When it comes to trampolining, there has never been a better time to get started than right now. Trampolines have become very popular in Canada in recent years, offering athletes and everyday individuals the ability to bounce, flip, and fly, in some cases as high as nine meters in the air while offering a cardiovascular workout that far exceeds most other forms of exercise. Trampolining athletes compete in many different competitions where they can complete a variety of complex acrobatics that wow audiences all over the world. It’s amazing to watch as these breathtaking combinations come together into a cohesive routine that features incredible feats of skill, speed, power, and grace. Most advanced level trampolinists perform routines that offer spectacularly high bounces that result in phenomenal twisting, tumbling and flipping that can’t be seen anywhere else, even in advanced gymnastics competitions.
Because of the rising popularity of trampolining, it has now been recognized by the Olympic Games committee as a competitive sport. Canadian Rosie MacLennan won the gold medal in trampolining at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and is looking to defend her title in the 2016 Olympics being held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
History
Trampolines first entered the scene in the 1930s and were primarily used to help train gymnasts and other athletes learn the skills they needed in order to become more competitive. NASA incorporated the use of the trampoline into its astronaut training program where astronauts used them to learn how to properly navigate in zero gravity conditions. Later, trampolining became recognized as an individual sport with the first world championships being held in 1964.
How it Works
Trampolines are designed using a tightly woven cloth, usually made of a strong, synthetic material that is stretched inside a metal frame using heavy duty springs. All of these flexible elements work together to provide trampolinists the lift they need to experience the sensation of flying and space. In order to maximize the lift offered by the trampoline, athletes must learn proper bouncing and acrobatic technique as well as body control. Trampolines are used both as a standalone activity as well as a training aid for any sport that requires acrobatic movement.
Individual competition
There are several different levels of trampoline competitions that athletes can participate in. Most require the athlete to perform three separate routines that are comprised of 10 different, specific elements.
Scoring
When it comes to scoring trampoline events, there are three different areas where athletes can score points. The D Score represents the difficulty of the routine. The E Score represents the athlete’s ability to execute each of the different movements. And the final category is the T Score, which represents the amount of time that the athlete is in the air during a routine.
There are two judges responsible for rating difficulty, another five judges responsible for execution scoring. A perfect score is 30, with 10 points being available in each category. The final score is determined by adding the points total from each category together.
Air Riderz Trampoline Park is a great place to start your jumping career, or to cheer on our AWESOME CANADIAN TEAM! To stay in touch with our trampoline community join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or G+.
We want to wish all the PanAm Canadian team members the best of luck from Air Riderz Trampoline Park Mississauga! GO CANADA GO! #jumpstrong