About the inventor:
We have Mr. Boeck to thank for inventing these stilts. Alexander Boeck (pronounced Bock) is a German inventor and the creation of the jumping stilt was based on his extensive research into the walking and running movements of the kangaroo. The stilt developed and evolved over time to mimic the techniques of the finds. and offers the end user unlimited possibilities. Powerbock is a general term used for the equipment needed for Powerbocking / Pro-Jumping and is named after the original inventor and patent holder (US Patent No. 6,719,671 B1) The Powerbock (often referred to as Pro-Jump or Poweriser to name a few) is a spring-in-one jump boot/stilt that has a foot plate with snowboard-type bindings and curved fiberglass springs attached to the base, so when you press your feet down, the pressure of your weight creates gravitational energy. Super-charged integral springs push back to harness this energy, giving you the ability to jump to incredible heights and sprint at incredible speeds. It is widely recognized within the sport that once you get the hang of it you can run as fast as 20 mph and jump 6 feet high!
Benefits of Pro-Jumping / Powerbocking:
Jumping stilts are not only fun to use, they also provide health benefits that become apparent once you start using them. I brought my stilts from Pro-Jump.co.uk and when told they will provide a cardio workout even with moderate use and will tone and exercise my legs, waist, hips, stomach, back, arms and shoulders. all to varying degrees, I just thought it was their sales pitch, BUT it’s true! In the 2 months that I have been using them, not only do I feel fitter, but I have also managed to lose a stone in weight and all my friends stay. I look much fitter, and have only been wearing them for less than half an hour a day. The stilts were also featured in the Daily Mail, where they did a full workout routine on them and compared them to a fun alternative to yoga. A quote from the Daily Mail “They come with a host of health benefits, from helping you lose weight to strengthening your core muscles and lowering cholesterol. It also burns more calories in less time than running, and the springs cushion your joints.” of running-associated injuries, such as stress fractures and leg cramps.
As seen on TV and the growing popularity of the Pro-Jumping/Powerbocking sport:
In December 2006, Pro-Jump stilts were shown on national television when a member of the Pro-Jump display team showed off a pair on the Jonathan Ross show. On February 7, two brothers, Mikael Lindstrom and Mattias Lindstrom (Swebounce & Hemoves), performed on Graham Norton’s BBC 1 show “When will I be celebrity”. His television appearances have increased the popularity of the sport and new clubs are being formed across the country. Soon you should see Bockers/Pro-Jumpers everywhere! Meeting other enthusiasts is easy by joining community forums like http://www.ProJumpForum.co.uk where you can meet people, view photos and videos. Thanks for reading and watch this space for more articles on this fantastic new sport.