Trampoline dodgeball
If you grew up with a trampoline in the backyard, or played on one at school or camp, you can probably still recall the sensation of giddy weightlessness that accompanied each bounce. Did you ever dream about what it would be like to bounce on a trampoline as big as a house?
If so, then welcome home.
We filmed this week's story at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park near Sacramento, California. Inside a large warehouse they've built a giant walled playing court made up of a series of interlocking trampolines. You sign a health waiver, they give you a safety briefing and special shoes, and you're on your way to trampoline nirvana.
I quickly learned that moving around on the surface of the court requires special skills. Sky Zone president Jeff Platt taught me how to "rounce" ... a combination of running and bouncing that's the most effective way to move around the court.
Soon I was springing off the walls and doing flips, and it didn't take me long to realize that you can burn some pretty serious calories bouncing on a trampoline. Sky Zone's athletic coordinator, Anthony Woods, took me through the basic warm-up, and believe me, it gets your heart pounding!
After the warm-up we moved on to everyone's favorite sport: trampoline dodgeball.
It's just like regular dodgeball, except here you have the option to run up a trampoline wall, throw the ball, fly through the air, and bounce right back for another go-round.
I had a blast. And yeah, I got pegged. A lot. Good thing the dodgeballs are slightly deflated, so they don't pack the full punch. And head shots are illegal, so at least it kept me in the game a little longer!
The only bad thing about the experience was how I felt when I left the court. After spending hours happily bouncing on a trampoline, every step I took back on solid ground seemed heavier, like someone had strapped weights to my ankles.
I found myself wishing that someone would cover the earth in interlocking trampolines. Fortunately, Sky Zone (and its trampoline-park competitors) are working hard to make my dream a reality. Sky Zone currently has six locations across the United States, with more on the way. So forget bringing a professional football team to Los Angeles — get me an L.A. Sky Zone!
One more thing: For my next story, I'm investigating the delicious world of dessert. (Tough gig, huh?) I'm looking for lesser-known desserts that have the potential to one day equal the cupcake's massive popularity. It's a big topic, so I'm going to need a little extra help. If you know of a dessert that's popular in your part of the world, let me know about it in the comment section below, and tell me why you think it has the potential to take on the cupcake.
(And no, I haven't yet joined Team Cake OR Team Pie. Let the lobbying begin!)
