| The trampoline probably evolved from a common rural custom of tossing a man or woman up into the air on a blanket held between a bunch of other people. This olden day trampoline was perhaps a little more nerve-wracking than our current version. Nevertheless, it was fairly ubiquitous at harvest festivals and other folk fairs, not to mention whenever a bunch of rowdy, unsupervised youngsters got together. With the advent of synthesized rubber, however, the process became closer to what we now recognize. Circuses and acrobatic acts around the world were the first groups to really popularize the trampoline, both for safety and show purposes. Then, in 1934, Olympic athletes George Nissen and Larry Griswold patented a more regular device, which consisted of a piece of canvas held in place by a circle of strings and wires. Eight years later the perfected device was marketed to the public. Since then, trampolines have been one of the most popular fixtures of backyards everywhere. Its uses have also expanded, to include training for astronauts, fire fighters, and pilots. And of course circus performers everywhere continue to use trampolines in many of their acts. Trampolining has been an Olympic sport since 2000. Although many parents might worry about their aspiring superstars, most private trampolines actually include a variety of safety measures to prevent children from suffering serious injury while using them. These include protective pads and net walls; nevertheless, parents are still encouraged to keep younger children under close supervision while on trampolines. |
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