American Gymnast and AirTrack Factory (based out of the Netherlands) have partnered to create a new Joint Venture, American AirTrack Factory, to manufacture, provide and service AirBags, AirTracks, AirCourts, AirNinja Obstacles and AirParkour product lines throughout North and South America!

AirBags have been used in trampoline and action parks for quite a while now, but they are still considered new on the scene for gymnastics facilities. However, gymnastics facilities have quite different needs for their landing areas than ski resorts, action parks or trampoline parks. Instead of trying to sell an AirBag into a gymnastics facility that was meant for another purpose,  we created an AirBag that specifically serves the gymnastics community!

Here are 12 reasons our AirBags are the only choice for gymnastics facilities:

1. SIDEWALLS – Our airbags have “Roman Arch” sidewalls which prevent the collapsing of the AirBag around its perimeter that you see in most of our competitors airbags.  This is also why our AirBags have the sharper tight look, and aren’t saggy and wrinkled looking.

Interior View of the AirBag, the Cover & the Top Sheet

2. PRESSURE CONTROL – We have a new pressure control system that gives gym owners and coaches the ability to control the AirBag pressure from the top side of the pit instead of having to crawl down in a pit to look for ventilation flaps to open in our competitor’s AirBags.

3. PRESSURE ALARM – Our alarm system constantly monitors the AirBag pressure and sets off a visual and auditory alarm if the pressure dips below a predetermined value.  In contrast, some other alarm systems only monitor the power to the blower.

4. DURABILITY – We use a thicker layer of PVC on our AirBags (and AirTracks), without any inactive fillers (like chalk for example), than are typically used by other manufacturers.

5. VERSATILITY – It is important that we constantly monitor the needs of the industry. We are always looking for unique ways to enhance our products. We’ve added a variety of features to our AirBag to allow for more versatility, such as the addition of lifting bags. With the flip of a switch, our AirBags can raise or lower in height, allowing for different drills and/or different levels of training.

AirBag with Multiple Lifting Bags

6. PORTABILITY – We have designed portable AirBag units specifically for gymnastics training that are simple to move around the gym, as compared to large resi mats.

Small Portable Gymnastics AirBag

7. QUALITY CONTROL – We have a firm Quality Control (QC) process. Our in-house design team will create initial drawings of your AirBag for your approval, and then our manufacturing team creates detailed technical drawings for you to sign off on.  Every component of every AirBag order is measured, thoroughly pressure tested and everything recorded for our team to review before it is released for shipping.  Every AirBag is assigned a unique number, which allows us to trace back all components if necessary.

8. MANUFACTURING CONTROL – The AirTrack Factory manufacturing facility is 80,000 sqft and only produces our “air” product lines. In contrast, a lot of our competition outsource their manufacturing to facilities that make large quantities of bouncy houses, inflatable Kayaks/surfboards, etc, and then make an “airbag” or “airtrack” product using those same materials and production methods. AirBags and AirTracks are obviously completely different products for completely different purposes than bouncy houses and inflatable kayaks, and therefore require much more rigid manufacturing processes and quality control.

AirTrack Factory Production Facility

9. CUSTOMIZABLE – We can design and manufacture custom shape and size AirBags for just about any purpose, providing cutouts for columns or trussing, as well as irregular shapes to fit unique areas in your facility.

10. FOAM TOPPER – We make a foam topper with a soft touch denim fabric cover that velcros to the top of your AirBag and can provide a safe pillow-soft landing surface.

11. GYMNASTICS EXPERTISE – One of the most important aspects about our company is we are experts in the sport of gymnastics. We aren’t an inflatable company simply looking to push another product. We are a gymnastics-based company founded by former National & World Team Member gymnasts who know the sport inside and out. We can speak the language and can make solid recommendations based on the type of training offered at your facility and the specific apparatus for which your AirBag(s) will be used.

12. WARRANTY – Our AirBags all have a 2-year warranty for any manufacturing defects.

  

We have put a vast amount of research and testing into our AirBags for the purpose of them being able to cushion the landing or fall from a high level gymnast. Gym owners should feel confident when working with American Gymnast that they will be advised professionally, and will receive a safe and reliable product. If you have interest in a custom airbag for your new gym or to replace an existing foam pit cubes, fill out the following form:

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The AirBag S by American AirTrack Factory is one of our more exciting innovations. This versatile training tool is there to help you back down safely. It’s the small version of our larger built-in AirBags and can be placed anywhere in your gym. What is it that makes this new equipment so smart and how is it beneficial for your gym? Let us explain.

First and foremost the most important and predictable argument is that it is soft. But like all our equipment, it is soft in a smart way. A simple pressure regulation system was built in so that gymnasts or coaches can easily alter the internal pressure. Very soft for nice back landings, getting rid of that fear barrier and helping the athlete to get comfortable with their movements. Secondly, somewhere in between soft and firm, to get more comfortable with upright landings without losing that safety for when things don’t go as planned. Then there’s the most firm option which allows you to stand up your landings, taking you one step closer to landing on solid mat. This variety in pressure makes learning new skills more pleasurable and less frightening.

THE AIRBAG S IS PORTABLE

Secondly, the AirBag S is portable. Like any other piece of American AirTrack Factory equipment, it is small in storage and lightweight compared to your large resi mats. This means that it can be easily moved around the gym, creating a very versatile landing mat. Use this AirBag behind Vault, at the end of beam or a tumbltrak for dismounts, or on the floor for tumbling skills. The AirBag S is not only ideal for the specialized gymnastics facilities but also for clubs who train in gymnasiums where foam block pits are not an option!

Of course, there is also the benefit of it being able to deflate, making it about 10% of its original size. This is ideal for clubs that have limited storage or clubs who do not want a permanent set up. simply switch off the blower, roll it up and store it. That’s all there is to it!

TESTED BY THE BEST!

Lastly, the AirBag has been developed with and tested by elite athletes and coaches. These athletes know what they like and more importantly, know what makes their training more fun, efficient and safe. They have helped with the placement of additional Velcro to make your AirBag easily connectible with an AirTrack by AirTrack Factory, safety lines and the softness and friction-free top sheets. This knowledge combined with the air-expertise of American AirTrack Factory make this product something that we are proud to stand behind.

As with all our equipment, we are constantly innovating and evolving the equipment to make it even better for its users. Do you have an idea that would make our equipment better? Let us know!

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My, how the world has changed in a short period of time. As most gym owners can attest, the new normal is hardly recognizable and if you want to stay in the game, you have to adapt…quickly. To sum it up, facility cleanliness is key going forward   

One aspect of the gym everyone is a little unsure about is the foam block pit. There is hardly a gymnastics facility in the country without one. However, in today’s environment, with respect to cleanliness, foam block pits seem to come with a stigma that may have existed before but most were able put it out of their mind. There’s no denying that foam pits are challenging to keep clean. It is a process that involves hours of time and dozens of people lending a hand to make it happen. 

As you may be aware, there is an alternative and you shouldn’t shy away from it. That’s right, it’s the AirBag. I can assure you, they are not just for tramp parks anymore. Manufacturers have been working hard on this product to make them a better fit for any gymnastics facility. 

So, let’s get right to it and discuss the AirBag so you can make a more educated decision for your facility:

1. Fully Customizable Shape & Size – Gymnastics pits come is all shapes and sizes. “L” shapes, “U” shapes, long channels, large rectangles, and even hour glass shaped. The good news is the AirBag can be made in any shape you can imagine. So that crazy polygon hole you have in the ground can easily be filled with a perfectly customized AirBag. 

2.  Cleaning & Maintenance  – The HUGE bonus of owning an airbag is the ease of which you can clean it. We all know too well the method for cleaning out the foam block pit – Wrangle up multiple staff members and a team of kids and start throwing foam out of the pit and then bang out each and every block. It is a tedious task to say the least. Also, foam pit blocks can be impregnated with fire retardants, which become airborne in the form of dust particles. 

This is where the AirBag outshines foam block by a long shot. It has a top sheet that can be removed by two staff members in a matter of minutes. That top sheet can then be cleaned and replaced. With the AirBag you won’t have to worry about filthy socks or other nasty items sinking down into your pit and making a home for months. 

In addition, Anti-Microbial top sheets are also available, which kills micro-organisms and stops growth – so no need to wash daily! It’s the same price as a normal top sheet so that’s pretty awesome!

3. Landings – There are some major differences with landing on an airbag compared to foam block. Both systems are designed to create a landing area that is extremely safe when it comes to awkward landings. Is injury possible with the both systems? Yes, of course, but the risk is substantially reduced due to how each are constructed. I think this is where gym owners are a little skeptical of the airbag system. They know foam block systems, they are comfortable with them, and they know for the most part they are very safe if installed properly. 

Well, more good news on the airbag is that the technology has evolved over the last several years to create a system with redundancies and other safety mechanisms. Let’s take a look at the construction of the airbag. 

 

 

One question many people have is whether or not you can bottom out an airbag. Engineers have taken this question seriously and have devoted lots of time in to creating a system that is next to impossible to bottom out. The safety zone (the bottom layer of air) is a key feature that prevents anyone from bottoming out. Well, what if the blower malfunctions and the airbag deflates? To deal with this scenario, the AirBag (aka Smart AirBag) has 3 different built-in safety features. 

 

1. Alarm – An audible alarm goes off any time a blower malfunctions or the power goes out.
2. Pressure Sensor – there is a sensor located in the airbag that is able to read the pressure within the bag and that pressure is displayed so one can determine whether it is within the appropriate limits.
3. Do Not Jump Labels – when the air bag is deflated, there are large, brightly colored “Do Not Jump” labels that display.

 

Since we are discussing landings on the airbag, it is definitely worth mentioning one really cool feature that would be appealing to a lot of gym owners. Pressure may be adjusted to allow for different types of landings on the bags. If the athlete is learning a new big skill and needs a more cushioned landing, no problem. Pressure can be reduced to allow for that softer feel, resulting in a more comfortable landing on their back or rear.  Or, do you want to mimic more of a firm mat landing? This can be done as well by increasing the pressure enough for the athlete to land on their feet.

 

4. Aesthetics – I will keep this one short and simple. Airbags can look amazing and provide a very clean look in your facility. Your imagination is the driver of the look of the top sheet. Any design or look you want can be done on this top sheet – logos/branding, motivational words, shapes, colors, pictures, etc.

 

5. Throughput – This is another area where the AirBag is amazing. We all know how long it can take to get out of a foam block pit. This can sometimes take more than a minute, while other kids are standing in line waiting for their turn. The average time to exit the pit from an airbag is about 7 – 10 secs. Now you are increasing training productivity by almost 10 fold!

 

6. Noise – This one seems to be the deal killer for a number of folks in gymnastics facilities. Coaches fear the noise can be distracting. Again, engineers have listened to the gripes and have come up with the low noise air blower. The decibel level can be compared to that of a low level conversation. 

 

7. Cost – This is a BIG question for most people considering an AirBag over foam block. What is this thing going to cost me? Quite simply, the initial cost of the complete airbag system (with all bells and whistles) is going to cost you more than foam block. However, if you are more interested in the cost over time, then the airbag will become the obvious choice. Long term cost analysis shows that most gym owners will recover that additional cost in about a year and half when purchasing an airbag over foam block. Think about it – very little maintenance (both staff time and actual cost), and nothing to replace for a very long time (if ever).  Plus, ask us about our New Financing Options for extremely low up-front cost and monthly payments!

 

How about cost to run the Blower? Quite low…about $2 per day. Here’s a gymnastics facility where you can see it in action …

 

 

Based on all of the information above, the future is looking pretty bright for AirBags making their way in to gymnastics facilities. I think education on the product is key for each owner considering making the switch. We are here to answer any questions about them and can also provide a quick estimate for changing out your existing pits if needed. 

 

Just complete the form above or contact us for more questions.

 

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What is a Gymnastics Landing Mat?

The mat that is considered the landing mat under an apparatus is the bottom-most mat. It is usually either 12cm thick or 20cm thick. Here’s where you will typically see 12cm versus 20cm thick landing mats used:

• 12cm – Women’s Junior Olympic Competitions, Junior Men & Women’s Training Facilities
• 20cm – Women’s NCAA & FIG Competitions, Men’s Junior, NCAA & FIG Competitions, Elite-level Men & Women’s Training Facilities

Once you determine what thickness, you need, you’ll then notice we offer are a variety of sizes in each thickness landing mat, with some also having the option having FIRM or standard foam.

The apparatus you are using the landing mat under will determine which length and width landing mat you need, but what are the differences between the firm and the standard landing mats and which one should you have in your gymnastics facility?

The actual make-up of the FIRM and standard mat is very similar. They both have two layers of foam: a 3 1/2 inch bottom layer of polyurethane foam and a 1 1/4 inch cross-linked top layer of polyethylene foam. The only difference between the two is that the bottom layer in the FIRM mat is 70 ILD (Indentation Load Deflection) compared to 50 ILD in the standard. This literally determines the firmness of the mat.

So what does this mean for you in terms of getting the right landing mat for your gymnastics facility?

The first thing you will notice when shopping for mats is the FIRM landing mats are going to be slightly more expensive. However, the FIRM mats will have a longer life span than the standard. Since these mats or designed to have more firmness,  they will not bottom out and they are able to endure more impact and are better suited towards older, high level gymnasts. The standard mat is better suited towards the younger, lower level gymnasts as this kids obviously do not create as much force on their landings. This is not to say a high level gymnast couldn’t land on a standard mat. They certainly can, but over time the mat will wear down much more rapidly and you will find yourself needing to replace them. So all you really need to do is determine how these mats will primarily be used, who will be landing on them and it will make your decision much easier.

If you are in need of any mats at your gym, your timing is great. We now have DEMO mats available in various sizes, standard and FIRM, from the 2015 competition season. These mats had minimal use and are marked down significantly.

Shop DEMO Mats>>

If you have any questions on selecting a mat, please don’t hesitate to call us at:  1-877-789-2267.

Brad Thornton

Strength & Fitness Team Lead

The post Selecting the Right Gymnastics Landing Mats appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

Growing up, my siblings and I never had any home-use gymnastics products and using couches, chairs, beds and pillows just wasn’t the best way to train. I can still remember my mom’s constant frustration with us bouncing all over the house. She had to deal with 4 gymnasts under one roof!

The products available for home use now are awesome and made so ergonomically they can fit in to any home. The Nastia Liukin line of products in particular have become extremely popular – durable, safe and affordable for home-use.

Two products in particular that are essential for girls practicing at home are the Nastia Liukin Junior Balance Beam and the 4’x8′ Nastia Tumbling Mat. This combination provides a great way for beginner gymnast to train basic skills safely and comfortably at home.

Nastia 8′ Junior Balance Beam & Tumbling Mat

First, the Junior Balance Beam is meant to mimic a competition beam but on a smaller scale. It’s only 8 feet long which is small enough to fit in to any room but long enough for your gymnast to practice their leaps, handstands, jumps, back walkovers etc. It also has that same suede covering used on a competition beam, so they feel just like they are back at the gym. That’s pretty cool! Man, if I only had a pommel horse in my home, I wouldn’t have been so bad at it!

So, you have your beam, now you just need a mat underneath for safety. The Nastia 8 ft. Tumbling Mat fits perfectly underneath, running the entire length of the beam and is firm enough for the beam legs to sit directly on top.  Now you have a rockin home beam set up!

Another great thing about your mat is it is also multi-functional. Of course it is a tumbling mat, so you can use it for back handspring training, cartwheels, round-offs etc, but it also will fold into a block, so you can use it for over-splits, other stretches and even plyometrics if desired.

My niece McClure has this exact set-up at home and loves it. She’s put in a lot of time on it and it definitely shows with her improvement. In the video below, Jay goes in to a little more detail on the two items and McClure shows you a portion of her Level 2 beam routine.

Hope you enjoyed that! Right now all Nastia products are currently on sale for the Holiday Season. You can shop for the Nastia Junior Balance Beam here>>

Happy Holidays!

Brad Thornton

Strength & Fitness Team Lead

The post Nastia Liukin Balance Beam and Tumbling Mat Make Perfect Holiday Gift appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

Since shopping during the Holiday Season is so crazy and chaotic, I wanted to make sure it was super simple to find gymnastics gifts for your gymnasts from American Gymnast this Holiday Season.

This video goes over our Holiday Gymnastics Ideas and Stocking Stuffer Ideas for your gymnasts.  These items are currently in-stock, but will be selling out quickly, so watch the video now and place your orders!

Train Smart. Compete Hard!

Jay Thornton
American Gymnast

The post Gymnastics Gifts for the Holidays Simplified appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

Both of my kids love playing on our mats at home – they are firm enough for basic tumbling skills and yet, soft enough even for preschool age children to do forward rolls and flop around on. The mats fold at every 2′ panel, like the Blue one you see in the video, so that you can stack them or put them up out of the way.

I’m proud to say that my 2 year old daughter, McClure, just learned her first forward roll on these mats! My 7-year old son, Liam, loves to do forward and backward rolls, handstands, cartwheels and whatever else Ill let him get away with.

If you need a great quality, fun, Tumbling Mat for home, check out our American Gymnast mats. My family loves them, so I’m sure your’s will too!

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To see if we have the folding mats you are looking for, check out the Gymnastics Mat Specials category of our web site.  You’ll notice some of these mats do not have the “Add to Cart” button next to them.  If that is the case, it means these are now sold out.  If you click on the particular Gymnastics Mat you are interested in, you will see how many of that item we have left in stock.  Once they’re gone, they’re gone.  We won’t have them available at this price again.

We sincerely appreciate your business!

Jay Thornton

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