Trampoline gets exposure
Published Friday March 27th, 2009
Three-day N.B. gymnastics championships get under way tonight
David LeBlanc will be wearing two hats at the New Brunswick artistic gymnastics championships this weekend. And a tender leg won't be holding him back.
The Moncton Gymnos boys' competitive gymnastics coach and the club's recreational coach for both the boys and girls, broke his leg last October while practising on the trampoline but that's not going to stop him from competing in the trampoline event this weekend.
"It's still a little sore but that makes it more of a challenge," said LeBlanc. "I want to compete and I'm determined to give it my best."
LeBlanc broke his leg where the ankle connects with the shinbone. He had pins and plates inserted and was in a cast for three months.
The provincial championships open tonight and wind up Sunday at the Moncton Gymnos Gymnastic Club at the former Dud James Arena on Limerick Street.
Competition will take place tonight from 6 to 9 p.m., tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
LeBlanc, 24, took up the trampoline a few years ago and fell in love with it. He's coached by Rachel Perry, who is the club's head trampoline coach, a qualified judge and a girls' competitive coach at the club.
Tanya McMahon runs the overall Gymnos program and is the girls' head coach.
This weekend, LeBlanc will be competing in the trampoline event hoping to score well enough to qualify for the national championships in Ontario in May.
Because he is the only competitor in his age class, LeBlanc will be judged individually and his scores will be forwarded to the N.B. Gymnastics Association's technical committee.
"I'm optimistic I'll do fairly well," LeBlanc said. "But the injury isn't going to help any. . .I'll give it my best shot and see what happens."
Meanwhile, four female gymnasts from Gymnos will also be competing in trampoline. They are Hannah Holmes, Katie Roberts, Madelaine Gauvin and Sarah Ells and they range in age from 10 to 12.
"Moncton is the only place in the province doing competitive trampoline," LeBlanc said. "We're hoping to motivate the other centres to get involved in this aspect of gymnastics.
"We want to be promoters of the trampoline."
What does LeBlanc enjoy about trampoline?
"It's great exercise and can be a thrilling experience," LeBlanc said. "Lots of flips, big tricks and big air.
"You use a lot of the skills that you learn from the other gymnastic disciplines."
About 200 athletes from throughout the province are entered in this weekend's meet with the top athletes advancing to the Atlantic championships at the end of April in Sydney, N.S.
Besides the trampoline, other disciplines are the floor exercises, pommel horse, parallel bars, vault, rings and high bar.
LeBlanc has been competing in artistic gymnastics since the age of five. Over the years, he captured a few N.B. overall championships and competed at the 1999 Canada Games.
"My vault was always strong," LeBlanc said. "I think that's helped out with my trampoline routines."
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