Off-the-wall exercise

Trampoline center keeps customers smiling, in shape

Richard Platt, owner of SkyMania FunCenter, 4915 Steptoe St., does not like to let anyone leave his building without trying out his one-of-a-kind trampoline course.

"I always thought it was amazing but no one cares what I think," Platt said.

Once they try it, most people cannot wipe the smile off their face.

The 130-foot-by-70-foot arena features interconnected trampolines that create a springy surface. There also are trampolines on the walls. Basically any time of day someone is there literally bouncing off the walls.

Aside from just enjoying the course for jumping and having fun, school groups, church groups, business groups and individuals use it to play 3-D dodgeball, for birthday parties, for corporate team building and for aerobics classes.

SkyMania FunCenter was a byproduct of what started out as a new sport. Sky Zone, a sport played on an all-trampoline course, premiered in Las Vegas in 2004. The sport and the course created for play are so unique, both are patented.

Sky Zone, the sport, has become a popular intramural offering at UNLV. Jeff Wells, director of campus recreation services, said he first offered the sport in the fall of 2004. Over 250 people participated. Wells said the school also offered 3-D dodgeball, played on the Sky Zone course, in spring of this year. It also was popular, attracting 160 participants.

That's an excellent response, especially for a new sport, he said. Both Sky Zone and 3-D dodgeball will be offered in the coming year as well through UNLV.

Wells heard about the sport through word of mouth and a call from Platt. After a demonstration and some instruction, Wells knew he wanted to offer it to students. He enjoys the sport himself.

"I found it to be not only enjoyable but good exercise," he said.

He and Platt both would like to see SkyMania used more by everyone as a way to fight obesity. The fun aspects of the course have a way of disguising the health benefits.

"You can go to a lot of places that are healthy but none of them are fun," Platt said.

SkyMania is both, he said.

Doing just about any exercise while on a trampoline makes it even more beneficial than it would be on another surface, Wells said. A participant's heart rate goes up almost immediately after stepping on the course.

"You get the benefit of full impact but with low impact," Platt said.

Everyone involved acknowledges there is some risk to using the course, as with any sport. SkyMania FunCenter manager Joseph Steinhiser said there have been a handful of injuries at the facility of the type generally associated with trampolines -- broken and sprained ankles. Everyone has to sign a waiver before they can go on the course. Steinhiser said he and his team try to keep the course in top condition, inspecting it each morning, usually replacing a couple of individual springs each day. And there are court monitors who watch the jumpers and make sure they obey safety rules.

Wells said insurance and risk management specialists reviewed the sport before allowing UNLV to offer it. They approved it even though there are some risks for injury.

"What it becomes then is personal choice," Wells said.

And for those who use the course, for the formal sports and for general exercise and fun, the benefits outweigh any risks.

Sandy Muldrow was watching her daughters and son jump at SkyMania on July 29. She said her entire family has enjoyed the course multiple times.

"They love it and it's good exercise," Muldrow said.

Platt said a trainer once brought some ultimate fighters to SkyMania with the specific goal of humbling them. It worked.

"In 15 minutes they were half dead. In 30 minutes they were done, and they're in world class shape," Platt said.

Some of the ultimate fighters still train there.

SkyZone also has been added as a sport to the Las Vegas Corporate Challenge, a kind of Olympics for employees of various companies.

The concept of the trampoline-style workout has been popular in other fields as well.

"NASA's been using rebound exercise almost throughout its existence," Wells said.

Someone else actually had the original idea for Sky Zone and he and Platt met accidentally through a mutual friend. With the inventor's blessing Platt has built up the sport and the course to what it is today.

Platt wants to build courses similar to SkyMania in other parts of Las Vegas and the world. The current location is only the beginning, considered less exciting compared to what is planned for the future locations.

"This is our Model T Ford," he said.

The price for open jumping is between $7.50 and $8.50 per hour. The course is open from 10 a.m. to midnight most days. For more information, log on to www.skymaniafuncenters.com or call 436-6887.