Trampolining parks in S'pore: Jump for joy and bond

Want a fun and quirky workout? Need to burn off stress from work? Or do you have a kid who is bursting with energy? Then head for an indoor trampoline park.

With the largest one - Zoom Park Singapore, located in Pandan Gardens - opening last Saturday, Singapore now has three indoor trampoline parks.

The Amped Trampoline Park brand has two outlets - in Tanjong Katong and Jurong East.

The 20,000 sq ft air-conditioned Zoom Park is larger than the size of four basketball courts. It has various activity zones, including dodgeball courts, slam dunk lanes, a foam pit, airbag and main court.

For the more adventurous, there are tumble tracks, a rock wall and high performance mats.

The park's founders - Mr Vik Waran, 37, and Mrs Subhadra Shrivastava, 43, who are in-laws - wanted to let families bond over exercise and combine trampolining with activities such as dodgeball and basketball.

Says Mrs Subhadra, who recently moved here after living in the United States for 16 years: "I have two daughters, aged 14 and 11, and they can spend hours in the trampoline parks there. They are not contented with jumping up and down. They also like dodging balls and climbing rock walls.

"We wanted a place in Singapore where you could do all these activities under one roof."

Adds Mr Vik, who has a six-year-old daughter and two sons, aged four and five: "We believe the market is big enough to accommodate three, or even more, trampoline parks."

The duo plan to open an indoor trampoline park in Johor Baru next year. At 25,000 sq ft and housed in a four-storey building, it will be even bigger than the one in Singapore.

Espousing the benefits of trampolining, Mr Vik says: "Studies have shown that jumping on trampolines can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour. Jumping for 10 minutes delivers the same health benefits as running for 30 minutes."

Adds Mrs Subhadra: "Trampolining places less impact on your joints, compared to jogging or tennis. The trampoline mat soaks up 80 per cent of the impact."

She and Mr Vik looked for a suitable location here six months ago and decided on a former facility for futsal, mixed martial arts and prawning.

Before jumping at the park, participants have to wear grip socks and watch a three-minute safety video.

Student Chang Shao Chiat, 15, who visited the park last Saturday with five friends, says: "Jumping is fun and it's good exercise. I've been jumping for only 10 minutes and I'm sweating already."

Draftsman Moksin Mohamed Mustafa, 31, celebrated his daughter's first birthday at the park that day with more than 50 family members. He says: "Here, the children can play when they want and eat when they're tired. It's a great way for them to let off steam."

The first indoor trampoline park here - Amped Trampoline Park - opened in Tanjong Katong in August last year.

Converted from an old school gym, it is about 7,000 sq ft, with almost 50 trampolines blanketing the floors and walls. It has between 300 and 500 visitors a day.

Amped opened a second outlet in Jurong East in February this year and is setting up another in the River Valley area, slated to open in the first quarter of next year.

Says one of its co-owners, Mr Jason Ong, 38: "Trampolining is a very common activity in Australia and the United States. More people here are learning about the benefits of this activity, as a form of exercise and as an activity for family and friends to bond."

Zoom Park Singapore

Where: 200 Pandan Gardens, 01-14

Admission: $14 to $17 an hour

Info: Go to zoomparkasia.com/singapore or call 6334- 4615

Amped Trampoline Park @ Katong

Where: 369 Tanjong Katong Road (Level 2)

Admission: $9 to $15 an hour

Info: Go to www.ampedsingapore.com or call 8669-4894

Amped Trampoline Park @ Jurong

Where: yo:ha, 200 Jurong East Avenue 1 (Level 2)

Admission: $10 to $16 an hour

Info: Go to www.ampedsingapore.com or call 8126-3801

SAFETY TIPS

- Wear grip socks, which have extra grip to limit slipping on the trampolines. You can buy them and re-use them on future visits.

- Remove any jewellery, belt buckles, studs, protruding objects, sharp objects before getting on the trampolines, as they can tear the trampolines.

- Warm up before jumping to avoid any injuries or strains.

- Never attempt to land on your head or neck.

- Do not attempt anything outside of your personal limitations or abilities.

This article was first published on December 21, 2014.
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