Are jumping stilts, the newest extreme sports equipment, extremely dangerous? One look at these radical new types of stilts will give any parent a twinge of fear for his “baby,” that’s almost a given. “Not my son!” can be a fairly typical parental reaction after seeing jumping stilts for the first time. Anything that has a person standing 18 inches taller on what look like very small “hooves” at the end of very long springs just can’t be safe, right? And any parent on vacation put up a Google search to find out what Johnny meant by “jumping stilts.” On your yes-I-really-was-a-good-guy list you’ll find those wacky YouTube videos of crazy youngsters flipping, flying, and bouncing through the urban landscape like crazy maniacs without wearing helmets, pads, or even shirts.

So seriously, who would believe that this wild new extreme sport is safe?

It turns out, oh nervous father, that the extreme gaze of the jumping stilts does not translate into extreme danger. Yes, you can breathe a sigh of relief now… ugh…

Here’s why: The inventor, German aerospace engineer Alexander Boeck, thought long and hard about the design of these crazy-looking stilts, and designed them so that when you’re strapped into them and standing upright, the stilt’s hooves are directly below your natural center of gravity. That turns out to be even better than those silly regular stilts we all tried as kids that made you feel wobbly because your center of gravity was on the inside of the stilt, making walking on them uncomfortable. Most people who try jumping stilts find that they are surprisingly very comfortable and balanced on the stilts.

But, says the concerned parent, what about the fact that my son can now bounce down the road anywhere and since he can now jump up to six feet high, well, that’s a long way to fall?

It’s a fair point, dear father, and that’s why all the pundits in the sport say “wear your safety gear, no exceptions!” and “never try tricks on stilts that you haven’t tried in a gym!” In fact, most bockers (as jumping stilt users call themselves after the inventor) will tell you that their safety gear (a helmet, as well as wrist, elbow, and knee pads) has saved them from scrapes. and bruises more than once. , and they wouldn’t go fucking without them. They also know how to learn their tricks without stilts first, on a trampoline or gymnastic spring floor, and even then, use mats when they first try those same new tricks on stilts.

Think about 25 years ago, remember how crazy snowboarding seemed? Do you realize how normal it seems to be now? Hmm…could it be that new sports always seem more dangerous just because they’re new?

Do injuries happen to bockers? Honestly, yes, and usually, it’s because they were pushing their limits (and they knew it) or they didn’t put on their safety gear. Gravity will always win if you try to cheat. The bottom line is that, like any extreme sport, the equipment itself is no more dangerous than a baby bunny. It’s how you use the gear that determines the level of danger and potential injury, and with the right protective gear and following a few common sense rules, Johnny will be as safe as possible while experiencing the thrill of the world as a trampoline. in his new bocks that he received as a holiday present this year.