Trampolines – Weird & Wonderful Facts Trampolines are amongst the nations favourite sporting hobbies but there are many little known facts surrounding them that may come as a surprise to their fans. Prepare for the weird and wonderful world of trampolines. Trampolines not only have disputed origins with some crediting Inuit’s and others a trapeze artist by the name of Du Trampolin. However, trampolines, as they are officially recognised today are accepted to have been devised by George Nissen. Trampolines – Top 8 Weird & Wonderful Facts Trampolines Fact # 1 – The 2005 version of the Guinness Book of Records includes a category for the longest slam dunk of a basketball from someone bouncing on a trampoline. Trampolines Fact # 2 – The Gillingham Jumpers, a trampolining club from Kent, is the largest known trampoline club in the world. They have 1500 members using their trampolines every week. Trampolines Fact # 3 – The Mexican word “el trampolino” meaning ‘diving board’ was just one of the phrases in common usage that was once actually trademarked as “trampoline”. Trampolines Fact # 4 – The first Gold Medal for trampolining as an Olympic event occurred in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics and was awarded to the Russian, Irina Karavaeva. The creator of the trampoline, George Nissen, was there to witness this historic event at the age of 86. Trampolines Fact # 5 – A famous photo depicting the creator of trampolines, George Nissen, on one of his creations with a supposedly tame kangaroo could only be accomplished by Nissen holding the creature’s front paws whilst they were bouncing to prevent the animal from kicking him. Trampolines Fact # 6 – In 1986, a trampolining team from an American University set a Guinness World Record by bouncing for 53 continuous days on a trampoline. The later received a call from then President, Ronald Reagan, to congratulate them. Trampolines Fact # 7 – Trampolines have become synonymous with extreme sports by teaming up with bungee jumping to create the hybrid known as bungee trampolining. This consists of wearing a harness attached to bungee cord rigging that allows for extra high bounces from the trampoline’s surface. Trampolines Fact # 8 – Judy Willis Cline was the first world champion on the trampoline. Cline held a total of 10 world titles for trampolining, tumbling and synchronised trampolining. Speak To Sport & Leisure UK About Their Trampolines Sport & Leisure UK Ltd is an established sports retail business renowned for providing quality products to private customers for the lowest prices. Offering everything from exercise bikes to trampolines, Sport & Leisure UK is delighted to provide a price promise to their customers and is dedicated to offering the best deals on sporting goods on the market. For more information on the products and services provided by Sport & Leisure UK, simply call 01444 253963 or email sales@sportandleisureuk.com. Click here for more articles on trampolines.