What’s the first thing you would think if you saw a giant inflatable ball rolling down a hill uncontrollably? Oh yeah, and there’s a person stuffed inside of it. No, it’s not the craziest spring break story involving a beach ball ever, it’s actually called zorbing. It may look like something that would belong in a scene from The Hangover, but people pay good money to get tossed around like clothes in a dryer and for good reason.
Zorbing looks to me like it could be one of the best things to do in the world. Kids will tell you how much fun rolling down a hill is, but if I remember anything from my childhood it’s that sticks, rocks and other such nouns can put a major damper on that fun. Leave it up to the Kiwis down under to solve that problem and bring us an invention as brilliant as this. New Zealand can already be thanked for bungee jumping and now zorbing… makes me excited to see what they will come up with next.
If you decided to go for a little tumble there are a few different ways you can do it. The first is with a harness. Some zorb balls can strap in up to three people though most will be for two. This way will keep you attached to the walls so you get turned upside down and every which way the ball decides to roll. Another way is with the rider sitting free with water inside the ball so you slip and slide all over the place as the ball is hurling downhill. And last but not least is the plain old fashioned “here jump inside this big ball and we’ll push you downhill” technique. This way you will be flipping and flopping and left up to the mercy of physics. I’m sure whichever way you go it will be outstanding. My plan is to someday try all three and test out which is best.
How much a ride will cost you is going to depend on how you want to ride and where you are. One place I looked at it was around $40. If you’re looking for a place to go it doesn’t matter what corner of the world you’re in there are places in a bunch of different countries. Or you could just buy a zorb for yourself for around $3,000. Some places in the U.S. are in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Massachusetts and I’m sure there are more. If you’re 100% dead set on going just do quick online search in your area. Happy zorbing, I’ll see ya out there!
If you’re 100% dead set on going just do quick online search in your area. Happy zorbing, I’ll see ya out there!