Recently, two local gymnasts from Tamarack Gymnastics went to Portugal to compete in the Coimbra Gym Fest and the Trampoline World Cup.

19-year-old Declyn Friesen and 17-year-old Lane Peters traveled to the international competition with their coach Amanda Pierson.

Head coach Pierson says this was the first international competition for the two athletes, and they had to achieve a minimum score at a national event to be eligible to compete.

“Lane did it last year and Declan did it this year, so we were able to go there and compete against athletes. I think there were 27 countries on the list.”

Friesen took part in trampoline jumping and says Portugal was great.

“It was beautiful, I didn’t want to go home.”

Declyn Friesen in action in Portugal.

She explains how the trampoline competitions work.

“You do two routines. Usually it’s a required and an optional routine at Canadian competitions, but in Portugal it was just two of the more difficult routines.”

They choose the best score from the two routines and that score is then taken to be placed with the others.

“For Double-Mini, the trampoline where you run on and then jump on and jump off, you do four passes in Level 5, so four runs of a series of different flips each time. You can’t repeat skills.”

For tumbling, she says it’s a series of eight exercises that involve walking across a super long bar on the floor.

Lane Peters, 17, competes in trampoline and tumbling gymnastics and says it was great to compete at an international level.

“It was definitely a bit wild, because there wasn’t really a level difference. You just competed with whoever was there, and it was mind-boggling.”

He says there were a few participants who loved watching it.

“There were two of them, Ruben Padilla and Gavin Dodd, who are among the best in the world in one of our events.”

Pierson says overall it was an incredible experience.

“The kids had a great competition. They both improved their personal bests and met some of the best gymnasts in the world. They are more motivated than ever and can’t wait to compete next year.”

With files from Michelle Sawatzky