Zorbing

I remember when I was a kid and I used to have a hamster as a pet. I am always intrigued each time it started playing its hamster ball and wondered what if I’d be the one inside that cute little thing. Well guess what? It’s totally possible!

I just recently found out about this sport that reminded me of my hamster’s activity. It’s called Zorbing! I can guarantee you that this is indeed exciting!

Now what I wanted to highlight, is that Zorbing is not only available in the countryside which is what most people instantly think. It is also available in London! This means that your weekend in the capital city can be much more than sightseeing, as it can also be made into a bit of an adventure weekend as well. Of course you will need somewhere to stay and we recommend that you have a look at hotels in Bloomsbury as we found it to be a great location and close to all the major attractions!

Zorbing is a game that you will need to be inside an orb that is usually made of plastic and will still enable you to see what’s going on outside. This game is done on a slope that is gentle enough for the orb to roll such as on a hill. But in case a hill is not available, other alternatives could be slopes made of wood or ramps out of metal.

There are two ways on how to participate on Zorbing. One is harnessed and the other is non-harnessed. The orbs on the non-harness category will carry three riders. On the other hand, the harnessed category can have one to two riders inside it. There is however another one, which is called the double-harnessed orbs. This one has a different slope to follow and can only be done on locations specifically made for this.

Most people would consider this as an extreme sport. This is perfect if you want to overcome your fear of claustrophobia. You’re going to have a real fun time once you try it and enjoy going downhill inside a giant hamster ball! If you’re adventurous enough, I’d say that you go for the one that will allow you to move freely inside. There are orbs that will limit your movement inside because of the straps involve. I say go for the strapless orb!

Zorbing started in New Zealand specifically in Rotorua and has been established by two cool people- David and Andrew Akers. Now it’s been played in many parts of the world especially in Europe. It is usually done at commercial locations and you get to pay a fee that will cover a whole day’s itinerary.

For some countries, zorbing is also known as Hill-Rolling. European countries such as England, Scotland, Wales, North Ireland, Sweden and many more have been doing this right now! Asian countries like Japan, India, and Thailand are already participating on this activity as well.

If you’re in the United States, then don’t worry because this is also played at the following states: Wisconsin, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Zorbing facilities are also a great idea for business as you market those extreme sports enthusiasts along with tourists from all over the globe.

The materials use for this game has been released since the 70s. These giant hamster balls are perfectly safe for this activity so there’s nothing to worry about.

So the next time you plan of doing something really new for an outdoor game, try Zorbing and experience the fun those little hamsters are doing inside their orbs. Dare to “zorb out” and go downhill with these giant hamster balls!