You’ve already changed your clocks, but you can literally spring forward at the Flight Trampoline Park in Springfield. And you don’t have to be a kid, or even bring one, to bounce off the walls with excitement.
First, get ready to sign your life away. An excerpt from the waiver all participants must sign: “I acknowledge, understand and appreciate that my participation in the activities entails known and unanticipated risks that could result in death, serious physical or emotional injury, paralysis, or damage to me, to property, or to third parties.” Scary stuff, but if you follow the park’s rules, you’ll be safe.
Wear athletic attire. Yoga pants and a T-shirt will give you a full range of motion. You’ll be asked to go barefoot or purchase special trampoline socks with an anti-slip coating.
Trampolining is not just a kid thing. It’s a fitness craze and an Olympic sport. But keep in mind that although Flight is open to jumpers of all ages, you’ll probably be surrounded by kids and teens. They’re probably faster and stronger, too.
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You’ve likely forgotten how exhilarating it is to jump on a trampoline. You’ll spend the first 10 minutes giggling and trying to bounce as high as you can, just because you can.
Share this articleShare“Flight attendants” means something different here. They’re like lifeguards for the trampolines, and they’re there to make sure no one roughhouses or puts themselves in danger.
The best part? Without a doubt, jumping into the giant, inflatable crash pad in the rear of the gym. You can do flips and spins into it; there’s even a “high dive” platform for extra big jumps. (Of course, head-first diving is not only against the rules, but also a bad idea. Land on your feet or your back.)
Don’t try to re-create your glory days. Say you’re a former high school gymnast who used to be able to do backflips with a twist. But now, to pick a totally random example, you’re a semi-sedentary, semi-adult newspaper reporter for whom the only things that come with a twist these days are cocktails. You still might be able to land a backflip, but you’ll probably feel it the rest of the week.
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Two words: Trampoline dodgeball. Jumping while pelting other people with balls. Need we say more? The dodgeball games run throughout the open jump period and are refereed by the flight attendants. But if you dreaded the game in middle school and were happy to leave those days behind, don’t worry — the dodgeball court is separate from the rest of the gym.
Don’t forget to stretch afterwards. Bouncing on a trampoline is a full-body workout; if you’re not used to it, you may get sore, so take precautions. (A bonus: The nearby Springfield Plaza has an IceBerry, so you can cool off with a fro-yo after your bounce session.)
Flight, 7200 Fullerton Rd., Springfield. 703-663-2440. virginia.flighttrampolinepark.com. $10-$15 an hour, with different rates for special jump sessions.
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