What drew you to trampolining / gymnastics initially? 

Nathan Monkton: I had always done team sports so I wanted to do an individual sport where I could improve myself and do it myself. One day I drove past the Trampoline Club (based in Browns Bay until 2015) and thought it looked really cool so that is why I started.

Zoe Davis: It look like lots of fun seeing lots of kids doing flips on trampolines.

How long have you been involved in the sport?

ZD: I started trampolining since I was four so I have been doing trampolining for seven years.

NM: Around seven years too.

Do you have a role model in sport?

NM: In rugby, Dan Carter and in trampolining, Austin White (USA).

ZD: Yes, Dylan Schmidt because sine I have seen him on TV when he was at the Olympics I thought: "I want to be there one day.”

What’s the best all-time performance you have ever seen in this sport?

NM: Worlds Open finals 2017, Austin Nacey (USA) performing a quadruple in double minitramp and landing in the middle of the landing mat.

ZD: Watching Rosie MacLennan winning her second gold medal at the latest Rio Olympics.

Have you ever sustained any injuries through the sport?

ZD: Only a rolled ankle on double minitramp.

NM: Yes, lots of ankle, knee and back injuries, but most are pretty minor.

Please tell us a about your recent selection for the world age-group championships…?

ZD: I had two qualifying events one in Christchurch and the other in Gisborne. I had to stretch my abilities to achieve a very high mark. In Christchurch, I felt like I had done a good performance but found their scoring to be quite harsh, where as Gisborne to be of the standard that I am used to. But was lucky enough to qualify for the World Champs in Russia for double minitramp.

NM: I had worked really hard to get the double minitramp scores and managed to get it. This will also be my third selection for Worlds.

How long does it take to learn a new routine / move & how do you train?

NM: Depending on the difficulty of the skill or routine, but about a week to get the skill and a little more than a week to get the routine.

ZD: It takes me around three weeks to learn a new voluntary/harder routine. But it takes me around 1-2 weeks to learn a brand new skill.

Can you describe the feeling you get when you finally perfect it?

ZD: The feeling of completing a routine is exhilarating. I feel like I am on a natural high for hours!

NM: I don’t know, I haven’t perfected anything yet. There is always something to work on.

If you didn’t compete in this sport, which other sport would you like to excel at?

NM: I really love rugby and basketball, so either of those.

ZD: Surfing because when you get to stand up on a wave you just want to go out and catch another one. I feel that my trampolining helps with all of my other interests because of balance and strength.

In summer, do you pull out some of your competition-style moves on backyard trampolines?

ZD: The backyard trampoline has its limitations, due to size and the height I can bounce on it!

NM: No, I don’t have a backyard trampoline!

In five years time I hope to…

NM: ...be in the World Open for double minitramp and hopefully go to the Olympics once during the five years.

ZD: In five years time, I hope to get a scholarship overseas in a gymnastics-based school and to compete at the Olympics.