To celebrate 20 years of Gymnastics Direct, we’ve partnered with Gymnastics Tasmania to provide $20,000 worth of new equipment to 13 clubs across the state. Through our Club Focus series, we’re sharing the stories of these clubs and recognising the people who help gymnastics thrive in their communities.
We’re excited to introduce Velocity Gymnastics, Launceston’s only dedicated trampoline and tumbling club.
Keeping trampoline and tumbling alive in Launceston
Velocity Gymnastics was established in 2024 and is the city’s only dedicated trampoline and tumbling club.
Today, the club offers recreational and competitive programs across trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling. Its 120 participants range from beginners discovering the sport to athletes competing at state and national levels.
Although Velocity is still a relatively young club, its early years have been defined by determination.
“Our early years were shaped by significant venue insecurity. Until recently we have operated from temporary and shared facilities, regularly moving equipment and dealing with restrictions, interruptions and uncertainty about whether classes could continue.
As of August 1st this year we now have a permanent facility, which gives our current participants a secure place to train and provides the capacity to rebuild and grow.”
New equipment for a new beginning
Within this initiative, Velocity selected a new mini tramp and a back handspring trainer to help fill an important gap in its equipment setup.
The equipment will allow athletes to practice skills more safely, support more effective skill progressions and give coaches greater flexibility when planning classes.
Resilient, inclusive, and ambitious
When asked what makes Velocity most proud, the club’s answer was simple: its resilience.
“Together, our coaches, athletes, families and volunteers kept Velocity operating through considerable uncertainty. Despite these challenges, our athletes continued to train, compete and represent Tasmania.”
Velocity describes its community in three words: resilient, inclusive and ambitious.
It is resilient because it continued through years of venue uncertainty, inclusive because it welcomes athletes with different abilities and goals, and ambitious because its community is never afraid to try something new, both on the floor and beyond it.
At the centre of the club is a focus on “fun, friendship and flips.” Whether an athlete joins for recreation or dreams of competing at a high level, Velocity wants everyone to feel supported and part of its community.
Looking confidently towards the future
Over the next 12 months, Velocity is looking forward to settling into its permanent home and making the most of the opportunities it provides.
The club hopes to welcome more athletes, expand its recreational and competitive programs, develop new coaches and judges, and provide more consistent training opportunities.
Most importantly, having a permanent facility means Velocity can finally plan for its future with confidence.
Velocity’s advice for young athletes
Velocity encourages gymnasts to embrace both the successes and the setbacks that come with learning something new:
“If you want to learn to fly, you’ll fall along the way. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Focus on progress and celebrate every improvement you and your teammates make. Keep trying, listen to your coaches and have fun!”
Velocity is grateful to the coaches, volunteers, athletes, families and supporters who helped the club through its period of venue uncertainty. We are proud to support its next chapter alongside Gymnastics Tasmania and look forward to seeing its community continue to grow.