Zorbing is an extreme attraction , [1] a type of active recreation [2] , which consists in descending a person in a transparent ball - zorb - from a mountain or associated with the intersection of water bodies inside a similar ball. A variety of applications is running inside a zorb on a horizontal surface in the absence of a set of suspension systems.
Content
Device
Zorb is a ball of polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride , consisting of two spheres, the space between which is filled with air. In the internal sphere of the zorb there is one or two sets of harness for securely fixing the passenger of the zorb, which is called “zorbonavt”. A standard zorb has a volume of about 13 cubic meters and weighs about 75 kilograms. The optimal size of the zorb for two people: the outer diameter of 3.2 meters, the inner diameter of 1.8 meters. Two spheres are fastened together with special slings made of material - a nylon or polypropylene cord . Connecting slings provide uniform load, and the air "cushion" between the spheres, cushioning during the descent. As an option, Zorb can be equipped with “glowing” lines, which are made of a special fluorescent cord or have a reflective effect, as well as with LED bars installed.
History
The first zorbs appeared in 1973. In the 1990s. New Zealanders Duane Van Der Sluis and Andrew Akers significantly improved the device and brought it to its present form. Distributed in Europe, China, Argentina.
Water Spheres
The water sphere is a transparent ball of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or thermopolyurethane ( eng. Thermoplastic polyurethane ), intended for walking on water. The diameter of the water balls is usually from 1.8 to 2.2 meters , the wall thickness is from 0.8 to 1.2 millimeters . Thermopolyurethane (TPU, TPU) is considered a higher-quality material, as it retains its transparency longer and is softer than PVC.
The water balloon weighs about 15 kilograms and inflates in about one minute - it all depends on the power and type of pump. In a calm state, a person can stay in the ball for up to 30 minutes, with active running for up to 10 minutes. If you stay in the ball longer, you can feel very tired from the lack of air. During skiing the ball is tied to the shore, the presence of at least two people on the shore is recommended.
Many people first learned about the possibility of moving in a water ball from a video clip for the song of the Beach Boys group Getcha Back ( eng. Getcha Back ) ( 1985 ) .
There is a fundamental difference in the design of the water globe and the zorb. Zorb are two spheres, one inside the other, between which air is pumped. A person gets inside the zorb, through the hole, while the zorb remains inflated. The water ball is only one sphere, the air is pumped right into the attraction. Inside a water ball, a person enters through a hole with a zipper only when the ball is in a deflated state. Inflated water ball already with the person inside. [3]
Safety in the water industry
Opinions [4] [5] are expressed that water balls are unsafe, for the following reasons [4] :
- No emergency exit or device for self-evacuation from the ball. A person, especially a child, inside the ball will not be able to easily leave it on his own if he suddenly feels discomfort or indisposition. With a tear of the sphere, with hydro-walk, a person will have absolutely no opportunity to leave this ball.
- Risk of choking . The ball is sealed, and as a result of breathing, the amount of oxygen in it decreases and the content of carbon dioxide increases.
- The risk of drowning . Although the balls usually float in shallow water, they are often used in open water - rivers and lakes. There is a possibility of accidental rupture of the shell of the ball, after which it will lose buoyancy. Even if the person inside can swim, the shell of the ball will not allow him to do this, he will not be able to leave the ball quickly either.
- A collision with a solid object can cause injury, since the thin shell of the ball is not able to soften the blow [6] .
All sellers (or manufacturers) are required to issue with the purchase of safety regulations for water balls. Only with strict observance of these rules, the buyer (consumer) can reduce the risk of danger to their life or health to a minimum.
Accidents
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported at least two accidents during the use of the balls, and recommended that they be discontinued.
The tragedy occurred on January 3, 2013 in Dombay, in Karachay-Cherkessia. Two young people were supposed to descend from a slope in an inflatable balloon - zorb, but the ball did not stop at the end of the route, but changed the trajectory of movement and slipped into the abyss. As a result, a 33-year-old resident of Stavropol Vladimir Scherbov was injured, and his friend, 27-year-old Denis Burakov, died [5] .
See also
- Soccer Balls
- Pleasure Ball
- Squirrel wheel
Notes
- ↑ Zorb - extreme attraction
- ↑ ACCORDING TO BALLS // Results, 03/10/2005, Camilla Rakhmatulina
- ↑ water ball . www.zorbmaster.ru. The appeal date is March 14, 2018.
- ↑ 1 2 Christopher Hinderliter, Esq. Deadly Water Walking Balls. (eng.) philadelphiainjurylawyerblogs.com (05/20/2011). - Deadly water balls. Date of treatment August 21, 2011. Archived June 2, 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 JENNIFER C. KERR. Walking on water risky, even in big plastic balls (English) . Associated Press (03/31/2011). - It’s risky to walk on water even in large balls. Date of treatment August 21, 2011. Archived June 2, 2012.
- ↑ Two tourists crashed in Dombay, falling into a gorge in an inflatable balloon "Zorb"