it's a weird world we're living in...

[alexr_rwx]

- There's a new sport out there, possibly called PowerBocking, which involves bouncing around on these springy stilts. Like bouncing on a trampoline, with no trampoline! Names haven't quite settled out for the activity or the stilts yet, but I'm going to go ahead and weigh in that I like "bocks" for the equipment and "bocking" for the activity.

I'm super-pumped about this. I'll have to see about getting a pair. I saw a fellow doing this in Lake Tahoe, but it seems like it's biggest in Germany and the UK.

General information
Freestyle video with some cool flipping and questionable musical taste
These guys have been practicing. (also: apropos music!)
Little kid bouncing around.

- Also from the UK: Gelli Baff! Making bafftime a magical adventure with sticky goo! (don't worry, Gelli Baff is safe and easy to use! Gelli Baff won't stain carpets or clothes!) (thank you, boingboing)

Comments

[gtv42.livejournal.com]

I've seen similar stilts developed for military use that incorporate some type of compression-ignited fuel and a piston system on each leg, so that they act as springy stilts most of the time, but when you start really running, you activate a power boost.

I also have nightmarish daydreams in which I try to walk on a pair of these and end up falling face-down from a height of 8 feet. Or falling down stairs. I honestly cannot imagine myself not getting a concussion.

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they look really dangerous! I've only seen one video that includes somebody busting, but that doesn't mean that when you're learning you don't fall a lot. Or more likely they just choose not to include the crashes in the video... (on the other hand, it does seem oddly stable? ...)

And holy crap. Running augmented with explosions. We gotta get some of that.