Regional Technical Director answers Questions about Mounting Beam: p. 88, 4a states: At levels 1-5 any manufactured mats, skill cushions, or padded spotting/ skill blocks may be used for mounting purposes.
In 4d it states: At levels 4-10, the board (or mount mat) may not be placed on an 8″ skill cushion for the purposes of mounting.
1. Does that mean that levels 1-3 can use the mount mat on top of an 8″ skill cushion for the mount, whereas the other levels cannot?Yes, We are interpreting as such.2. If they use two 4- 41/2″ mats, they are allowed to put another 4″ for a total of @12″ and still use a board But, they cannot use one 4 1/2 in and add an 8″ skill cushion which also totals @12″. So does that mean that it’s the composition of the 8″ mat that you do not want a board on versus 12″ of matting, since both combinations of mats still equal 12 inches?
You can use the two 4 1/2 inchers plus and additional 4 1/2 incher plus a board for mounting although we typically don’t see this. You cannot use an 8 incher over the 4 1/2 incher. We believe this originally was because the JO committee felt that the board would tear the comparatively soft surface of the 8 inch skill cushion.3. So is it true that all levels 1-10 can use one 4 1/2″ landing mat plus two 4″ mats and put a board or mount mat on top of that mat combination for mounting purposes?
Yes, although, again we typically don’t see this. Page 88 #4.