%20(2).png)
Competition Tumbling & Trampoline
Power tumbling is a competitive individual sport that combines skills of artistic gymnastics with those of the trampoline. The sport is practiced by both men and women and consists of three (3) events: floor, trampoline, and double mini. The athletes compete against other athletes who are at the same skill level, the same gender, and around the same age.
This event is performed on a 6’ x 84’ slightly elevated tumbling surface, often referred to as a "rod floor". It is made from a series of fiberglass rods. The rods flex to provide additional bounce that an ordinary floor does not. The rods are covered in padding, and the padding is covered in a flooring material suitable for tumbling.
At a meet, the athletes are judged on two passes; one pass will demonstrate 5 skills, and another pass will demonstrate up to 8 skills. Athletes begin working and perfecting cartwheels, rolls, and walkovers, working their way up to handsprings, tucks, fulls and beyond. The athlete is judged on aesthetics as well as the difficulty of each pass.
The double-mini is a type of trampoline. It is set at an angle and smaller than a standard trampoline. To perform a pass on double-mini, athletes take a running start, performing skills as they rebound over the double mini. Athletes land in a landing mat on the other side.
In competition, athletes usually complete three different double mini passes each demonstrating two skills. The scores for both precision and difficulty from each pass are added together to get the athlete's final score.
Trampoline
Competitive trampolines, unlike a backyard trampoline, are rectangular, mearsuring 9.5' x 16.5'. Regulation competitive trampolines are designed to provide a higher, more powerful bounce. Competitive trampoline routines look effortless as the athletes fly high into the air, and perform multiple skills within each bounce.
The athlete will have one pass on the trampoline consisting of 10 skills or "contacts." The beginner level starts with body positions and basic landing techniques while upper levels learn flips and twists with no limits. In this sport, there is no top level; once an athlete has mastered even the hardest skills anyone has ever done, it is always possible to add another twist or rotation. We might even name a skill after you if you're the first to perform it! Examples where this has happened include the Rudi, Miller, Adolf, and many more.