Abby Stevens (12) tries out the tumble track at the Willis Street gym yesterday.
The 8m long tumble track is a new tool for the Dunedin Gymnastics Academy which the head coach, Carmel Leslie, described as ''fantastic for teaching''.
The tumble track is basically a long thin trampoline which allows the gymnasts to practise safely. It cost $5700 and most of the funding was provided by the Lion Foundation. It was constructed by local company A.J. Grant Engineering.
''We've had it about a month and we had the South Islands in Timaru last weekend and had a lot of medal placings,'' Leslie said.
''Some of that I attribute to the tumble track. It definitely helps with lifting skills.
''It is just another tool which allows the girls to train at a higher intensity without getting impacted through their joints.''