Trampoline

Trampolining was added to the Olympic program in 2000.  Its a sport where gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline.  These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck, or straddle position, or more complex combinations of somersaults and twists.  We were able to meet at Altitude Trampoline Park before it officially opened for the day, so we had all of the trampolines for ourselves, to try our own routines.

R doing a straddle

J doing a star-jump

L did a flip!

M doing a herkie

A tuck for L

Kayak

Kayaking and canoeing have been featured in the Summer Olympics since 1936.  There are two disciplines:  whitewater slalom and a sprint on calm water.  The women's events only use kayaks, with either 1, 2, or 4 kayakers.

There's not a lot of whitewater rapids around north Texas, but we do have a river with calm water, and kayak rentals at the Panther Island Pavilion.  We rented some one person kayaks and two person canoes (the two person kayaks were already rented out).  They did not have 4 person kayaks, so we used a 3 person canoe, to get the feel of having multiple rowers.  We slalomed through some bouys, and completed both the 200m and 500m sprint distances.

R, M, and J do a triple canoe, while K is in her kayak in the background.

R in a single kayak

L and J doing doubles

L and R in a double canoe

Kayaking was tons of fun!