The Grand Rapids Trampoline Academy is a non profit competitive and recreational trampoline and tumbling program offering instruction for ages 3 to adult. Athletes will be given the opportunity to progress through the air with control and grace; through our favorite Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius (Higher, Faster, Stronger) the athletes will achieve any goals they set to accomplish.
Trampoline and Tumbling is a high flying sub sport of gymnastics focusing on the events of trampoline, synchronized trampoline, power tumbling, and double mini trampoline. First becoming a sport in the 1930’s, trampoline is a sport for any age and level.
Modern trampoline are quite different to those of the early developmental years and todays backyard trampolines - due in part to advances in equipment design, changes in the rules and governance, and more systematic training of the athletes.
International competition trampolines are larger and more powerful than those utilized in the early years. These modern trampolines can propel trained athletes as high as 30 feet in the air during performances. Athletes preform two competitive routines of 10 skills each, upper-level athletes can demonstrate a graceful array of double, triple and twisting somersaults.
Synchronized trampoline demands the same athletic skill as individual trampoline, while adding the element of precision timing. Using two trampolines, two athletes perform identical 10-skill routines at the same time. In this most artistic event in the sport, each performs as a mirror image of the other, doubling the visual beauty of trampoline competition.
Power tumbling is performed on elevated spring floor runways that help tumblers propel themselves higher than a basketball hoop as they demonstrate speed, strength and skill while executing a series of acrobatic maneuvers. (Backhand springs, back somersaults/whips, double twists and flips can also be achieved.)
Double mini is a relatively new sport that combines the horizontal run of tumbling with the vertical rebound of trampoline. After a short run, the athlete jumps onto a small two-level trampoline to perform a rebounding trick immediately followed by a dismount element onto a landing mat. Double mini is similar in concept to springboard diving, using a mat instead of water.