Yeah, sounds like a great moment. Jumping stilts that will take you six feet into the air and allow you to run at over 20 miles per hour.
And it is. Until someone gouges his eye out.
OK, yes, that’s the standard phrase. But safety and careful handling (don’t try to jump onto the roof the first time!) are important to getting the most out of your stilt jumps.
Protection is where to start, and yes, that means a helmet and pads. Look for a multisport helmet, the kind worn by skaters, for comfort, and consider padding for the wrists, elbows, and knees.
Get a helper the first time you try to stand up and walk. Not many people can do it alone the first time (and you know you’re special, but this is a good place to play it safe) and a friend can help you while you adjust to how to balance on stilts. Use them as crutches as you take those first steps. It is not as easy as it looks!
Once you’ve mastered your balance, try walking on your own. (Keep your friend nearby as a spotter in case he misheard!) Keep your feet as straight as possible to prevent the springs from snagging each other, and avoid raising your knees too high. Relax as you go so you can more easily regain your balance.
Now it’s time to run. Yes! Practice is key here because you want to keep your balance so your legs don’t hit each other. Start by walking faster and faster to make running easier. (Get comfortable. Don’t try to go 20 miles per hour the first time!) Relax your legs and let the springs do the work; that will make each jump a bit longer, which will cover ground faster. Pick up those legs so they don’t catch on anything! Falling at that speed, it’s not that much fun.
Jump jump! After all, this is the coolest part of having jumping stilts. And now that you’ve mastered the execution part, you’re ready to move on to the next step. Two steps, actually as there are two ways to jump.
Start by hopping on one foot, as if you were running by pushing up instead of forward. Stand in one spot and hop from foot to foot to get used to finding the sweet spot for the most bounce. This is easier than jumping on two feet, which can throw you off balance. But you’ll want to progress to two feet because that’s when you’ll get the most height. Stand still, press down as you bend your legs, then stop to regain your balance. Did you get it? Try doing it several times in a row, working your way up to progressively higher jumps.
Well, you’re going to fall somewhere when trying these steps. Walking, running, jumping will also mean falling on occasion. (Hence, the first step: protection!) The easiest way to get up after a fall is to have your friend help you. If you kept them close. Otherwise, you will need some kind of support to get up. The added height of the jump stilt makes it more difficult to get your feet under you to stand up.
Follow these six steps to becoming a proficient stilt jumper and you’ll be on your way to some great jumping times!
