Harper-Rose Reid, who turns 13 on Saturday, has qualified for four codes at the five-day comp in Auckland, which starts this coming Tuesday.
It’ll be the second year in a row the St Joseph’s year 8 pupil will compete in trampolining, synchronised trampolining, tumbling and double-mini trampolining at the nationals, after qualifying in the 13-14 years category at regional comps.
After finishing seventh in her age group at last year’s nationals in Palmerston North, she’s setting her sights higher.
"I’m hoping to do even better this year, hopefully placing top three in all the codes."
Harper-Rose started gymnastics when she was four, but only took up trampolining at 11.
She trains with a trampolining squad under coach Emily Feit at Wa¯naka’s Aspiring Gymsports.
Her mum Steph Reid, who is the manager of the Otago team at this year’s nationals, says Queenstown doesn’t have the facilities for Gymnastics NZ’s trampolining codes.
"We only manage to get her over to Wa¯naka for tramp and tumble training every six weeks, where she fits several hours of training into one session."
However, Harper-Rose is part of the development squad at Queenstown’s SITE Trampoline, and is a competitive artistic gymnast with the Queenstown Gymnastics Club in Frankton, where she trains three times a week.
Also a keen dancer and swimmer, she says all the disciplines complement each other, improving her strength, fitness and coordination.
She typically spends about 13 hours a week training for trampolining and gymnastics, and loves every minute of it.
Most of all, she loves the "adrenaline" of competition.
"That’s my type of fun — that’s what I do in my spare time.
"All the flips and tricks, the presentations and the strength you need to do it, it just keeps pushing me."
