Trampoline Dodgeball, Need I Say More?

Trafton B.

December 29, 2010 - 9:00 PM

Seriously, I just found my new favorite activity and it's called trampoline dodgeball.

It's not the most well known place in the city. It isn't a regular San Francisco tourist attraction like Haight Street, Alcatraz Island or Fisherman's Wharf. But on the northern edge of the city, tucked beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and nestled in the Presidio of San Francisco is where you'll find the House of Air indoor trampoline park.

It's like elementary school recess times a thousand, and our group of thirteen kids with ages ranging from 18 to 27 quickly realized we were the big kids on the playground.

First we headed to the "Matrix," House of Air's main trampoline structure made of forty-two (!) conjoined trampolines including an enormous trampoline floor and full-sized trampoline walls for non-stop jumping action. I didn't know this at first, but ad-infinitum jumping over little kids and across this basketball-size floor is really exhausting.

Next stop was the "Coliseum" for several games of trampoline dodgeball. The picture above makes it seem more lop-sided that it actually was. We certainly had height advantages on some of the other players, but for each of us college kids there were about four kids running through our legs. We spread ourselves equally between both teams. I mean, c'mon, we wanted to hurl dodgeballs as each other more than anyone else. Also I should point out our friend Matthew, wearing the tie-dye shirt, is mid-windup in the photo above.

We spent just as much time laughing and trash talking as we did throwing dodgeballs. Before a match started we'd shout something like, "I'm going for the tall, lanky kid in the corner" or "Hey, tie dye! Watch out, I'm comin' after you!" I'd feel bad about our faux vulgarity, but these kids we were playing with were actually cheating.

Everyone knows the rules of dodgeball. You get hit by a ball; you're out! Someone catches a ball you through; you're out! We'd hit these kids and then they'd look around to make sure no one saw them, and if the referee didn't point at them then they'd stay in the game. Half the time one of us would hit them multiple times and they'd still stay in the game! During one game Matthew hit the same kid twice, he didn't come out either times, and then hit Matthew and the referee called Matthew out! I couldn't stop laughing, but Matthew was fuming when he jumped out of the arena.

After an hour of flips, twists, and dodgeball I was dog-tired. At the beginning of the day I wasn't sure if an hour would be enough. Now I realize than the only people that can spend more than an hour there are incredibly fit, highly trained athletes and 8-year old boys. I've been sore all day and I needed a nap just to make it out to dinner last night, but I think we have a new holiday tradition.

Less than a week before classes start again. It's been a great break, but it's time to head back to Eugene. Any more time away from school and my brain would probably turn to mush. I'll fly into Portland on Friday for New Years, one more chance to celebrate before winter term begins.

Countdown to NEW YEARS DAY: 2 DAYS, 3 HOURS

Countdown to FIRST CLASS OF WINTER TERM: 4 DAYS, 8 HOURS, 30 MINUTES

Countdown to BCS NATIONAL CAMPIONSHIP: 12 DAYS, 20 HOURS, 30 MINUTES