Team bounce to Australian championships

JUMP: Rotorua's Gilad Farkash, left, 13, Jodie Allely, 16, and Coral Farkash, 17, will compete at the Australian Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne next week.PHOTO/BEN FRASER 230514BF2

If you think trampolining is just what children do in the backyard, think again.

Double the size and quality of a regular trampoline, include trained gymnasts, and add in years of training.

Four Rotorua gymnasts from Migs Gym are off to the Australian Gymnastics Championships to compete in trampolining and gymnastics next week.

The youngest local competitor, Gilad Farkash, 13, is taking part in his second Australian Gymnastics Championships and hopes to better his performance from last year - where he finished fourth on the double mini-trampoline and fifth on the individual trampoline. He also hopes to perform his trademark move.

"I like the Rudi Out. It is a double front flip with a one-and-a-half turn."

His older sister, Coral Farkash, 17, will join him on the trip to Melbourne on Monday alongside Rotorua's Jodie Allely, 16. The trio will all compete in trampoline while Western Heights High School student Damian Hewett, 17, has already left for Australia to compete in gymnastics.

Coral was born in Israel and said she got into the sport at a young age.

"I started gymnastics when I was 5 but started trampolining when I was 12," she said. "I couldn't speak English when I started, and it was the only sport that showed you what to do rather than told you what to do."

Her family also have a history in the sport.

Her mother and coach, Lynette Farkash, represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in gymnastics.

Despite her mother's history in gymnastics, Coral said the switch from gymnastics to trampolining was an easy one. "That's the best decision I have ever made," she said. "I guess I just love the adrenalin."

The Farkash siblings will compete in the individual trampoline, synchronised trampoline and double mini-trampoline.

Meanwhile, Jodie will compete in the double mini-trampoline event only. The double mini-trampoline event sees gymnasts run up to a smaller trampoline where they bounce twice before dismounting on to a mat.

Jodie said it was great to compete in Australia but her biggest goal in the sport was to become an international judge.

"I want to become an international judge and judge at sanctioned competitions."

She is currently earning her qualifications as a judge while competing in trampoline. The group of four athletes had to qualify to attend the Australian Gymnastics Championships during sanctioned events in New Zealand.