do something crazy.
April 21, 2008
It was raining, and cold, at least according to the locals. I didn’t think it was too bad, but what did I know, I’m just a crazy guy from Canada.
I had just walked barefoot through ankle-deep mud to a four-wheel drive truck with a nasty lift kit, and ridden up to the top of a large hill. I stepped out into the New Zealand winter mist to survey the bumpy hillside below.
As I steeled my nerves for what lay ahead, the guide told me the best way to navigate the course:
“Try to stand up as long as you can, and if you fall, try to get up. You will fall… okay, I want you to jump through the door headfirst, like Superman, then I’ll zip it up behind you. Stand up, and I’ll bang on the back of the ball to let you know you’re good to go. Take two or three really big steps, and keep running. Just remember, you can’t see where you are going.”
About 45 seconds later, I slid back out into the mud, wearing the biggest grin you’ve ever seen, having gone ass over teakettle down the side of the hill inside of a big hamster ball.
Have you ever wanted to do something really crazy? What was it?
Several years ago, I can’t remember exactly when, I saw this crazy thing called a Zorb.
I said to myself, “I’m going to do that.” I looked into it, and learned that (at the time) the only place in the world to do this was New Zealand, where it was invented.
As time passed, I became interested in New Zealand for other reasons, and then in July of 2007, my wife and I vacationed there for two weeks. One of our weekend trips was to a town called Rotorua. The birthplace of the Zorb.
It was the middle of their winter, which really meant that it was not all that unpleasant to me – a little rain from time to time, and temperatures mild enough to only need a light jacket. Certainly not the winters I am accustomed to in Canada… 
The day we arrived at the Zorb park, it was raining.
Well, we had traveled 9,000 miles and I wasn’t about to miss the chance to do something crazy because of a little rain.
So, off came the shoes, up to the top of the big hill, and into the Zorb with a whole bunch of warm water.
I had a dream to do something crazy.
And I did it.
Do you dream of doing something crazy?
Get out there and do it.
Have you already done something crazy?
Share it with the world.
Hey Brett !
That Zorb thing looks fun ! I wouldn’t do it for all the gold in the world though, I’d be sick in a second lol
Most of the craziest stuff I did is related to my husband and traveling. First I joined him on vacation on the other side of France, although I’d only known him for 2 weeks, and been going out with him for 1 week ! Apparently that went well, we’re still together after 7 years
Then we went to Japan for 3 weeks, 5 years ago. Picture this : I hate plane, I knew nothing about Japan, and I hated sushi. But I did it, and I LOVED it, WE loved it. We can’t wait to go back !
And at last, I guess going free lance in graphic design while launching the Zoohliah is quite crazy too… Some would even say suicidal. But I think it’s fun, most of the time anyway
Now we’d really like to go to New Zealand and Australia, or to Canada, or Argentina, or Mexico… http://www.couchsurfing.com makes things rather easy
If I remember well, the Zorbs were used on an edition of the Amazing Race a couple of years back.
They looked cool as all hell
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James,
I seem to remember that too, now that you mention it… oh, it was a lot of fun and I’d do it again, worth every penny
If you ever have a chance to do it, take the “zig-zag” course rather than going straight down the hill. The impact at the first corner is a doozy…
(I think I actually went completely up and around the top of the thing!)
There is a Zorb park in Tennessee now, still a bit far away from you & I, but at least on the same continent!
Joohliah,
Ack! Akismet marked you as spam, sorry I didn’t respond sooner
Well, if you don’t want to go Zorbing, that’s okay as you’ve done some pretty crazy stuff… I’d love to go to France and Japan myself! I will…
I think that when we do these kinds of things, step outside of our own personal comfort zones, we really grow.
So I try to do one crazy thing a day – just to keep the kid inside of me happy!
I’ll check out that link too, it looks interesting.
Brett,
Couchsurfing is amazing !
And as far as one crazy thing day goes, that seems like a great way of living. For now I’m trying to do one useful thing a day. Not as easy as it seems
Brett,
When I saw it, all I could think of was Rover, the guard-ball on The Prisoner. (Well worth getting the series on DVD if you haven’t seen it. Amazing.)
Your description erased that thought, and I’m left with only “oh, cool!”
And the question: does it hurt afterwards? Bumps and bruises?
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Is Boredom Killing Your Business?
Ha, that’s awesome!
I can’t say that I’ve done anything crazy yet. I don’t know, I’m kind of a wuss like that
I’d say that the craziest thing I’ve done so far is keep pets in the dorm room: I have 4 sweet little rats 
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
Brett, RLD—Oh, yeah, that was the point of the post! I got distracted by the cool ball.
Hehehe.
I could fill a book with the craziest things I’ve done so far.
Maybe two.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Is Boredom Killing Your Business?
Aah Rotorua. Definitely remember how it smelled there
Actually our trip to New Zealand and Australia was one of the crazy things I did. We planned it after the end of my contract, without a job to return to. My (now) wife had to skip classes for a post-grad school for two months (and have other students sign for her “being there”). And it took all (and I mean all!) our savings. But it was the best thing ever!
Other crazy thing: Driving a car with the steering wheel on the right-hand side for the first time, through Auckland around rush hour (that’s the only place in NZ where there’s serious rush hour). I drove 10 miles ultra focused, but dangerous as hell. And whenever I wanted to signal for a turn, I put on my windscreen wipers (interval was left, high-speed was right). The levers were on the other side of the steering wheel.
New Zealand…this month it’s six years ago already. It’s going to be a while before I get back. It’s exactly on the other side of the world from where I live, and I’m not going to take my kid(s) on that 24 hour – 12 timezones trip. Crazy yeah, but not stupid
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Couldn’t do the Zorb, I’m kinda claustrophobic. The crazy things I would like to do would probably get me arrested, so I’ll settle for trying to get up in a helicopter and taking pictures of a fish plant in the UP, eh.
I did see some young boys in Vermont diving in this rock filled gorge – inches way from certain death. That was crazy. But you know how it is before you have kids. You think you will live forever. Then you have kids and realize you have to preserve yourself.
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@Joohliah: well, doing one useful thing a day is a good thing too – perhaps combine them, do one useful and crazy thing a day
two birds with one stone… I’ll be trying the couchsurfing tonight!
@Kelly: wow, you’re right! Just like Rover, I forgot about him. I haven’t seen that show for a long time, perhaps I’ll have to check it out again.
To answer your question, actually it didn’t hurt at all. I thought it might, but it turns out there is a ball inside of a ball, with air between them, so it is quite bouncy. Plus, they put water inside with you (just a couple of gallons) so it is slippery and you don’t get scuffed up.
If you ever have the chance to try it out, go for it
I know what you mean, if I wrote a book of “Crazy Things Brett has done” it would be a couple of volumes, and I suspect yours would be too.
@RLD: sure you have, you study taekwondo and that’s a pretty intense sport. Rats – cool! I love rats, they are so curious…
@Lode: I’ll definitely have to email you soon, you and I could probably chat for hours about our experiences. My wife and I were talking on the weekend about how we missed the sulphur smell of Rotorua… and the Polynesian Spa… and the champagne pool at Wai-O-Tapu…
What a place. Godzone. Don’t feel bad, we spent a ton of money on that vacation, and I’d do it all over again. I’d rather have the experiences and the memories than the money in the bank.
Oh yes, driving on the left side of the road with a right-hand drive car. I also kept turning on the wipers when I meant to signal, and looking out the right side window into space to check my rear view mirror…
I was too chicken to try a manual transmission though! And my wife got a bit carsick when we went to Karekare and Piha, as we drove all the way along Scenic Drive instead of taking the short route the locals take – single lane a lot of the way, very winding and hilly – I loved it!!!
I made one driving mistake in a traffic circle, I didn’t realize that to exit at 3 o’clock or 6 o’clock that you had to be on the inside lane… fortunately the drivers are quite courteous there
You’ll get back there, as will we… but like you, we may have to wait a bit unless we move there permanently, just going for a vacation with our four children would be “interesting”!
To follow Ellen, just the crazy things I’ve done that I could have been arrested for would be a couple of chapters… ah youth!
Kelly’s last blog post..Click Here for Details, Honestly
Ellen,
I hear you, there are plenty of other things you can do (and I hear you about the getting arrested part, too, I have some funny stories that I might do as a follow up blog post… Dukes of Hazzard and all that, good old country living) – helicopter rides are always fun.
There’s crazy, and then there’s “not good” – yes, I know what you mean about those boys. I chose to do the Zorb because even though it is a crazy thing, it is safe. I considered doing the tethered base jump from the Sky Tower in downtown Auckland, right outside of our hotel. It is about 630 feet and looked like a lot of fun.
However, I thought, “I have four children on the other side of the planet, and I think I’d like to see them again!”
I’m sure everything would have been fine, but I always trust that inner voice…
(Plus I’m afraid of heights, a little!)
Kelly,
Maybe I’ll start a new blog called “Things that could have gotten me arrested in my youth” where we can all anonymously atone for our transgressions…
(I’ll go first – just a teaser, we used to drive old cars on logging roads… we always wore helmets, and no one was ever hurt. But it was a lot of fun, and we did catch air, Dukes of Hazzard style, a few times. Never did learn how to yell, “Yee-haw!” very well, though)
Two words: No Way.
No way I’m confessing on any blog, hehehe, and no regrets. I wouldn’t want to atone!
Kelly’s last blog post..Click Here for Details, Honestly
LOL we’ll leave it at that then…
I’m with you, no regrets. Besides, I suppose it would be a little like kiss and tell
(“Yee-haw!” I have brown hair, so I guess that makes me Luke Duke… well, he was the smarter of the two, so I’ll take that.)
@Brett – My rats are curious and they never cease to amaze me! They’ve now taken up the hobby of dive-bombing out of their cage when I open the door. They’ll also throw the stuff they don’t like right through the bars, including most of the health pellets I give them. The oldest one is as cuddly as a cat, and he calms down the older he gets
They’re so much fun and easier to hide than cats…
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
It’s not “exciting crazy”, but I picked up my life and moved from Chicago to Florida without a job or any prospects for one. I’d been laid off, and I had always wanted to live where it was warm, so I did it.
Nicole’s last blog post..Blogging vs. Journaling
@RLD:
That’s really neat, I always wanted a rat, but I don’t think he’d mix well with our cat. I also want one of those pot-bellied pigs. I think they are pretty neat animals… smart too
@Nicole: oh I don’t know, I’d say that’s “exciting crazy” as it opened up opportunities for you – it all depends on how you look at it!
By the middle of next winter, I’ll be wishing I’d done the same thing
@Brett – I like the confessional idea. Like truth or dare.
@Kelly – Okay, I will tell you my crazy thing. Sometimes I want to sunbath in the nude. Because we can’t in the US, and you know how I like to rebel.
@Happiness – I wonder if your rats would play with my cat. Do they dig that Wisconsin cheese?
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@Brett: we could probably chat for hours. Memories are coming back as I read your stories. The tethered jump from Sky Tower, oh yeah! Didn’t do that one. But it was next to our hotel too… Don’t tell me you stayed at Sky City too?
We had a great deal when booking the flight. Hotel was virtually free
Imagine the look on the (shared) cab driver’s face when we said (4.5 star) Sky City when he asked two overly tired backpackers where he should drop us off. That was priceless!
Reading the rest of the comments though, it strikes me that there’s such a wide variety in the definitions for ‘crazy’. Some of those situations (like those boys) would fall under the ’stupid’ category in my book!
Lodewijk’s last blog post..Review week 16-2008; Goals, blog and productivity habits
@Ellen – well, maybe we should then – participation not mandatory for people visiting the blog, of course… and smiling too, about your crazy thing, as I’ve done that (yep, yet another benefit to country living – we can play Dukes of Hazzard, and cavort around in the sunshine… well, in the right location, of course – my backyard is private, but not *that* private!)
@ Lode – your stomping ground was our stomping ground, yes – we stayed at the Sky City Grand, right by the tower. It must be the same deal, as the difference between the hotel/flight package and the flight only was almost non-existent. After 20 hours on the plane, it was a sight for sore eyes. I hugged my wife and said, “you did a good job of picking this one” as she was responsible for the booking. Incredible service.
When we go back, we’ll stay there for sure. We also went to Sudima Hotel in Rotorua, it was nice (not like the Grand, mind you) and conveniently located by the Polynesian Spa.
Anyway, I miss that country. We’ll be back.
Yes, there is a line between “crazy” (as in fun) and “crazy” (as in stupid). I try to stay on the fun side as much as possible. I figure I survived my youth, and now I have a big family, so I’d like to stick around for a while…
@Brett I won’t rub it in when you’re buried in snow drifts and I’m still enjoying my hammock. I promise.
Nicole’s last blog post..Blogging vs. Journaling
@Nicole,
Oh, I wouldn’t mind… I actually live vicariously through my neighbours to the south, so please feel free to tell me in great detail all about the sunshine
words can have a warming effect just like the sun…
@Brett Words and a few beers maybe… but I know what you mean.
Nicole’s last blog post..Blogging vs. Journaling
@Nicole,
You know me very well
(smiling at the vision of a hammock, in the sunshine)
Brett
I’ve done plenty of crazy things. Jumping in ice water, driving from Montreal to Labrador and back over a long weekend, crossing the Artic Circle in a Honda Civic, paddling across Lake Opeongo when there are whitecaps….
(Actually, a lot of those are STUPID things as well).
One of my favorites is drawing a cartoon on the bulletin board at work (knowing full well that I’ll get in shit for it). And then getting in shit for it.
Garpak Rules!
Friar’s last blog post..Friar’s Artist Tips: Cheap brushes work just fine.
Hey Friar,
Oh, I know, I know… the thing is to keep on doing it – especially the cartoons. The 3 percenters will reign supreme
What else, how about when you bent the drive shaft on your CR-V? I’m sure that Honda should give you a prize for actually being the only person on planet Earth to take a CR-V off-roading…
Great! Those mental walls do creep up on us. And what a great way to bust them down!
I did something similar with a 24 hour bicycle race a few years ago. I was supposed to do it with a team mate, but he pulled out with the flu. So I decided to just go ahead and do it on my own.
Needless to say, it was a complete mindblow that has given me strength and perspective for years afterwards.
Come to think of it, it might be time for another one of those….
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Albert – wow, good on you to complete a 24-hour race solo. That is something to be very proud of, and I’d tell everyone about it! I noticed that you had a post about running at your blog, so I read it and it is very helpful. I think I’ve already been doing a lot of that stuff, starting slowly and running in a relaxed fashion (I have to with my barefoot running), but it is great to see it laid out like that.
Hey, if you feel the need to do another 24-hour race – go for it
so something crazy…
I’ve been wanting to go Zorbing ever since I saw Jackie Chan in Operation Condor: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mI7vz9Bd664
My minidream is to ride the Red Bull black mountain bike run in Wales. I just haven’t created the time to do it yet. Where’s Tyler Durden when you need him?
Nick,
It sure is a lot of fun, and I’ll bet you’ll get to do it – you have it in you.
I’ve seen that mountain bike run on the internet, and that would be an awesomely crazy thing to do. You’ll do it – Tyler Durden is inside of each of us, lurking in the shadows… that flicker you saw, that was him
I want a pot bellied pig. I’d name it Hammy. Or Scott.
I wonder if you can walk them on leashes? The problem is we like to garden and he/she would root up the potatoes. Ha!
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I think you can leash train them, as they are smart animals (smarter than a dog, apparently). I’ve seen videos of them doing those obstacle courses that they set up for dogs. The only thing they seem to have trouble with is jumping hurdles
poor little piggies…
You can housebreak them too.
I think I’d call my pig “Slim”, after the children’s show Slim Pig!
Brett
I think Honda should also give me a prize for driving a Civic to Inuvik. Seriously, I think I was the only Honda Civic within the entire Yukon and North West Territories.
730 km of sharp gravel, each way. (And about 4-5 flat tires).
A native guy looked at me, shook his head, and said “A car like that just isnt’ meant for this kind of country, eh”.
Don’t worry, I’ve grown up since then I don’t do stupid things anymore. (Well, maybe just not as many).
Brett,
Thank You!!!! I saw these somewhere recently and thought ooooohhhh could I do that??!!! Now I know what they are called.
The adventurer and the are you nuts parts of me have had some pretty serious debates over time.
LOVE helicopter rides, doors open wide. Ahhh. Thanks for the smile and the reminder to shake it up once and a while.
All best, Jan
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Zen Gardens
Hi Jan,
You are welcome! Yes, you can definitely do that
I only wish I had done it a couple more times that day… but we’ll be back and I’ll do it again soon.
I think whenever we do this kind of thing, we get in touch with our inner child again. Every once in a while, when you see your kids jumping in mud puddles, you have to join in… the dirt washes off, but the smile stays.
I just love your work today at your blog… very nice.
Good to see you again – Brett
@Brett – Intelligence is relative to the organism. I do prefer pets that are closer on the evolutionary path to humans. Unlike lizards. My sister used to have this legless lizard that I could not bring myself to feel any affection for, other than it was a living thing.
This scanner is kicking my ass today. I hate fiddling with settings all day. Anyway, back to the show. Craziness. Yes. I would like to learn how to fly a plane, but I don’t think that will happen.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Sea of SEO
Hi Brett – that sounds like a lot of fun. I love doing new and different things. It’s often the things that you’re a bit nervous about doing and quite unsure about that turn out to be absolutely amazing.
Hopefully, my crazy thing for this year is going to be moving to Australia without having even visited there. I can’t wait.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Does Your Business Feel Like A Prison?
You know, I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand. I hear how beautiful it is, and it’s definitely on my list of places to visit someday. I also saw those Zorb things on a commercial recently and thought how fun they look. But I never knew they originated in New Zealand!
Something crazy I’ve done? Um… wow. I’m sitting here, and I cannot think of a single crazy thing I’ve done. Hmmmm. Maybe this summer though, there are talks of going to Vietnam to visit my boyfriend’s family, and for me who has never been outside the continental US, that certainly is a crazy thing to do!
Allison’s last blog post..A Taste of Yellow
Sweet. We will be visting you Cath. You and the Zorb. Ha!
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Sea of SEO
@Ellen – I hear you… I prefer animals with fur and friendly little faces
but I do like all living things. Bugs too, and spiders. Spiders are cool. Not cute though.
I hope that you got the scanner whipped into shape. Tech is supposed to serve us, not the other way around. Hey, you could try a flight simulator!
@Cath – I know! Some of my best experiences in life have been that way. I actually met my wife at a party that I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend… so there you go. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your move to Australia. You know, if you have a gut feeling about a place, it is always right. You’ll move there, and you will love it.
I felt that way about New Zealand. Before I even went there, I just *knew*. And I was right. I miss it so…
@Allison – it is more beautiful than I ever imagined. When people ask, I’ll ask them if they’ve seen Lord of the Rings. If they say yes, I’ll say, “it is better than that”. Lots of things originated there, apparently. Jet boats. Jogging first became popular there, they claim. Canada’s nuclear program wouldn’t be the same without a New Zealander who came here in the early 1900’s (Rutherford).
Oh, I think you’ve done some neat stuff. You’ve danced, that’s pretty crazy. And Vietnam will be wonderful. I’ve not been there, but I know a few people who have and it is a gorgeous country. You’ll have quite the experiences there.
@Ellen – maybe you, Cath & myself can Zorb together. They let up to 3 people in at a time
Friar,
Yeah, I forgot about that. Sounds like when we drove a Toyota Corolla in Aruba, to try and get to the Natural Pool. We saw a sign saying, “if you’re not in a 4WD, turn back”… so of course we kept going! Until we came upon a 4WD that was stuck. Then I stopped!
I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective. For me, dancing isn’t crazy at all. It’s just an everyday, normal thing to do. While for other people, the prospect of getting up on stage performing in front of tons of people is the most terrifying thing, and would definitely qualify as crazy for them. While on the other hand, me running a marathon would definitely be crazy, but my uncle does them all the time so it’s normal for him.
If I do end up going to Vietnam (I really hope I get to!) then I’m sure I’ll have all sorts of great experiences. My boyfriend, who grew up there, tells me that it’s very pretty in certain areas, and there are some great beach resorts, and the food! Seriously, the entire reason to travel (for me at least)… the food!
I’ll definitely be blogging about that if and when I end up going! Plus, even though I barely speak any Vietnamese, I’ll be with people who do, which should make the experience that much more authentic! 
Allison’s last blog post..A Taste of Yellow
Allison,
I guess you’re right! Sometimes we need other people to tell us when something we do as a matter of course is awesome. I was involved in changing the window on the world’s most radioactive hot cell last summer (I mean, so radioactive that if you were inside of it for a minute or two, it would be fatal). I don’t really think of that as crazy, but knowing that pretty much no one else on the planet has done that…
Crazy! But to me, it was just part of the job.
The food in Vietnam will be *incredible* and I’ve only had it at restaurants here, of course. I hope you get to go too, as I’ll look forward to seeing your photos and reading about your experiences.
Brett, not only was the writing fantastic but what a rocking experience! I have seen those Zorbs and thought it would be fun too. As adults we learn to suppress the “kid” in us because we’re too busy being grown up. However, that inner child knows how to live! Thanks for the reminder to live out loud!
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Brett – Yep, that’s definitely crazy. Heck, I was freaking out about being near radioactive material in a physics lab! Never mind the world’s most radioactive hot cell… o_0 crazy.
Vietnamese food is AMAZING. I’m lucky because I get it a lot when we go to his parents’ house… his dad is a great cook. But to be able to have it in Vietnam! I can’t wait.
Allison’s last blog post..A Taste of Yellow
Brett
Sometimes, I like to read Management Procedures and Protocols late at night so I can recite them from memory.
Once, I found a typo on the 3rd paragraph (Section iv), which no one else had found.
I was going to file an “Impact” report to record this. But call me crazy, I decided not to. That was so AWESOME. Talk about an adrenline rush.
(Well, no, not really). But you could guess who I might be describing.
Heh heh heh.
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Dude. A human HAMSTER BALL. How delicious.
I know many, many people who now envy you.
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I hate roller coasters. I don’t like nor will ever try bungee jumping. I dislike scary rides in amusement parks with a passion. I will never, never watch a horror movie. But I relish jet skiing and public speaking, love backpacking to countries I’ve never been to by myself, scuba diving and skydiving are on my future list and now that you’ve written about this Zorb thing, I seriously WANT to try it out! Is that weird?
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@ Karen – thank you, I’m glad that you enjoyed my story as much as I enjoyed writing it… that’s what we have to do, go and live life out loud! Climb a tall hill, and shout at the top of your lungs!!!
@ Allison – it does sound crazy, when you write it out, doesn’t it? But it was just a matter of course for us. That’s why I figure everybody really does do something crazy, even if to them it does not seem so. I can’t wait to hear all about your trip.
@ Friar – oh yeah, I know who you’re talking about. Crazy, but in the “insane” sense of the word. I think a fun adventure for that person would always involve a BlackBerry…
@ Tei – hee hee, I’d better not tell them that I also like to run around in big plastic pipes, and sleep in cedar chips! Seriously, if you ever have a chance to do this, do it!
@ ksyu – thank you for stopping by today to say hello! I really like your blog, by the way (just popped over to check it out).
Hey, we are all different and that’s a good thing. One of the reasons I admit that I didn’t do the Sky Jump in New Zealand is that I have a slight fear of heights… well, that and I just didn’t feel good about doing it when my kids were on the other side of the planet. But all of that other stuff you mentioned is pretty crazy – I’ve never gone jet skiing, and it looks like a lot of fun.
By all means, definitely give it a go – it is really fun, and Zorbing is quite safe really – it is probably more dangerous to drive to the Zorb park
Thanks to all of you for saying hello today!
Oh, jet skiing! I’ve done that too on “stand-ups”, not the ones you can sit on. Heavy work, too much fun!
Crazy stuff for sure
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Lode,
Those are the ones I remember, before the Sea-Doo came along – I always thought the stand-up ones looked like more fun, to be honest
They are more fun! Well…I think they’re more fun, but it’s WAY harder to do it. With the Sea-Doo, you can just sit on them and go. Keeping your balance is a bit of an issue, but not that much (as opposed to the stand-ups).
But the main difference is when you have no speed. The Sea-Doo will gently float with you sitting on it. The stand-up will sink in the water with the back-end. It’s impossible to keep standing when you have no speed. So you’ve got to keep going, or you’re pulling yourself up while hitting the gas (very strenuous).
Lodewijk’s last blog post..How Responsibility Is Holding You Back
Wow, I did not know that about those. And you know, that makes them all the more attractive to me, if there is some skill involved it seems like it would be more fun
I think I’ll have to try it this summer!
Living a crazy right now…blogging and going to school instead of working a “real” job. Won’t seem crazy to folks who already living the dream profitably, but starting out feels insane….
So love the idea of falling blindly down a hill in a big bubble, but I think I’d be happy to wait for you at the bottom with a wet towel and a mug o’ tea
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@Lode – I’ve never tried a stand-up, but I enjoy a Sea-doo ride when the weather warms up in my area of the world. I’m also a big fan of waterskiing
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
@Crystal,
Yes, you are living pretty crazy right now, with a million irons in the fire – I know how you feel, my mind is racing 24/7 at Warp 9…
Deal. I’ll be the hamster-man, and we can have a cup of tea at the bottom
@RLD,
I consider water skiing pretty crazy, I’ve only done it twice and each time I crashed so badly I could barely walk!
@Brett – At first, waterskiing can hurt, but after a couple goes, you stop falling so hard
I learned when I was young, so it’s not THAT crazy. Kids don’t fall too hard, anyway.
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
@RLD – oh, I believe you! I think that may be the key, to try it when you are young. I was already pretty old when I tried it
and I didn’t bounce!
@Friar – the good thing about technical manuals is that they dumb down your mind so much you just have to jump up and out and do something crazy. I recommend technical manuals to anyone in need of a good fix of craziness.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Sea of SEO
@Ellen,
And once you are done doing something crazy and need to calm down to go to sleep, all you have to do is *write* a technical manual… I was doing that today, and must have had about 23 cups of coffee – and still had the head nods
Hey Brett!
I didn’t know you were a full grown hamster!
You are on your own with that sport buddy! Althought we did have a gerbel who loved his ball and would stay in it for hours, I never did have the desire to join him.
The craziest thing I ever did?….Uh…well..it all started when I ran away from home with three strangers and no shoes at 13 and didn’t come home for three days.. It got crazier after that but I can’t really talk about a lot of it on the net.
Let’s just say I’m a reformed grandma and leave it at that…heheheeee…
Honestly, I have been here to comment three times, but by the time I am working my way through reading the comments I get interrupted! Good going! You might be giving the Pen Men a run for their money!
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Blowing out Candles
Brett,
I’m with ksyu: “I hate roller coasters. I don’t like nor will ever try bungee jumping. I dislike scary rides in amusement parks with a passion. I will never, never watch a horror movie…. I seriously WANT to try it out! Is that weird?”
Only ‘cuz you promised it wouldn’t hurt. Okay, and because it looks like Rover. So I would now like someone to set up a Zorb park in southeastern PA (no elbow room here in DE).
Wendi’s right: these comments are rockin’.
*note to self: write about Zorb Customer Experience*
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Naomi Dunford’s “I Never Called It a Meme,” Meme
@Wendi,
If I start commuting to work in one of these things, you’ll know I’ve totally gone off the deep end…
(*hides big exercise wheel*)
I won’t ask you to kiss and tell. Well, not here anyway, save that for my anonymous confessional blog!
All I can say today is *wow*, I’m so happy that everyone came to visit and is having a good time. That’s what this is all about!
@Kelly,
I promise it won’t hurt (said the dentist…) actually I guarantee it is painless. You will get wet, though… and probably muddy
I wish someone would set one up a bit closer to us as well (one in Tennessee, and one in Baja California). Hmm… (*eureka*) since everyone liked this post, perhaps I need to open a Zorb park – Vermont seems nice, I’ll do it there!
I’m sort of thinking that myself, maybe I need to blog about semi-extreme sports more often… and perhaps I should have tried the Sky Jump – I’ll bet that one would have had legs!
Thank you to *everyone* for visiting!
Ooh, yes, Vermont. Right near my parents, please, so I can go all summer and take my daughter and her cousins. Hehehe. I can see my dad rolling around until he throws his back out! (“Sorry, honey, I can’t help out with the motel today, I’ve been Zorbing too long.”)
In Vermont you get a head start on the rolling hills if you pick your location right, but unlike Baja and Tennessee, it’s gonna be pretty seasonal. Might be a revenue downer.
Kelly’s last blog post..Naomi Dunford’s “I Never Called It a Meme,” Meme
Vermont is my favourite state I’ve never visited… yet! We are going this summer, as part of a trip to Lake Placid area. I have a vision in my head of how nice it is, and I find that the real thing always makes the vision pale
I can’t wait!
Sounds like a plan, will put it near your folks motel – that way we’ll have a good place to stay when Zorbing
I’m wondering, though – if Zorbing isn’t extreme enough, perhaps Snow Zorbing might be the ticket!
(mental picture of Snow Zorbing down a double-black diamond at Killington – I can’t promise that doing *that* wouldn’t hurt!)
Brett,
Snow zorbing! YES! Oh how cool!
Later…
Kelly’s last blog post..Naomi Dunford’s “I Never Called It a Meme,” Meme
Hmm… brain is still churning… aha! Buy a Zorb, and put BIG CHAINS on it – voila! Snow Zorb!
Brett,
Lake Placid’s beautiful, if you’ve never been you’ll really like it. How long are they letting you out of your cage for?
Kelly’s last blog post..Naomi Dunford’s “I Never Called It a Meme,” Meme
Kelly,
We will be there for a week, North Pole Cottages I believe it is called (near the Santa’s Workshop park). We plan to hop over to Vermont for a day trip.
We’re really looking forward to it, actually – nice place to live and play, I think
Wow. I’ll bet the kiddies will have a grand time.
How will that fun-loving bunch spare you for so long? Are there national security implications?
Oy, I’m all smiley’d out.
Kelly’s last blog post..Naomi Dunford’s “I Never Called It a Meme,” Meme
Yes, there are cabins with lofts for the kids – they’ll like that. We’ll run them hard all day long so they sleep, and then Cathy & I can have a fire each night and drink wine under the stars…
I’m sure that my company will notice a drop in network traffic while I’m away from work LOL
(I LOL’d so as to avoid a smiley)
[...] magical has started happening here at 6 weeks, and I really noticed it when I did something crazy – I started branching out with my writing, and I’m starting to really figure out the [...]
Waiddaminute… there’s one in Baja California?!?! *Grabs her passport and drives a couple of hours down to the border* You know, it’s funny, I’ve lived a few hours away from the border all my life, yet never been to TJ’s. It’s almost like a rite of passage down here! One of those crazy things I’ve never done… but I definitely may have to take a trip south to try those Zorb things someday!
Hmmm… now I’m starting to think of some things I have done that might qualify as crazy. A two week workshop where you learn a different dance every day, and then perform it that night. Crazy, but a heck of a lot of fun! Also, teaching myself Java in order to start a business with my bf. I love it, but some people think I’m a lunatic.
Allison’s last blog post..A Taste of Yellow
Allison,
You betcha! Go for it, take some pictures in your sushiday shirt and post them on your blog
sushiZorb!!!
That’s the way of things, though – when we went to New Zealand last year, we had dinner up in the Sky Tower. And a lot of Aucklanders asked us how it was
as they had never done it… when you can do it “anytime” it can sometimes fall by the wayside!
A different dance everyday, that could be considered crazy – and fun. That’s a requirement, it should be fun!
Haha sushiZorb! That’s great!
Oh yes, if I don’t think it will be fun, there’s no way I’m going to do it! Like, I hate roller coasters. They scare the hell out of me, and I don’t enjoy them at all. So it wouldn’t make sense for me to do *that* sort of crazy thing.
However, a new dance every day? That is my idea of FUN!
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
Glad you liked that, Snow Crab sushiZorb it is… (I keep adding to it)
Well, try it once (plain Zorb) and you’ll love it
*giggle*
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
[...] a few of the places I would love to visit! Of course, now that I have found out there is one of these in Baja California, all the more reason to visit! It might be a while before that happens, so [...]
[...] them for who they are, and the good things that they do. Heck, let them go out on a limb and do something crazy, and then tell them they did a good job (or help them get back up, if they fall [...]
[...] There is no easy way around this and it is the same for all of us. Kind of like walking on fire I guess, which really is totally crazy. [...]
A very sorround sound blog here… aaah what I meant there was you keep a good balance..
.. I for one had a small dog.. Not of a particular breed just a street dog who I used to feed ocassionally…Turned out she would go nuts on anybody who tried to approach me.. Geesh!
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