Picture 1: Nick McClintock does a Judo with strong forward momentum.

By Justin Iannello

I know what you’re thinking. No, not that type of speed! So…let me clarify. Most beginners who believe Xpogo is all about big air, street and flatland, soon realize the sport offers infinite opportunities. Speed-type activities can involve anything from racing to time trials to intense cardiovascular exercise. In fact, speed can be incorporated into any Xpogo style you choose to excel in. For example, the jumper who wishes to further challenge themselves by performing difficult tricks in three-dimensional motion (Picture 1) or the rider who enjoys zipping through obstacle courses clearing objects with tucks and tabletops (Picture 2). Perhaps, you’d rather impress your family, friends and neighbors by traveling as fast as the road runner.

Speed competition is about control, stamina, timing and prediction. While control and stamina are obvious, timing and prediction may leave you scratching your head. I notice that the best riders in the world display tactical skills with regards to timing and prediction. Timing involves knowing when you should leave the ground and adjusting yourself at the right moment for an appropriate landing. Prediction involves anticipating how you will land and recovery. Even the best jumpers can’t stick a perfect landing, but they are so experienced that their “pogo skill” instincts take over. And what looks like a close call or dangerous landing from a viewer perspective is in actuality, a comfortable ride for them.

Picture 2: Dave Armstrong uses a combination of speed and tuck to clear a garbage can.

How fast can you actually go? I recorded 6 trials being timed in the 40 yard dash at an average of 9.38 seconds and a personal best of 9.09 seconds. I calculated that the fastest riders in the world hop around at 9 miles per hour or greater.

How is bouncing around on a pogo stick a viable fitness routine? Speed training is a full body workout. It increases your heart rate, improves your lung capacity and strengthens multiple muscle groups, particularly your quadriceps, lower back, biceps and triceps (Picture 3). According to Dr. Kim Manwaring, a pediatric neurosurgeon and pogo enthusiast who lives in Arizona, pogo sticking can also “lower circulating cholesterol and triglyceride levels, assist in the rehabilitation of a heart problem, promote tissue repair, improve balance, increase capacity for respiration and improve muscle-to-fat ratio”.

So, is speed good for you? As long as it’s not being ingested, it proves beneficial in your daily health and fitness. It might also serve as an alternative stress reliever that is fun to partake in. And let’s not forget that it is a critical component to improving your well-rounded pogo skill.

Picture 3: Justin Iannello practices his timing and prediction in speed trials.