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AROSA, Switzerland, June 26, 2014 – U.S. Trampoline National Team Members Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Elite Trampoline Academy, Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, Neil Gulati of Irvine, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, Hayley Butcher of Saint John, Ind./Midwest Training and Ice Center, and Charlotte Drury of Laguna Niguel, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, will represent the U.S. at the International Gymnastics Federation World Cup in Arosa, Switzerland, June 27-28.
The first day of competition on Friday will feature qualifications for individual trampoline and synchronized trampoline. Gluckstein and Dooley will attempt to qualify to the finals in synchronized for the U.S. men while Butcher and Drury will compete for the women. All five athletes will compete in the individual competition. In addition, the competition will feature some junior elite and club athletes. Qualification will take place on Friday, while the finals in both individual and synchronized trampoline will conclude Saturday.
Trampoline events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform double and triple twisting somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated rod-floor runways that enable athletes to jump at heights more than 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. For the double-mini competition, the athlete makes a short run, leaps onto a small two-level trampoline, performs an aerial maneuver and dismounts onto a landing mat. 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. Trampoline was added to the Olympic Games in 2000, and at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the USA had its first athlete in history advance to the finals.