Veronica had concerns about a comeback.

“When you see your children get hurt, you worry,” she said.

“But we made sure he did everything right before he started back again.

“He trained under supervision from physiotherapists for over a month before competing, and then they gave him the OK, which was great. He loves the sport so much.”