Bounce away to your heart's content

Over 100 trampolines with 12,000 springs provide unlimited fun at Bounce Free Jumping Revolution at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi. -Photo by Ryan Lim

Jumping on a mattress as hard and as high as the heart desires with no mom to tell you off! This is no longer just a fantasy, it is a reality in Abu Dhabi.
Bounce, the long awaited trampoline and other fun activity facility opened in Marina Mall here on Wednesday. Over a 100 trampolines with 12,000 springs have been installed in the 3,500 square meters area.
"We have standard and performance trampolines," said Doran Davies, Chief Operation Officer of Bounce Middle East. For the performance ones we have a height restriction of minimum 125 centimetres, the height of a normal seven-year-old. However, children as young as three years can use the standard trampolines." At the other end of the spectrum there is no age limit and. According to Davies, there was even a 70-years-old man on the trampolines in Bounce Dubai.
Licensed by the Australian 'mother' company, Bounced Middle East was created by Welshman Davies and his Aussie friend Ross Milton.
"Some three and a half years ago Ross said to me he is going to quit his job and start the Bounce company here, and asked me if I wanted to join. I was working in telecommunications in Dubai back then, Ross was in banking, and we both quit our jobs," Davies told Khaleej Times.
"We had to learn construction, real estate, setting up business ... it was very hard work, but I wouldn't change it for the world."
Bounce Dubai became an instant hit with local residents. Is not only fun, but healthy, too. According to a study carried out by NASA, 10 minutes of jumping on the trampoline is equivalent to 30 minutes of running, and it is a better workout. Not only does it keep adults in good shape, but the trampoline bed absorbs the majority of the impact, so bones and joints are protected while exercising, improving general muscle health and core strength.
In January last year, the two partners got a phone call from Marina Mall, asking them to take a look and "do something" with a space in the mall that was initially meant to become a ski slope.
"The ski slope was already built and to build trampolines on it was quite a challenge, but we certainly like challenges," said Davies.
Taking advantage of the ski slope, Bounce built a Superman style zip line that allows people to go head first and a mammoth, 40 metres slide with a 70 degrees incline! Other attractions include the ultimate adrenaline rush, the Quick Drop.
"The Quick Drop is like a leap of faith; you jump off a tower, 20 metres high. There is a harness that slows you down, so you land safely, but to start with, the jump feels like a free fall," explained Davies.
Some 30 per cent bigger than the facility in Dubai, Bounce Abu Dhabi also includes two dodgeball courts, two giant airbags that allow jumpers to "land" on safely, a 5.5 metres high Infinity Wall for aspiring wall runners and five private rooms for parties and other events.
Opening hours are 10am to10pm weekdays and 10am to midnight on Thursdays and Fridays. Entrance is Dh80 per person, for one hour.
silvia@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi