A NEW sports facility has opened its doors as the Isle of Wight’s 'home of tricking’ moves to bigger premises in Cowes, with help from generous donations after crowdfunding efforts.
The new space for WightTricks Academy is one of the largest in the UK, boasting a 150-square-metre floor sprung with over 4,000 springs.
Tripling the organisation's capacity, the centre includes a cafe and a separate kids-only chill-out space.
Tricking is a training discipline that combines kicks with flips and twists from martial arts and gymnastics, as well as many dance moves and styles from breakdancing.
Founders and Islanders Robbie Bates and Katherine Dancy, both coaches of the sport, passionately believe in the transformative power of tricking, particularly for neuro-diverse children who might be struggling in mainstream school.
The new premises will allow much-needed space and flexibility for WightTricks, which currently boasts a waiting list of almost 1,000 children.
Katharine said: “The move to the new place was a lot more than we expected it to be.
“A few surprises have come up, unexpected hurdles in the move between the old building and the new - so that’s hit us financially.
“The whole Island community has really rallied around. People have donated money and expertise in helping us get things ready in just under a fortnight.
“Lots of the kids are neurodiverse. A lot of them have ADHD and autism, and they struggle in school.
“Here, they can just completely come out of their shell, and it's just incredible.”
One of WightTricks’ success stories is 12-year-old Josh Williams, who won a gold medal last October, performing a triple full twist at an international competition in Oslo, Norway.
Josh said: “I really love the new floor at the gym. It’s really nice and soft, so when I want to go for tricks, I can get the height and bounce right off it.
“I really like the cafe because I can get a nice hot chocolate, and I like the chill-out space at the top, where I can watch other people trick. It feels like the best place for me.”
WightTricks plan to host international competitions at the gym and put the Island firmly on the map as a home of tricking.
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.