"Zorb" May 7, 2005 Japanese version is available.

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"A man in a big rolling plastic ball. Looks fun!"
There was such a TV advertisement from Nestle in Japan.
"Is it a kind of extreme sport like a bungee jumping? Then I have to try it, Zorb."

I found that this sport came from New Zealand.
Fortunately there are some Zorb spots in Japan and I decided to visit Akagi highland farm Kronenberg in Gunma prefecture. It is so-called "German Village".
But Zorb wasn't available in winter. I had to wait it for half a year...

Half a year later...

Finally I went to the German Village.

A Zorb was exhibited at the entrance. But why does it come to this German Village? Here is not a New Zealand Village.

This village looks like Germany more than I expected. It was not so crowded before 10 AM although it was Golden Week holidays.

There are many families. And couples visited here to do Zorb. I haven't seen any men in a group except us...

Zorb!

I really wanted to have German beer and sausages but I decided to try Zorb first to be on the safe site.
I don't want to imagine vomiting in the Zorb ball. It must be hell in a mess.

Here is Zorb site on a middle of mountain.

We had to ride this Zorb in 2 people here. No one can ride it alone. It was unexpected because no information at the website.

2 people only.

If you want to have your own doing Zorb picture, you have to ride it separately with your buddy.
But don't worry about it. Staff kindly tries to find another person who wants to ride it with you.
"He is alone! Anybody want to ride it with him? No?"
Unfortunately I had to wait it for 30 minutes and it was so embarrassing for me...
Visit here in more than 3 people if you want your Zorb picture. This is the best way.

Finally I got a boy.

We have to write down our name, address and phone number before Zorb.

RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Zorb ball is little dirty. It wasn't clear ball or shining. I expected more beautiful one like that Zorb website. He isn't washing the ball in this pool. He is moving it to riding area.

Sometime he blows up the Zorb ball like this.

Riding in the Zorb. No shoes.

Sit on a seat cushion and fasten seatbelt and shoulder belt by yourself.

"3, 2, 1" then he push it out.

No fear.

It is not so fast.

Rolling and rolling. I can't recognize which side is top or bottom. When I feel my head sink down into the cushion, I can know "Now upside down". I can't stop laughing in Zorb ball. It's really funny feeling.

Some people slide off the track. Staffs are going!

He bravely charges the Zorb ball to make it correct course but he was bounced from it.

"Ouch!"

Finished. It takes about 20 seconds. I felt dizzy slightly.

Zorb is being carried to the initial place by this rail.

Zorb Again

We got to know the funny feeling of Zorb then we tried it 3 times.
And we thought "Can we force to slide off the track by ourselves? Let's try it!".
Here I want to compare the reaction between general Zorb and 2nd time one.

People "Don't wet in Zorb. Haha!"		We "If we put gravity on one side then push it strongly in Zorb, the ball may move out of the course."

Prepare their seatbelt without saying.		We "I feel we can make it OUT!"

Staff "3, 2, 1"		We "Oooone..."

People Screaming and laughing.		We "Twwwo..."

People Screaming and laughing.		We "Three! Push out!!"

People Screaming and laughing.		We "Again! One, Two, Three!"

People Screaming and laughing.		We "One, Two, Three! Aargh!!!"

People Laughing.		We "Grr! Don't stop here!!"

People "It's so funny!"		We "We couldn't reach to this pond at the bottom of the slope...".

"It's 700 yen for only this! Expensive. Really expensive." We felt little down by his words after Zorb. To be honest, this is 3rd time for us...

German Village

There are some attractions and sports like archery here. So People who expected the Zorb can also enjoy them.

I think family can enjoy them so much. We can take dogs in this village.

German cuisine. It was tasty but no more sausage for several weeks. I ate them too much.

Zorb Recommendation

Zorb isn't such an extreme sport. It is relatively calm sport that adults and kids can enjoy.
There are no speed, or fast and furious gravity change like a roller coaster. No uncomfortable feeling due to impact shock. By contraries, the shock can be a comfortable factor.
We can enjoy the funny rolling feeling that we can never have in other way. It makes you to get high. They are always laughing in the rolling Zorb. When I sat on a seat in Zorb, I started to laugh on 2nd time. My brain knows that coming funny feeling.
I enjoyed it more than I've expected before.
I'd like to try it in the origin, New Zealand. Not Germany.

Are there any other new profitable sports like Zorb?


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