Being One with the Ball

KAYIU WONG
Staff Writer

At first glance, climbing into a large, inflatable ball and rolling down a hill definitely sounds strange. However, those who are in the extreme sports world would jump for a chance to do it. This peculiar sport, called zorbing, means speeding down a grassy slope and the thrill from that is unlike any other.

Although a zorb might sound like an alien from some faraway galaxy, it is actually the plastic sphere that takes ball sports to a whole new level. Riders are strapped inside the zorb against one wall and once released, roll downhill with full momentum. The ball has two layers, thus enabling riders to amusingly bounce and have fun while still being protected from hitting the ground. Another popular aspect of zorbing is hydro zorbing, where buckets of water are added inside the ball around you. Although it is more of a recreational activity, zorbing races are prominent among extreme sports fans.

There are zorbing facilities on all seven continents and in the U.S.; you can even go zorbing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

First created in New Zealand, zorbing began growing popularity in 1998. The zorb has even been selected as the official symbol of the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. In any case, this sport is as unique as it is young and continues to become a worldwide phenomenon for being a simple, yet electrifying experience.