Tumbl Trak’s product development team features leading innovators of training equipment for gymnastics, cheer, martial arts, and more.
SPOTLIGHT SALE : Jenifer Dodson Running Arms
Jenifer Dodson
Jen Dodson has taken the long road in her gymnastics career as athlete, coach, parent of an aspiring gymnast and now, a Tumbl Trak Innovator!
Jen noticed that in every vault rotation she spent a great deal of time talking with athletes about running technique. When week after week her verbal cues and demonstrations were not working she found a creative solution for helping her kinesthetically natured athletes to understand the mechanics of efficient running technique - the Running Arms!
Jen shared her idea with Tumbl Trak Founder, Doug Davis, and the rest is history! The Running Arms are a great example of simple design with big results!
SPOTLIGHT ON : Paula Lord
Paula Lord
Paula Lord helps people LAUNCH. With a one-of-a-kind expertise in movement, she leads individuals to recognize, clarify, and restore faulty movement patterns. This allows her clients and students to more efficiently and effectively tap into their unique and unlimited potential. Paula's students have gone on to become Olympic athletes, collegiate champions, thriving cancer survivors, successful professionals, happy retirees, and more!
The Suspension Training System is Paula's solution to reducing pain and helping the body align when repetitive movement has taken its toll. Tumbl Trak introduced the STS in 2019 recognizing that it’s unique bungee technology paired with Paula’s experience in movement correction is a perfect match for athletes of all kinds.
SPOTLIGHT ON : Dave Tilley
Dave Tilley
Dr. Dave Tilley is a former collegiate gymnast, experienced gymnastics coach and founder of Shift Movement Science, a company dedicated to providing athletes and professionals the tools, ideas and latest science that supports the care of body, mind and soul. He is Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy, internationally recognized as an expert in gymnastics sports medicine, and has treated thousands of gymnasts in the last ten years.
In 2019, Dave developed the Athlete Wellness Kit and Journal to help elevate the level of self-reflection, goal setting and positive mindset an athlete experiences. These useful tools have been selected for their ability to support the condition of the athlete both physically and mentally.
SPOTLIGHT ON : Leonard Isaacs
Leonard Isaacs
A coach since 1967, Leonard Isaacs has developed numerous national team athletes, mentored other coaches and club owners, and was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Region 5 Hall of Fame.
One of the sport’s most celebrated innovators, Leonard pioneered the concept of teaching gymnastics with progressions rather than spotting. This idea, revolutionary for its time, was enormously influential on Doug Davis, Tumbl Trak founder and one of Leonard’s mentees. Through their close relationship Leonard helped develop some of Tumbl Trak’s most important products, including the Laser Balance Beam and Pit Pillow.
SPOTLIGHT ON : Tom Forster
Tom Forster
Tom Forster is more than an acclaimed elite coach and former gymnast. He’s also a gifted tinkerer and problem-solver who’s partnered with Tumbl Trak to create some of our most well-loved products.
A mainstay of gyms since 2011, the Forster Bar revolutionized how gymnasts learn wrist-shifting bar skills. Tom followed this with Fun Sticks and Carpet Wall Overlays – two versatile tools with countless training applications. Finally, the Handstand Homework Mat has been a game-changer in helping gymnasts practice handstands at home.
SPOTLIGHT ON : Brett Wargo
With over 20 years of coaching experience, Brett Wargo has helped countless gymnasts learn front giants on uneven bars. He saw that many of these athletes had trouble sensing exactly where their feet were during their swing and so they often broke form too early, pulling in to avoid hitting the low bar.
Brett realized that if he had a safe way to help gymnasts build awareness of their feet’s distance to the bar this would be a game-changer. His innovative Porcupine Pad features soft, flexible bristles and wrap-around padding to build awareness and confidence.
Doug Davis, Tumbl Trak founder
Doug Davis is our company’s founder and original innovator. In the 1980s he invented the “Tumbl Trak” – the iconic extra-long, open-ended trampoline that revolutionized the sport.
Doug embraced the vision of gymnastic coaches like Leonard Isaacs and Fred Roethlisberger who were inventing a new type of training that emphasized progressions and minimized spotting. Doug knew that for this approach to take root a new type of equipment would be needed – equipment that was soft and forgiving in order to build athletes’ skills and confidence.
Starting with the original Tumbl Trak, our company has invented numerous products that combine technological advances with innovations in training. As a customer once said, “Tumbl Trak has changed the way the country teaches gymnastics.”
How many wrists, ankles, and knees have been saved by training on soft surfaces like the Tumbl Trak and Air Floor? How many elite athletes have gone on to international competition healthier and stronger because they’ve used our products?
As we look towards our 35th anniversary, we’re proud to celebrate Doug Davis and how he revolutionized the sport, helping countless athletes train smarter and safer.
More great Tumbl Trak innovations…
Tumbl Trak’s Research & Development Team works with innovators around the globe to develop equipment that helps coaches and athletes train smarter and safer. Below are a few more of our recent innovations: