Human Hamsters

Growing up, I (Greg) had a hamster. Her name was Helen “The Hamster.” She ran around the house in a little plastic ball. Today, we got to experience what it must have been like to be Helen in her hamster ball. Some crazy Kiwi was trying to find a way to cross hot sand and invented a human size hamster ball called the Zorb. It’s basically a giant inflatable ball inside another inflatable ball with a tunnel for you to crawl into the “safety” of the inner ball.

On a calm day, you could opt for the standard Zorb where you’d be strapped into the inside of the ball. Today, there was a slight breeze, so the only Zorbing to be done was the Hydro-Zorb. If the breeze caught the Zorb, you could potentially end up being blown off course and end up in the thermal pools of Lake Rotorua (that’s hot enough to boil mud!). Unlike the normal Zorb, with the Hyrdo-Zorb you’re not strapped in and inner ball is filled with water. Think giant slip-n-slide.

Once we were dressed in our Zorbing outfits (board shorts and rash guard with swimsuits underneath), we hopped in a van for a quick ride up a hill. At the top of the hill, you can decide which track you want to take, straight down the hill or the zig-zag track. We both opted for the zig-zag track. We hop inside the Zorb. The Zorb guy pump in some warm water and zips it up. He gives the Zorb a couple of taps. You take a couple of steps forward and gravity takes over from there. Sliding and sloshing around, you eventually make your way down the course. Once you come to rest, the Zorb “gives birth” to you. It’s water breaks and you come sliding out…wet.

Kiwi’s are a strange people.

BTW, we were able to post pictures on some of our previous blogs. So check them out!