Fitness and fun drive trampoline arena developments in Perth

With trampoline arenas opening across Australia, the growth of trampoline facilities in Western Australia is split between stand-alone venues and fitness clubs offering classes incorporating trampolines into regular routines.

In addition to established gymnastics centres, three trampoline arenas have opened in metropolitan Perth in the past year: Just Jump in Wanneroo, FlipOut in Malaga and Bounce Inc in Cannington.

Each offers multiple interconnected trampolines variously linked with foam pits, jumping pillows, Olympic performance trampolines, long trampolines, angled trampolines, freestyle trampoline walls and free-jumping areas.

Within, participants (primarily children and young adults) can undertake a range of activities, from free jumping, slam ball (a variation on basketball with an emphasis on slam dunking), trampoline-based Dodgeball, Parkour (the French originated extreme obstacle training discipline) and elite sport trampolining.

With the flexibility of the trampolines offering a low impact exercise, several Perth gyms now offer trampoline-based fitness classes.

Epic Lifestyle Gym, in Success, boasts a big gymnastic trampoline, which it says has become a key part of their “culture”.

Personal Trainer Carmen Baxter explains “our clients love the trampoline.

“Getting on it is like being a child again. It’s really popular among a core group of 18 to 20-year-old clients, who take their fitness quite seriously. But it’s a great workout for anyone.”

Murdoch Exercise Science lecturer Brad Wall said trampolining was a “a functional and dynamic exercise”.

Wall added “with the smaller, rebound trampolines the exercise follows the same principles as running and is great for elevating the heartbeat, but because it is lower impact, it’s much gentler on the bones.

“With the larger trampolines, there is the opportunity for quite an intense burn.”

Nationally, Sky Zone Director Michael Schreiber is introducing SkyFit, a specially developed trampoline-based fitness program, in new Sky Zone centres – the second of which opens in Brisbane this week.

Schreiber explains “on a trampoline you can burn 1,000 calories an hour in an environment where exercise is disguised as entertainment.”

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