I just want to fly …

At Snowcreek, new trampoline club a hit for all ages.

Among the new activities Mammoth has to offer this year is the new trampoline club at Snowcreek Athletic Club, which opened October 10.

The current schedule is 11-9 daily, according to Trampoline Facility Manager Jené Dietz. There are daily classes, and in fact, there was a class with four children in it (Trent Wallentine, Kaeli Moore, Shelby Wallentine, Gavin Turner), ages 9 to about 12, when I stopped by the gym last week.

You can expect to pay approximately $30 for a drop-in bounce. $14 of that is for the club membership fee – which also gains you membership into you the AAU – Amateur Athletic Union – and additionally provides you insurance.

Then you pay $10 for a 30-minute orientation, and if you wish to tack on thirty minutes free bounce after that, it costs you an extra $5.

Orientations take place at 11, 1, 3, 5 and 7 every day.

There is a maximum 15 people for free bounce and a max of 10 for classes.

As Athletic Club Owner Ralph Lockhart says, he loves the trampoline club because it’s an activity that multiple generations can do together. Lockhart, 57, said he recently jumped with his 32-year old son and 6-year old granddaughter.

Lockhart, by the way, can do double-flips.

It’s also proven to be a popular training ground for Mammoth Mountain Ski and Snowboard team athletes, who use the pro room with its two supersize tramps with automated harnesses.

Dietz said MMST athlete Matt Williams unveiled a “Back 10, Double Cork” trick in competition on the Rev Tour which he learned and perfected in the tramp room.

And in case you’re wondering, yes, there’s one athlete (Kain Wilmot) who’s been able to touch the ceiling in the pro room.

As Lockhart says, “The tramp room is a great place to practice and then translate tricks onto the snow. It’s much safer than simple trial and error.”

But, Lockhart adds, these are not standard gymnasium trampolines. They’re high-end, pro tramps which require a bit more training and precision to master.

Therefore, if you wish to flip, you will need to take a 90-minute bail-out class. Cost = $21.

What has really surprised Lockhart over the first two months of operation has been the number of season passes sold. “For a solid group of ten kids, this has become their after-school hangout,” he said.

Also quite popular is the cleverly titled “Lady and the Tramp” night—female only—which occurs on Wednesdays.

I figure any story about bouncing should close with this. Though I think poor Tigger would be dismayed to learn that high-end pro trampolines can make Tiggers out of all of us.

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers

A wonderful thing is a Tigger;

A Tigger’s a wonderful thing.

Their tops are made out of rubber,

their bottoms are made out of spring

They’re bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy,

fun, fun, fun, fun, fun,

The most wonderful thing

about Tiggers is:

I’m the only one!