GYMNASTS can now take their training to an elite level without having to travel to metropolitan areas after the installation of a foam pit at PCYC Bathurst.
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The foam pit - which is 1.8 metres deep, has a trampoline and 12-metre tumble track - will enhance the skills of everyone from beginners to experienced gymnasts.
The pit cost about $52,000 to build, the majority of which was raised through fundraising efforts by the club and its members.
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"We've been waiting for it for over a year. A lot of fundraising was done to get it to the stage it is now," PCYC Bathurst gym co-ordinator Lauren Clemens said.
Ms Clemens said construction began about five weeks ago and the area has been up and running for about a week.
It has already been used by PCYC gymnasts and school students doing sport at the PCYC.
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"The kids use it for tumbling. Now they can learn how to flip safely and do tumbling for fun," Ms Clemens said.
She said Bathurst was one of only six PCYC clubs in the state to have a foam pit.
She said the closest PCYC with a foam pit was either Dubbo or Penrith and the new foam pit allows bar training at an elite level.
Club manager David Hitchick said in addition to the foam pit benefiting local gymnasts, it is hoped the Bathurst centre will become a training hub for other centres.
"It's going to be very useful for trampoline and tumbling classes," he said.
He said the club had also been approached by other gyms wanting to use the space for specialised training.
Mr Hitchick said the foam pit had opened the door for the PCYC's students to compete at a higher level.
"And they don't have to travel to train for competition," he said.
He thanked everyone involved in the project, from fundraising through to construction phases, including Matala Constructions, Kennards Hire, Brett Moulds Design and Drafting and Ben Cutler Constructions.