On a scorching hot day in downtown Pittsburgh, Dalton Smith, a 25-year-old from Tennessee, stood among a crowd of about 100 people in Market Square. It was the last Friday of June in the year 2022. Smith clicked his helmet into place, secured his feet on the pegs of his pogo stick, and prepared to make history. With a tight grip on the handlebars, he began bouncing, gradually increasing the height of his jumps. Then, in one massive leap, he propelled himself into the air, spinning his stick like an airplane propeller as he cleared a 12-foot bar positioned above him. When Smith gracefully landed on the other side, he achieved what no one else had before – the Guinness World Record for the highest-ever jump on a pogo stick. And he accomplished this feat with the help of the Vurtego, a revolutionary pogo stick that has taken the world by storm.
Unlike traditional spring-loaded pogo sticks, Vurtego’s devices rely on air pressure. The sticks are equipped with shafts that pump in and out of hollow metal tubes, creating an immense amount of air pressure inside. This allows riders to achieve heights of over eight feet with a single bounce, making it perfect for the emerging extreme sport known as trick pogo. For Vurtego, the challenge lies in attracting a broader audience beyond the adrenaline junkies while still maintaining its appeal to thrill-seekers.
To address this dilemma, Vurtego is launching a new product called the Slingshot in September. This model is shorter, lighter, and easier to control, making it accessible to a wider range of individuals. It still harnesses the power of air, but it provides a more comfortable and less intimidating bouncing experience. With the Slingshot, Vurtego aims to cater to kids who crave a more exciting toy than a traditional pogo stick, as well as anyone open to trying something new.
But why would anyone want to jump on a pogo stick in the first place? For Smith, it’s all about recapturing the joy and innocence of childhood. Jumping on a pogo stick evokes a sense of nostalgia for carefree days where the height of your jump was your only concern. It’s a unique feeling of vitality, youth, and happiness that engulfs your entire body.
Vurtego’s journey to revolutionize the pogo stick began when two friends, passionate about surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding, contemplated reinventing this classic childhood toy for the realm of extreme sports. Their encounter with a friend tinkering with an old pogo stick sparked the idea that would later become Vurtego. Named after the California-based company that has been manufacturing them since 2005, Vurtego pogo sticks have transformed the way people think about this simple toy.
The V4 is the current pogo stick used by most athletes in the popular competition, Pogopalooza. It’s an impressive piece of equipment, but its features make it inaccessible to the general public. The V4 is made from heavy stainless steel and aluminum, with a price tag of $499. In contrast, the Slingshot is designed with materials that have become available in recent years, such as pressure-rolled aluminum and a special thermoplastic and nylon blend for its pegs. This enables Vurtego to offer the Slingshot at a more affordable price of $149 or $159, depending on the size. The Slingshot’s slower and cushioned bounce makes it less intimidating for newcomers and younger enthusiasts.
Vurtego plans to continue its innovation by introducing the V5, a new model with a trampolinelike bounce, next spring. This stick will combine the nostalgic feel of the Slingshot with the capabilities of the V4, appealing to those looking to take their pogo skills to the next level.
While getting people to embrace pogo as a leisure activity may seem challenging, the Slingshot serves as a gateway to unstructured and nostalgic fun. It offers a break from the pressures of daily life, allowing individuals of all ages to experience the lightheartedness and playfulness reminiscent of childhood.
Pogo sticks may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but their importance lies in providing a small escape from the burdens of a heavy world. They offer a moment of buoyancy, representing the essence of frivolity. As someone who will never have the chance to bounce on a Vurtego or a Slingshot, I appreciate the joy and carefree spirit they bring to the lives of others. Witnessing pogo stunts firsthand has given me a newfound appreciation for the power of silliness and lightheartedness.
For Smith, his time on a pogo stick is a gateway to the world of imagination. He recalls watching YouTube videos of others performing tricks on pogo sticks and attempting to imitate them. The act of bouncing on a pogo stick allows him to become a character, embracing absurdity and playfulness. This taps into the root of nostalgia and the feeling of being young and innocent.
This summer, Smith had the opportunity to perform at Legoland in Florida, using his Vurtego to bounce on stage as “Mike,” a jackhammer operator. The pogo stick became the jackhammer, and Smith truly embodied the spirit of fun and imagination.
So, why does a new pogo stick matter? Because it captures the essence of a little joy in a heavily burdened world.
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