Sure, we'd all love to be able to dunk like Michael Jordan, but most of us would need some technical assistance to achieve that. Well, that assistance has arrived. Bouncing around on jumping stilts (also known as "bocking") is a relatively new extreme sport that's caught on in parts of Europe and Asia.
We can see why. With the help of some seasoned jumpers, Vanessa learned the basics of bocking on some Poweriser (the brand) stilts in just one afternoon. Not content with seeing just simple jumps, we set the bockers loose on the unsuspecting masses Central Park, including one cocky cyclist. The resulting contest — jumping stilts vs. bike — leaves one competitor sucking dirt.
Thanks to CoolThingstoRide.com for providing Vanessa's jumping stilts! Beats the hell out of those pogo sticks….
editor@dvice.com
By murray at 3:28 PM ON 02/12/08
Great report. It really shows how much work is involved in getting the hang of using these things, which you wouldn't know if you just watch the guys who have loads of experience. And (almost) catching that guy wiping out was priceless, because we get to see how bad you can hurt yourself (it looked like he lost a lot of skin - ouch!).
As cool as they are, these things will never be a hit like roller blades because they're just too complex and difficult to use.
By drewdraws2 at 5:33 PM ON 02/12/08
Oh, it made the internet all right chief. Question is, what's more embarrassing - wiping out while "bocking", or bouncing around Central Park wearing these things while insisting that "this will catch on"?
By poch at 7:42 PM ON 02/12/08
Uh, yeah, DON'T give her a helmet to borrow. A cracked skull is gonna make that sport TAKE OFF!
By nygirl at 7:44 PM ON 02/12/08
That was the coolest thing I have ever seen! I love how most New Yorkers weren't even phased by people jumping down the block. I'd like to see a follow up piece after Vanessa has more practice.
By Bill at 10:29 PM ON 02/12/08
Vanessa didn't want to wear the helmet -- and we were ready to catch her.
By Bill at 11:08 PM ON 02/12/08
Let me just elaborate a little further on the helmet issue. Vanessa opted not to initially wear a helmet because we (the guys on stilts) suggested that she didn't need one since she was not going to be walking on her own and we would have a hold on her. She turned out to be a fast learner and was soon walking on her own. At that point, we should have put a helmet on her but got caught up in the filming. Our mistake. But there were always people off camera within arms reach of her if she needed them.
By bmthbloke at 12:00 AM ON 02/13/08
nice clip guys ( Im going str8 out to buy some dove).
I always advice knee,elbow and wrist guards. But quite simple the dynamics of falling on these are this ---yu simply dont fall on your head.
Difficult to use? No just looks it. £0 min and a person should be confidently walking. 3 people in my club after just 5 weeks have started sumasault training on these! Yep front flips, but all safly done and controlled in a gym and onto gymnastic crash mats.
Catch on? Well Ive been in a group of more than 60 trailing through central London, yes crossing ( walking, running jumping and even flipping) some of the busiest ( tho slow moving ) roads in the world. Germany has seen bigger meets. My local club had 17 of us bouncing around my local town a couple of weeks ago. Nope ya dont feel silly, ya feel on top of the world.
And really hope to get over to see you Bill and all this year ( unless I trade up to power skips hehe)
By shakdaddy at 9:38 AM ON 02/13/08
Great to see that word is getting out. Worry not that jumping-stilts will take off. They ARE already taking off! The bockers in New York are truly hard-core. They were doing this when nobody else was and will still be doing it, I imagine, when we get together in masses for our 2008 Bock NYC meet - check www.powerbockresources.com or www.getjumpingstilts.com for details. Hope to see you there!!!!
By Matt at 3:09 PM ON 02/13/08
It was very wet out that day, I remember wiping out on wet granite and then leaves like they were ice! Dry days are much safer, because it's much less likely that i'll wipe out due to a lack of traction.
I can't wait to get out there again, only this time on upgraded springs!
We need to give Vanessa a call in May or June and do a follow up I think. :)
BMTHBLOKE, and SHAKDADDY, we hope to see you in 2008!
By zackgru at 8:04 PM ON 02/13/08
Where can I get a pair of these/
By MATT at 12:43 AM ON 02/14/08
ZACK, you can get them from the following sources:
www.getjumpingstilts.com
www.coolthingstoride.com
www.extremetoysforboys.com
http://xphub.com/
By IsoTek at 6:17 PM ON 02/14/08
You guys (the inventors) should check out the game Portal. The lead character in the game wears devices similar to these.
By Uilleam at 12:49 AM ON 02/15/08
How much of using these relies on body weight? Vanessa is so tiny, and it looked like that was impacting her performance.
By Matt at 9:45 AM ON 02/15/08
ISOTEK, we didn't invent these. Alexander Bock did. Read more about them here:http://www.powerbockresources.com
(Bill Maintains it)
I'll definitely check out portal though!
UILLEAM, they do rely on body weight to some extent, however she was using a brand new pair, and probally weighs barely 100lbs, soaking wet.
The pair she was wearing was within her weight class but it is difficult to make proper use of them on your first go, and until she is able to learn how to put proper momentum into her jumps, she will never get more than a few inches off the ground. You have to fully commit to every jump you make as you put all of your weight and momentum into every jump. It's a full cardiovascular workout, and requires a lot of expended energy.
By Nick at 12:45 PM ON 02/15/08
Hey this is nick, i'm the guy in yellow in the video. That day was quite wet out, so doing big airs was dangrous, but walking around was just fine, we had several people around venessa at all times and she was wearing knee pads and wrist guards, as you usually fall onto your hands and knees if you fall, and with pads you're safe.
As Matt said Venessa was a little under weight for the springs she was on, but with a few days practice would do just fine on them.
And as for portal, those springs are slightly different but its a similar idea. These things have been around long before the game invented in 1999.
For more info and to find other bockers around the world check out www.poweriserpages.com
By Bill at 2:43 PM ON 02/15/08
I probably wouldn't have loaned Vanessa my Powerisers had I know she had toxins and parasites on her feet. Such a sweet girl. Really a shame. ;)
(See prior "High-Tech Detox" video.)
By Bizkit at 6:37 PM ON 02/17/08
why would i buy this product for four hundred when i can go buy a pogo stick for 20 to 40 bucks. now if you put some rocket on that think and fly around central park i would buy it, provide it can lift me.
By Dubulonutn at 12:50 PM ON 02/20/08
Where do I find the Ghost Hunters Devices?
By Bill at 1:58 PM ON 02/24/08
Huh?
By coonass at 5:24 PM ON 02/29/08
Bet the orthopedic surgeons get rich on this little gadget... :-)
By DarthRock at 3:01 PM ON 03/20/08
Pretty cool... But I can see how you could get seriously hurt on these things! Bet it would be fun though.
By Minimee at 11:41 AM ON 04/19/08
Great video !
I got these from www.futomart.com and it seems that time will be needed in order for me to start running like a panter. These stilts are really fun to use !
By Skog at 8:58 PM ON 04/26/08
Can they be adapted to someone that weighs more than 265 pounds? They look like lots of fun and i would purchase them but the specs do allow for 350 pounds. Can the springs be stacked for higher weigh persons?
By Bill at 10:29 AM ON 04/29/08
Well, unfortunately the springs can't be stacked on top of each other in order to accommodate heavier weight - unless you are mechanically inclined and figure out a way to do that with a modified bracket. However, one of the members of the PoweriserPages.com forum has been able to modify his stilts so that each stilt utilizes two side by side springs -- which would probably have the same result you are looking for. You might want to check that out and post any questions regarding that possibility in the forum. You'll find a picture of this modification in the forum's Gallery section.