Are Fly Jumpers an extreme sport?
Posted by zocalo on March 8, 2009
Taking the world by storm is one of the newest extreme sports to appear in the sporting world: jumping stilts. The sport is presently gaining backing all over the world as one of the most advanced and adventurous activities one can perform. Also called powerbocking after its inventor, Alexander Bock, these adjustable stilts allow the user to perform fast-paced and incredible acts of jumping and running.
Lots of people compare the activities to those of individuals who traverse urban structures by running and vaulting. For the uniformed, this new sport is simply like fads such as Frisbee golf and handball. But to the sophisticated user, these devices permit an individual to perform some of the most amazing feats of acrobatics ever seen. Although there are a number of professional types, the most popular companies are those that are geared towards the hobbyist.
Flying Locust, Skyrunner, Powerriser and 7 League Boots are a few of the most popular companies selling economic models. Because there are still copyright issues from the original invention by Alexander Bock, many of these companies either pay proceeds to the inventor or are deemed illegal in many nation. The pattern of the jumping stilts includes a foot pad that offers a snowboard-style fastener to keep the user’s foot in place. This pad is placed on top a foot-plate that is connected to a fiberglass leaf spring.
By applying their own weight, a jumping stilt-user can jump and maneuver nearly 1.5 meters from the ground and run up to 32 km/h. The distance between steps is also an awe-inspiring 9 feet. The invention allows the use of the human energy that is normally wasted on a daily basis. As individuals walk, the foot is contracted muscle force and brought back down because of gravity. This causes the spring to accumulate that energy and pushes the body back up into the air. Jumping stilts are made from strong metal springs that utilize a person’s natural muscle strength. They include strong plastic buckle straps for safety and comfort and feature adjustable height to fit a variety of leg lengths.
In regards to health benefits, jumping stilts allow for a strong cardiovascular workout and promotes furthering leg strength. These inventions typify the best in speed and power for those curious about extreme sports. By allowing its users to perform awesome athletic feats, many of the world’s extreme athletes have become interested in the invention. Racing at incredible speeds and jumping and hopping higher than humanly normal have made every one who loves excitement to pay attention. They have been featured in commercials, concerts and halftime shows in sports. A small core of individuals have also begun to work in a professional and semi-professional way at sporting events worldwide. Jumping stilts have become one of the newest extreme sports on the planet.
