Tumbling on air

A HELPING HAND: Gisborne Trampoline Club coach Amy Baldacchino holds Lauren Chambers (left) and Jade Swann as they do handstands on the club’s new air floor. One of only two in New Zealand, the floor will be tested competitively for the first time when the club hosts the North Island championships this weekend. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Gisborne Trampoline Club’s power tumblers will get their first taste of competitive action on a new air floor at the North Island Championships at Electrinet Sports Centre in Gisborne, starting on Friday.

“We’ve had the floor, bought with the support of the New Zealand Racing Board, for a month but this will be the first real test for the tumblers,” said Eastland Port Gisborne Trampoline Club head coach Doug Callahan.

“We’ll have 170 trampolinists and tumblers from around the North Island trying to qualify for the world champs in Russia in November.

“Bruce Walters, Amy Baldacchino and Natalya Barber will be the main coaches for our power tumblers while I will concentrate on the tramp and double-mini over the three days, which is free for anyone wanting to watch.

“The new air floor is one of only two in the country — the other one is in Christchurch — and it’s a fantastic addition to the club.

“It will benefit our tumblers hugely whenever they compete at the big competitions like the North Islands and the nationals, and eventually the world champs.

“The tumblers can practise their skills on the trampolines whenever the floor is deflated.

“The floor is a world standard floor and is much easier on the wrists and ankles. It’s 25 metres long, two metres wide and 300 millimetres thick.

“It weighs 180 kilograms but can be lifted by three people on each side.”

Callahan said close to a dozen trampolinists, including Kaiya Huta, had qualified for the nationals.

“Kaiya will be trying to qualify for the world champs and he’s not far off the qualifying mark. I believe he can qualify. We’ve a week to practise.”

As well as a new air floor, Callahan said the club had bought safety mats to go around the trampoline thanks to Pultron Composites, the Eastland Community Trust and the Infinity Foundation.

“The mats are 200 millimetres thick and will give the athletes confidence.

“ECT has also given us tremendous support in the running of our championships”.