A Milnerton teenager spent part of his July school holiday competing an international trampoline competition in Portugal.
Jordan Laubscher, 14, competed in the under-16 age-group of the Scalabis Cup, coming fifth in the “double mini trampoline” category and 11th in the “EuroTramp trampoline” category. This is the second year Jordan has competed in the competition.
Jordan started men’s artistic gymnastics when he was 6, followed, the following year, by the discipline of trampoline.
He started his trampolining on the double mini trampoline, a trampoline where one runs up to the apparatus, then performs a first manoeuvre on a raised tramped trampoline mat, then a second element on a flat trampoline mat, before landing on a cushioned landing mat.
By 10 he started competing on the Olympic trampoline, the EuroTramp. On this apparatus there are two routines, each consisting of 10 different manoeuvres.
Since 2013 Jordan was awarded his provincial colours and currently competes in the junior Olympic category. “With the routines being voluntary at this level, I really enjoy the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone and then the satisfaction of, after many failed attempts, finally being able to land a new move and I really enjoy the competitions themselves,” said Jordan.
He trains three evenings a week throughout the year including school holidays at Eversdal Gymnastics Club in Brackenfell.
With the commute between Brackenfell and Milnerton, various competitions and training, time management is important said Jordan.
Jordan also enjoys team sports such as soccer and water polo at his school Parklands College where he is a Grade 9 pupil.
When he is not at school or training, he is on the trampoline at home trying out new moves.
“I’m motivated by watching other gymnasts at competitions and online and being inspired to challenge myself to continually improve,” he said.
Jordan’s father, Carl, is proud of his son’s achievements and said the trampoline was a demanding yet wonderful sport.
“It takes determination and guts to venture out of your comfort zone to try and achieve new and tricky manoeuvres which yield higher scores essential for competition success at this level,” he said.
