Gettin’ high at Rockin’ Jump

GETTING AN unexpected extra bounce in its already soaring international reputation, Bangkok is now home to the first overseas branch of Rockin’ Jump, the American chain of trampoline parks. Healthy and a whole lot of fun, free-style bouncing on a trampoline is the city’s latest kinetic attraction, drawing aspiring aerialists to the site next to Central Rama III on Rama III Road.
The original Rockin’ Jump trampoline park opened in California in 2010 and operations have spread across the United States, with 150 branches so far. The Bangkok venture, its first foray abroad, is franchised to Chutilak Phanichewa and her family, who invested more than Bt60 million remodelling an existing building as a trampoline arena.
“My children and I visited the Rockin’ Jump in California five years ago and we really enjoyed ourselves,” Chutilak says. “It’s very popular with youngsters in the US, so I was inspired to bring it to Bangkok. I want to encourage young Thais to exercise more, and we’re offering a new kind of family hangout where there are no limits on playtime for the kids.”

You can ask her how business is, but she won’t go along with the old joke and say, “Up and down.” In fact business is up and up. Queues for some of the trampoline areas aren’t uncommon.
No special skills are required for jumping up and down, Chutilak points out with a laugh. But the activity is good for the health, especially the heart. It helps young children grow in height and adults can burn off 1,000 calories an hour – a better return on time invested than running on a treadmill.
The 1,500-square-metre facility is bright and colourful in pops of green, orange, red and silver. Fun and cleanliness are important, but safety is the topmost priority as customers gleefully bound around out on the 100 trampolines, all imported from the US. 
You need to buy slip-resistant Rockin’ socks and you’re encouraged to watch a quick video offering professional tips on the best way to bounce. Yes, there are professional trampoline artists, so pay attention.
The building also has several function rooms ideal for private parties and workshops, and a cafe where you can enjoy simple homey dishes and snacks and desserts.
The Foam Pit playground has three rows of springy trampolines where youngsters and other rookies hone their skills under the watchful eyes of trained staff. They learn to flip in the air and land in a sea of extra-soft foam cubes, steadily gaining confidence in rushes of adrenaline.
“We pay strict attention to safety and cleanness,” Chutilak says. “We use an herbal cleanser to keep the equipment free from bacteria and the Foam Pit is anti-bacteria and fire proof to make sure no one has a hard landing.”

In the Dodgeball Arena, two teams of eight players each are hurling the ball back and forth while continuously bouncing on trampolines. 
“It’s a great way to improve your agility,” Chutilak says. “And you can reserve the area for a private tournament – for a birthday party, for example.”
In the SlamDunk Arena you can pretend you’re a basketball pro hammering baskets that are set at different heights, leaping higher and higher from your springy base.
The super-elastic trampolines in the sprawling Open Jump zone are the big draw for experienced jumpers who can do more acrobatic moves, but beginners are in there too, with staff members showing them how to jump from one pad to another and do forward and back flips 

“We have classes in trampoline aerobics every Wednesday and gymnastics every Thursday and Friday that are great for burning off calories and enhancing your flexibility,” Chutilak says. “And anyone who wants to learn how to do butt bounces, knee bounces and back bounces can arrange private lessons with a certified coach.” 
The TripWire is a dazzling interactive maze game using hi-tech lasers, straight out of an action spy movie. In a relatively small room criss-crossed with laser beams (non-lethal in this case, of course), players have to complete a series of missions that test their speed and agility. 
Meanwhile, back on Earth, customers are regaining their land legs in the dining area. The homemade Apple Pie Toast is a treat, with slices of bread layered in sliced red and green apple, cream cheese and cinnamon and served with Hokkaido ice cream and maple syrup. 
That and the Red Velvet Lava, sandwiches, salads, coffee and fruity smoothies will make you forget about the bouncing for a while. 

 
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>> Rockin’ Jump is on Rama III Road next to Central Rama III and open weekdays from |2 to 8pm and weekends |from 10am to 8. 
>> A one-hour session costs Bt350. A monthly pass valid through February 28 is Bt2,500. 
>> Other options are Unlimited Jump for Bt350, good for Mondays and Tuesdays, Rockin Robics classes at Bt600 (Bt5,500 for 11 sessions) and Rockin’ Gymnastics classes at Bt600 to Bt10,000. 
>> Book a visit in advance at (02) 212 0222. Have a look at Bangkok.RockinJump.com.