The design process for this facility was a long one. When designing custom structures, you have to be spot on with their measurements and their placement in the gym. Working with Aaron is a great deal of fun because he takes pride in facility aesthetics. Branding and color schemes are very important to Aaron, so we have to make sure color combinations present well and logos are strategically positioned throughout the facility. Our designs don’t just provide an accurate map of the equipment layout, they are realistic glimpse at what the completed facility will look like. The design allows the owner to effectively market the new gym with a beautiful set of images and a fly through video.

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Another major bonus of the VersaBox is they can ship flat, which cuts down substantially on shipping costs. All boxes come with a painted finish and a vinyl padded top.

Check out some of the various ways you can use the VersaBox in your Ninja or parkour facility.

Shop VersaBox

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We are the game-makers.

Do you want to play the game?

Contact us to discuss an ag Ninja game for your home or gym.

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Imagine “gamifying” Ninja in a totally unique way through the use of some simple, but clever technology. What this does is it creates a variety of additional challenges for your athletes and provides a new way for them to either compete against each other or themselves. Sounds rather appealing doesn’t it? Well let’s get down to it and take a look at the future!

Here are just a few of the new and exciting things we can integrate into your Ninja and Adventure Park facilities right now!

Warped Walls

Imagine having a 12 or 14 foot warped wall in your facility that can only be conquered by about 10 percent of those who attempt it. Of course, warped walls can be done a number of ways to allow for intermediate ledges that younger kids can grab, however, we can spice that up a bit to add more fun! Imagine some interactive technology that incorporates sensors and buttons on the wall that tracks the the height they reach. Now throw is some basic coding to turn this in to a game. All of a sudden you have a fun challenge where kids run the wall, trying to rack up as many points as they can, not even realizing the great workout they are getting at the same time. The points are shown on a large display screen so everyone can cheer on the athlete, providing your facility and customers with a totally new, fun interactive attraction! COMING SOON!

Ninja Courses

Consider a similar concept with the obstacles and framing. What if we create a new set of challenges for the athlete as they progress through the course? Imagine pods being strategically placed throughout the course that the athlete interacts with. Instead of simply navigating an obstacle, they must also decide if they want to collect points and go for a pod that is in a tricky spot. These pods can be utilized to create a multitude of other games that really make for an endless combinations of fun.

Climbing

Climbing can also be enhanced for a more exciting user experience. Again, it comes down to censored pods. You can give your climbers something to shoot for by incorporating these pods in to your existing climbing wall. It’s fairly simple and the excitement it builds those using it is priceless. Just like the warped walls and courses, a number of games can be created that can be utilized during weekly classes and especially during birthday parties.

For climbing, you can go one step further and do an entirely interactive climbing wall. such as the one pictured above.

Pretty awesome stuff! If you are looking to retrofit your already existing course, or you want to create something completely new, we can help you determine the best direction. Just contact us for a free no-obligation consultation and quote.

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My, how the world has changed in a short period of time. As most gym owners can attest, the new normal is hardly recognizable and if you want to stay in the game, you have to adapt…quickly. To sum it up, facility cleanliness is key going forward   

One aspect of the gym everyone is a little unsure about is the foam block pit. There is hardly a gymnastics facility in the country without one. However, in today’s environment, with respect to cleanliness, foam block pits seem to come with a stigma that may have existed before but most were able put it out of their mind. There’s no denying that foam pits are challenging to keep clean. It is a process that involves hours of time and dozens of people lending a hand to make it happen. 

As you may be aware, there is an alternative and you shouldn’t shy away from it. That’s right, it’s the AirBag. I can assure you, they are not just for tramp parks anymore. Manufacturers have been working hard on this product to make them a better fit for any gymnastics facility. 

So, let’s get right to it and discuss the AirBag so you can make a more educated decision for your facility:

1. Fully Customizable Shape & Size – Gymnastics pits come is all shapes and sizes. “L” shapes, “U” shapes, long channels, large rectangles, and even hour glass shaped. The good news is the AirBag can be made in any shape you can imagine. So that crazy polygon hole you have in the ground can easily be filled with a perfectly customized AirBag. 

2.  Cleaning & Maintenance  – The HUGE bonus of owning an airbag is the ease of which you can clean it. We all know too well the method for cleaning out the foam block pit – Wrangle up multiple staff members and a team of kids and start throwing foam out of the pit and then bang out each and every block. It is a tedious task to say the least. Also, foam pit blocks can be impregnated with fire retardants, which become airborne in the form of dust particles. 

This is where the AirBag outshines foam block by a long shot. It has a top sheet that can be removed by two staff members in a matter of minutes. That top sheet can then be cleaned and replaced. With the AirBag you won’t have to worry about filthy socks or other nasty items sinking down into your pit and making a home for months. 

In addition, Anti-Microbial top sheets are also available, which kills micro-organisms and stops growth – so no need to wash daily! It’s the same price as a normal top sheet so that’s pretty awesome!

3. Landings – There are some major differences with landing on an airbag compared to foam block. Both systems are designed to create a landing area that is extremely safe when it comes to awkward landings. Is injury possible with the both systems? Yes, of course, but the risk is substantially reduced due to how each are constructed. I think this is where gym owners are a little skeptical of the airbag system. They know foam block systems, they are comfortable with them, and they know for the most part they are very safe if installed properly. 

Well, more good news on the airbag is that the technology has evolved over the last several years to create a system with redundancies and other safety mechanisms. Let’s take a look at the construction of the airbag. 

 

 

One question many people have is whether or not you can bottom out an airbag. Engineers have taken this question seriously and have devoted lots of time in to creating a system that is next to impossible to bottom out. The safety zone (the bottom layer of air) is a key feature that prevents anyone from bottoming out. Well, what if the blower malfunctions and the airbag deflates? To deal with this scenario, the AirBag (aka Smart AirBag) has 3 different built-in safety features. 

 

1. Alarm – An audible alarm goes off any time a blower malfunctions or the power goes out.
2. Pressure Sensor – there is a sensor located in the airbag that is able to read the pressure within the bag and that pressure is displayed so one can determine whether it is within the appropriate limits.
3. Do Not Jump Labels – when the air bag is deflated, there are large, brightly colored “Do Not Jump” labels that display.

 

Since we are discussing landings on the airbag, it is definitely worth mentioning one really cool feature that would be appealing to a lot of gym owners. Pressure may be adjusted to allow for different types of landings on the bags. If the athlete is learning a new big skill and needs a more cushioned landing, no problem. Pressure can be reduced to allow for that softer feel, resulting in a more comfortable landing on their back or rear.  Or, do you want to mimic more of a firm mat landing? This can be done as well by increasing the pressure enough for the athlete to land on their feet.

 

4. Aesthetics – I will keep this one short and simple. Airbags can look amazing and provide a very clean look in your facility. Your imagination is the driver of the look of the top sheet. Any design or look you want can be done on this top sheet – logos/branding, motivational words, shapes, colors, pictures, etc.

 

5. Throughput – This is another area where the AirBag is amazing. We all know how long it can take to get out of a foam block pit. This can sometimes take more than a minute, while other kids are standing in line waiting for their turn. The average time to exit the pit from an airbag is about 7 – 10 secs. Now you are increasing training productivity by almost 10 fold!

 

6. Noise – This one seems to be the deal killer for a number of folks in gymnastics facilities. Coaches fear the noise can be distracting. Again, engineers have listened to the gripes and have come up with the low noise air blower. The decibel level can be compared to that of a low level conversation. 

 

7. Cost – This is a BIG question for most people considering an AirBag over foam block. What is this thing going to cost me? Quite simply, the initial cost of the complete airbag system (with all bells and whistles) is going to cost you more than foam block. However, if you are more interested in the cost over time, then the airbag will become the obvious choice. Long term cost analysis shows that most gym owners will recover that additional cost in about a year and half when purchasing an airbag over foam block. Think about it – very little maintenance (both staff time and actual cost), and nothing to replace for a very long time (if ever).  Plus, ask us about our New Financing Options for extremely low up-front cost and monthly payments!

 

How about cost to run the Blower? Quite low…about $2 per day. Here’s a gymnastics facility where you can see it in action …

 

 

Based on all of the information above, the future is looking pretty bright for AirBags making their way in to gymnastics facilities. I think education on the product is key for each owner considering making the switch. We are here to answer any questions about them and can also provide a quick estimate for changing out your existing pits if needed. 

 

Just complete the form above or contact us for more questions.

 

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The Boomerang is one of our more recent obstacles that we have created. I would say it is a combination of a lache bar and inclined tilting ladder and of course it is shaped like a boomerang – hence the name. This obstacle loads of fun and presents a number of challenges. The obstacle is design so that it rests in a position where the first rung is on the low side and the second is elevated a few feet. This means your first move is a nifty little lache up to the next rung. It’s not over once you catch that next rung as the obstacle will now start a fast tilt towards the provided stops – hang on and enjoy the ride!

If I had to put this item on the 1 – 10 difficulty scale, I would place it between a 6 and 7 as The Boomerang is geared more towards that intermediate level ninja.

The obstacle is primarily made of steel with the “boomerang” steel pieces sandwiching a dense plastic. We designed the top bracket pieces to allow you to attach the element to 2″ or 3″ crossbars. However, we can customize to suit your needs.

Here is a little animation of the boomerang showing it’s range of motion:

Check out all of our Ninja Obstacles HERE and let us know if we can help you in any way!

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This is Jams Athletics second facility and it is substantially larger than the first. They are taking advantage of this new space by implementing some new activities such as Ninja and a soft play area. Like many business owners, they recognize that Ninja is a fun way for kids to exercise. We added in a 30ft frame section with hanging obstacles, ground obstacles along with a 10ft warped wall. It should be awesome! In addition to the new programs, they will also have full court basketball, dance and cheer. It’s really going to be a great experience for the kids.

This is a testament to the sport of Ninja and the benefits it brings to a variety of businesses. I love seeing it’s popularity continue to grow as it makes its way in to fitness facilities, schools, organized leagues and even residential back yards. Stay tuned for completed facility photos, but in the meantime, here is a video of the design

Brad Thornton

Co-Founder and Lead Designer 

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This was one of those projects you dream about doing – Design concept through installation – Amazing facility – sweet family. This video takes you on a virtual fly through of this amazing fun space. Enjoy!

Don’t forget, we work in residential spaces all the time! Even if it is simply coming up with a cool and fun concept in a single room of the basement, we are happy to chat with you about your project ideas. You’d be surprised how much you can do in a small space at home. For more info, email Brad@InteractiveSportsZone.com

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