Powerbocking is the act of jumping and running, much like parkour, with elastic-like Spring Loaded Stilts. For some it is an extreme sport, for others it is a form of exercise or even a means of artistic expression. The use of the stilts to perform extreme jumping, running and acrobatics is known as 'Bocking' or 'PowerBocking' after the inventor.
Each boot consists of a foot pad with snowboard type bindings, foot-plate and a fibreglass leaf spring. Using only their weight, and few movements, the user is generally able to jump 1%u20131.5 meters (3%u20136 ft) off the ground and run up to 20 mph (32 km/h). They also give the ability to take up to 9 foot strides.[1]
Brands
They were originally patented by Alexander Böck, from Germany(European Patent EP 1 196 220 B1 on July 02, 2003, US Patent No. 6,719,671 B1 on April 13, 2004, both with a priority date of July 20, 1999), as Powerskips. The name of "PowerBocks" is derived from Mr. Boeck's name.
The original Powerskips are considered a brand for professional and serious enthusiast use, costing in excess of US$1000. The other professional brand is Velocity Stilts.
There are 3 main companies producing lower cost powerbocks for hobbyists. Fly Jumpers, PoweriZers and Pro Jumps are all identical models produced by one company in China. Poweriser brand powerbocks are produced in Korea. 7 League Boots are produced by an Austrian company and are the most expensive of the non-pro brands.
Powerisers are produced by a Korean company "Hitechnology & Culture." Their US legal representatives have charged the chinese imitation "PoweriZer" brand with trademark infringement.[citation needed]
PoweriZers have recently changed their brand name to Flying Jumpers in the US and many european countries. Although there has been no specific announcement about this it is widely assumed that this is in response to the law suit against them put forward in the US by the Poweriser producing company "Hitechnology & Culture".
Fly Jumpers, PoweriZers and Pro Jumps are all made by a Chinese company called "Flying Locust" in China, these stilts are also manufactured with many other regional specific names such as Jolly Jumpers in Russia.
7 League Boots (or 7 Meilen Stiefel as they are called in Austria) are sold throughout most of europe but have not yet been granted the right to sell in the USA, but do sell in Canada.
Many countries are not patent protected by Mr Boeck's original patent and so there are often other makes being sold in these companies under various names and with no guidelines or advice as to the safety of the product. Due to this it is best to buy from a recognised retailer or from a known company.
- [2] Patent for the original PowerSkip, by Alexander Boeck
- [3] List of jumping stilts brands
