Zorbing – A New Way to Roll with PVC
GREERTON, New Zealand, Aug. 26, 2010 — In 1994, enterprising inventors thought outside the box by climbing into a big, inflatable plastic ball. Zorbing, a new recreational activity, was born, using PVC.
Andrew Akers and Dwayne van der Sluis developed the first orb in Auckland, New Zealand, designed for people to jump inside and roll around and down hills. The 11-foot transparent sphere is constructed from more than 300 square feet of material, with over 1,000 small plastic anchors and hundreds of multi-colored strings.
Since it was first developed, David Akers and Chris Roberts joined the business, and zorbing sites have been created at ski areas and hills all over the world.
Designed to hold one or two riders at a time, the ball contains harnesses with several attachment points to secure the rider to the inside wall. Their web site promotes the experience as “hilarious, mysterious, and variously delirious,” which will “swallow you whole and spit you out a cleaner, sparklier person.”
In 2007, Andrew, David, and Chris left the original company and formed OGO. David also invented Fishpipe, billed as both the world’s shortest and longest water slide, and an opportunity to go for a run, take a shower, wash your clothes, and go body surfing simultaneously. Up to three riders can enter the 10-foot high Fishpipe, then 20 gallons of water are added to it, and the egg-shaped barrel is spun at up to 45 revolutions per minute. The water creates a slippery surface so riders continually slide inside the ball. A 90-second ride at that speed is equivalent to sliding 1,150 feet.
The Fishpipe has a zippered door hole that closes securely to prevent riders from falling out, and an air hole at one end to provide riders fresh air. A heating system can be added to provide warm water for cooler weather.
Zorbing has been promoted on MTV’s “Road Rules,” “The Amazing Race” television competition, at the Burning Man festival and Peter Gabriel concerts, and most recently on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” where in July the talk show host climbed in and took the ball for a short spin on the stage.
David Akers of Outdoor Gravity NZ Ltd. noted all of their Fishpipes and some of the OGO balls are made from PVC. He stated, “The qualities of PVC which we like are the excellent clarity, UV stability, water resistance, and tear strength, as well as the ability to
retrofit weld and glue.”
For more information, go to www.theogo.com and www.thefishpipe.com
The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC/vinyl resin in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC/vinyl products to society.
For more information on The Vinyl Institute, contact:
Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
571-970-3327
jpalmer@vinylinfo.org
Also go to: www.vinylindesign.com, www.vinylinfo.org, and www.achievegreen.net.