21 Fascinating Facts about Trampolines & A Jump Park You Have To See To Believe

Trampolines have become popular again and today trampoline parks can be found in most major cities around the world, as well as in caves (more of that later). And it’s easy to see why people are jumping up and down with excitement.

The thing with a trampoline is that it’s not only fun, it’s also really good for you. People of all ages can benefit from a few 10-minute sessions a week, or have a blast playing games like extreme dodgeball, basketball slam dunks, and of course everybody’s favorite, popcorn. The craze is taking over and we don’t see it dying down anytime soon.

Keen to find out more about trampolines? We’ve got a whole bunch of fun facts for you. Plus we show you a jump park that will give you serious FOMO.

Fun facts about trampolines that you definitely didn’t know

1. According to (urban) legend, the first trampoline was invented by a French guy called du Trampoline, but if you do a little research you’ll realize he was friends with Otto Titzling and Philippe de Brassiere, two people who never actually existed.
2. The very first trampoline was, in fact, invented and built by George Nissen and Larry Griswold way back in 1936, in George’s garage. We’re assuming he didn’t test it out in there.
3. While he might not have tested the trampoline out in his garage, George did hire a kangaroo once to show off his invention in Central Park. This brings us to our next fact.

George Nissen rented a kangaroo to demonstrate his trampoline in Central Park. (Nissen Family)

4. Did you know a kangaroo was the very first animal to jump on a trampoline alongside its inventor in New York in 1965?
5. The word trampoline originates from “El Trampolin”, which is Spanish for “diving board”.
6. Speaking of languages, trampolining has its very own language with words like “puck”, “rudolph”, “barani” and “kaboom”.
7. Back to George Nissen. In 1977 he sponsored a group of American athletes on a trip Egypt. It was to promote the trampoline (and gymnastics) but George took advantage of his surroundings and trampolined on top of a pyramid. Before you ask, the top was flattened.

8. Trampolining, according to NASA, is better than jogging (we have to agree) and apparently only 10 minutes on a trampolines burns as many calories as a 30-minute jog, but with less stress on your joints and ligaments.
9. Exercise sessions on a trampoline improve your core strength and improves your balance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trampolining is categorized as a moderate level of exercise, which means it’s in the same group as gymnastics, light yoga, and calisthenics.

10. Navy seals, as part of their pilot training, made use of trampolines during WWII (1939-1945). Besides strengthening the body, they also simulated the sensation of flight. Astronauts, 73 years later, use trampolines to prepare for their space missions as it helps them prepare for space travel. They are also used afterward to help them recuperate.
11. Trampoline competitions officially started in 1954, but unofficial ones were happening in 1947 in the United States.
12. Trampolining as an Olympic sport was recognized fairly recently, in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics. However, the first Trampoline World Championships were held way back in 1964 in London at the Royal Albert Hall.

13. Olympic trampolinists compete in the individual event. However, other competitions have pairs competing in the synchronized event.
14. Brothers Sean, Eric and TJ Kennedy set the Guinness World Record in New York in 2014 for the highest trampoline bounce by a team, ever. They managed to reach a height of 22 ft 1in.
15. Believe it or not but the world record for the most somersaults in a row is 3,333! This was achieved by Brian Hudson, a Brit in Gillingham on 18 September 2003.
16. In Singapore, on 8 July 2017 members of the Geylang Serai Community Sports Club broke the record for the most people on trampolines at the same time. There were 376 people participating but one was disqualified when paused for a selfie, so the record sits at 375.

17. The current record for the most backflips on a trampoline is 49. That works out to almost one flip per second. There’s a chance another record was set, but that would have been due to a queasy stomach.
18. The most backflips in a row on a unicycle (don’t even ask) is two! That’s two too many in our opinion.
19. It turns out Bill Gates has a trampoline room in his house. There’s more than enough space to bounce because the ceiling is apparently 20 feet high.



20. It seems the entire world is going crazy for trampolines. There are more than 700 indoor trampoline parks worldwide, which may make trampolining one of the fastest growing segments in the family leisure industry.
21. According to lyrics.com there are 16 albums with the word “trampoline” in the title and 259 songs that have the word in the lyrics.

So we know everyone’s jumping for joy at trampoline parks all around the world. But how’s this for the most out-of-this-world (or rather under-the-world) jump park?

Zip World Caverns’ Bounce Below is an indoor park that’s buried underground in a cave that’s over 175 years old!  The park opened in 2015 and quickly became somewhat of a phenomenon. Situated in North Wales, in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Bounce Below boasts, amongst other things, three giant trampolines in a cave that’s twice the size of St Pauls Cathedral.

There are walkways, slides (of which one is 60 feet deep) and tunnels all over. The trampolines are between 20, 60, and 80 feet of the ground, along with dangling bridges (not bouncy ones thank goodness) and 15 zip lines.

There you have it – 21 fascinating facts about trampolines you might not have known. Feel free to throw these around at the next dinner party you attend or share your very own “did you know” titbits with us right here.