360 Degrees of Trampolines
March 14, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Spring seems to be coming out here: Time for us to finally purchase a big trampoline for the back yard (we have been talking about doing this ever since we moved in with my in-laws last June, as their house has a large backyard; beds and the living room couch currently provide Charlie with jumping surfaces). I do suspect that anything we find will not be quite as much fun as a visit to Sky High Sports in Santa Clara, California, where all the floors and all the walls are trampolines. Noted the San Jose Mercury News on March 13th:
The largest trampoline in the warehouse-sized room is 52 feet by 120 feet – and that doesn’t include the trampolines that line its walls.
The three trampolines are made of smaller blue trampolines, brought together in a quilt-like square, bound by springy poles, a design developed by co-owners Jerry and Ron Raymond.
To prevent injuries, they covered the poles with yellow plastic padding, making a grid pattern.
I think I know where we’ll be going the next time I visit my relatives in northern California………….
*eyes widen*
If I think of an excuse to be in Northern Cali at the same time, can I come WITH?? Charlie’s coordinated, bet he could learn all the basic jumps in about 15 minutes…and then show me up on the twisting jumps…
WOW that’s a big trampoline, the thought is heaven…
And if you need links if you consider your own, I have loads (gymnast. heh.) A lot of experts say the safest shape is a rectangle and those aren’t available as readily as the round ones, which have funky tension from the springs.
Nooo, I never competed trampoline, not me….
I’d appreciate the links—can’t figure out which is the best to buy. Of course you’re already invited—–
Golly! Thanks ‘out of State’ person, we locals need a tip in the right direction. [or should that be 'shove']? That’s our weekend sorted.
Cheers
Wow…that’s actually right near where I live. I want to go very much! Trampolines are wonderful things, though I’ve never felt as safe as I’d like to on the round ones since it’s hard to keep track of where the sides are when in the midst of jumping.
Cool!!!
Mcewen and AnneC if you go, let us know what it was like—-
Commenting just so I can see if Kassiane posts anything more about trampolines on this post.
I, too, am contemplating a trampoline. How young is “too young”? We have 3-year-old twins, and one of them is the most coordinated of my kids….
We had a small trampoline when Charlie was 4 (it wasn’t too springy though). His class has this trampoline from urban rebounder (without the bar).
http://www.fitnessandkids.com/urban-rebounder.html
I’m digging for my links now, Im on the road for the endocrinologst…
But when (not if, WHEN) I get a home trampoline it’ll be rectangle, and I am making competitive markings on it with tape (a cross, with a box) so I know where I am on it.
I’ve taught kids as young as three and as long as they’re supervised-which goes for ANYONE in case of injury-I don’t see why that’d be too young. My coaches’ 2 year old jumps on a trampoline and has suffered no ill effects except napping more easily.
As soon as I can find the links for rectangle trampoline suppliers that sell to we regular folk I’ll post them, but be prepared for the sticker shock…a good trampoline is SPENDY…but theoretically less so in ER bills than the round ones. Certainly true in my case…
Lower ER bills are a good thing.
My daughter has managed not to go to the ER yet as a patient (dragged along with twin brother who was sick when they were both being breastfed is another story), and I’d like to keep it that way as long as possible.
Good thing I saw this post before we bought the trampoline—-there are a lot of the blue round ones that I’ve see at Toys R Us in our neighborhood and I want to get Charlie the best one we can.
http://www.theamericangym.com/products7.asp?id=50
There’s where I’m considering getting my trampoline, probably the one that can be put inground but I’m not sure yet. The 7×14 one since that’s competition size. Note the sticker shock. But at least I KNOW I can stay in the middle! We’re debating if it’s cheaper to dig a pit or get mats for it, since every once in a while I do something dumb and bounce off the front or back.
I can find the blog entry on trampolines too, if y’all want. It was on the gymnasticscoaching.com blog. I don’t agree with the guy on everything, but they actually did a STUDY on trampolines, the things coaches study are unreal. Like the guy did a whole video on jumping from low bar to high bar…which sounds like a nothing skill but is harder than it sounds…
http://gymnasticscoaching.com/?p=1097#comments
That’s the blog entry on trampoline shapes. It also has a link to another supplier but I don’t recall where they are (I was looking at something else and clicked the trampoline category since I was there). It also explains the cost differential and stuff…
Thank! I have to get a net too—