{{Short description|Sport of rolling downhill inside a ball}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2011}} {{Cleanup|date=September 2015|reason=informal style and tone}} {{Infobox sport | image = Zorbing.jpg | imagesize = 225px | caption = Zorbs in Rotorua, New Zealand | union = ZORB Limited | nickname = | first = 1994, Stien Vermeiren, Rotorua, New Zealand | registered = | category = Indoor or outdoor and extreme | ball = Zorb }}
'''Zorbing''' (also known as '''globe-riding''', '''sphereing''' or '''orbing''') is the recreation or sport of rolling downhill inside a '''zorb''', an orb or ball with a smaller ball inside and an air layer in between the two, typically made of transparent plastic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seeker.com/what-is-zorbing-and-is-it-really-fun-if-youre-over-20-1765507449.html|title=What Is Zorbing? And Is It Really Fun If You're Over 20?|last=DNews|website=Seeker|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref> Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope but can also be done on a level surface, permitting more rider control. In the absence of hills, some operators have constructed inflatable, wooden, or metal ramps.<ref name="zta">{{Cite web|access-date=2025-12-26|url=https://www.zorbingtime.com/zorbing/|title=Zorbing - Discover Zorbing, a seriously cool sport !|work=ZorbingTime}}</ref> Due to the buoyant nature of the orbs, zorbing can also take place on water, provided the orb is inflated properly and sealed once the rider is inside. ''Water walking'' using such orbs has become popular in theme parks across the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncHSmCXErI0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ncHSmCXErI0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Noah in Aqua Zorb, Chessington 25June12|last=bersmythuk|date=25 June 2012|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2016}}
There are two types of orbs: harnessed and non-harnessed. Non-harnessed orbs carry up to three riders, while the harnessed orbs are constructed for one to two riders. The first zorbing site was established in Rotorua, New Zealand, by ZORB Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2019 |title=Zorbing: The best way to roll down a hill without looking too ridiculous {{!}} The Star Online |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2019/04/12/zorbing-new-zealand/ |access-date=2020-04-10 |website=thestar.com.my}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Zorbs at the Chew Stoke Harvest Home 2010.jpg|thumb|Zorbing at the Chew Stoke Harvest Home September 2010]] [[File:Rolling ball at World Gymnaestrada 2019.jpg|thumb|right|Zorbing at the World Gymnaestrada 2019 in Dornbirn, Vorarlberg, Austria]] A Russian article on the zorb mentions a similar device having debuted in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |last=БАЗЫЛЮК |first=Марина |date=March 1, 2005 |title= |script-title=ru:Новые Известия / Кого не берут в космонавты, тот становится зорбонавтом. |url=http://www.newizv.ru/inset/2005-05-01/23482-kogo-ne-berut-v-kosmonavty-tot-stanovitsja-zorbonavtom.html |access-date=August 18, 2009 |language=ru |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807034437/http://www.newizv.ru/inset/2005-05-01/23482-kogo-ne-berut-v-kosmonavty-tot-stanovitsja-zorbonavtom.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the early 1980s, the Dangerous Sports Club constructed a giant sphere (reportedly {{convert|23|m|0|disp=or|abbr=on}} across) with a gimbal arrangement supporting two deck chairs inside. This device was eventually cut up for scrap.<ref>{{cite web |title=What on earth is a zorb? |url=http://www.extremedreams.co.uk/index.php/Extremedreams/zorb/xsid/59 |access-date=August 18, 2009 |publisher=ExtremeDreams}}</ref> Human spheres have been depicted in mass media since 1990 when the Gladiators event "Atlaspheres" first aired, albeit with steel balls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI7vz9Bd664 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mI7vz9Bd664 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Operation Condor - Zorb ball scene - YouTube|website=YouTube |date=2007-01-19|access-date=2016-06-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In 1994, three investors created the firm ZORB Limited in New Zealand to create suitable balls for humans and to commercialize zorbing.<ref>{{cite news |last=Read |first=Ellen |date=14 August 2003 |title=Zorb inventors rolling in it |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=3518104 |access-date=11 July 2019 |publisher=New Zealand Herald |issue=14 August 2003}}</ref> Their business model was to develop the activity via a franchise system.<ref name="zta"/> Zorbing entered the Concise Oxford English Dictionary in 2001 where it was defined as "a sport in which a participant is secured inside an inner capsule in a large, transparent ball which is then rolled along the ground or down hills."<ref>{{Cite web|access-date=2025-12-26|url=https://zorb.com/about-us/by-the-inventors/|title=The Inventors of ZORB Rotorua and how it all came about|work=Zorb Rotorua}}</ref>
==Construction== The orb is double-sectioned, with one ball inside the other with an air layer in between (unlike the water walking ball, which is usually a single thin-walled ball). This acts as a shock absorber for the rider.<ref name="ztb">{{Cite web|access-date=2025-12-26|url=https://www.zorbingtime.com/zorb-ball-human-hamster-ball/|title=Zorb Ball - The Human Hamster Ball - ZorbingTime|work=ZorbingTime}}</ref> Orbs are lightweight and made of flexible plastic. Many orbs have straps to hold the rider in place, while others leave the rider free to walk the orb around or be tossed about freely by the rolling motion.<ref name="ztb"/> A typical orb is about {{Convert|3|m|0|abbr=on}} in diameter with an inner orb size of about {{Convert|2|m|0|abbr=on}}, leaving a {{Convert|50|-|60|cm|abbr=on}} air cushion around the riders. The plastic is approximately {{Convert|0.8|mm|2|abbr=on}} thick.<ref name="ztb"/> The inner and outer orbs are connected by small nylon strings. Orbs have one or two tunnel-like entrances.<ref name="ztb"/>
==Facilities== 'Hill-rolling' and 'globe riding' are generic names for this activity which is practised in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Estonia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Japan, Costa Rica, Kochi in India, Phuket in Thailand, and Slovenia.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} The United States formerly had several zorbing locations, including facilities in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Amesbury, Massachusetts, and Roundtop Mountain Resort in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. However, as of 2025, the only zorbing facility in the United States is located at Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The longest track in the world is in Denmark, Western Australia at {{convert|570|m|abbr=on}} long.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}
==Records== The Guinness Book of World Records recognises five sphereing records: * The longest distance travelled in a single roll is held by Steve Camp, of South Africa, who travelled {{convert|570|m|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/greatest-distance-zorbing |title= Greatest Distance Zorbing |publisher=Guinness World Records |access-date=November 5, 2015}}</ref> * The fastest sphereing ride is held by New Zealand's Keith Kolver, who reached a speed of {{convert|52|kph|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-11-09-guinness-world-records-day_x.htm |date=2006-11-09 |agency=Agence France-Presse |title=World's fastest 'zorbanaut' kicks off Guinness World Records Day |publisher=USA TODAY |access-date=November 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150306081530/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-11-09-guinness-world-records-day_x.htm |archive-date= Mar 6, 2015 }}</ref> *The longest time spent zorbing is 4 hours, 11 minutes, and 33 seconds; the record is held by Siddhant Kulkarni, who also once held the fastest sphereing ride. * The fastest {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} in a zorb is 23.21 seconds; it is held by James Duggan, of Dunmanway, County Cork, Ireland, who broke the record during the Sam Maguire Harvest Festival on the September 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-14 |title=Corkman enters Guinness Book of Records for 'zorbing' |url=https://www.echolive.ie/corklives/arid-40190250.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627045507/https://www.echolive.ie/corklives/arid-40190250.html |archive-date=27 June 2022 |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=echo live |language=en}}</ref>
==Injuries and deaths== Although the cushioning design of the orbs prevents many serious injuries, light injuries such as bruises and grazes can often be sustained by colliding with objects or tripping whilst the orb is rolling down an incline. Even though severe injury is rare, there have been cases of children passing out due to lack of air and even some deaths.
In June 2009, a teacher died (and a pupil was severely injured) in the Czech Republic while zorbing.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/teacher-killed-in-zorbing-accident/story-e6frfkp9-1225722279320 | work= News.com.au | title= Teacher killed in zorbing accident | date=June 5, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111171832/https://www.news.com.au/top-stories/teacher-killed-in-zorbing-accident/story-e6frfkp9-1225722279320 | archive-date=Jan 11, 2013}}</ref>
In January 2013, at a ski resort in Dombay, Russia, a man died from a broken neck, and another was badly injured when the zorb he was in rolled out of control down a mountain, hitting rocks and eventually coming to a stop a kilometre away on a frozen lake.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/09/168943032/zorbing-death-brings-call-for-safety-rules-fatal-ride-captured-on-video|work=NPR | title= 'Zorbing' Death Brings Call For Safety Rules; Fatal Ride Captured On Video| date=January 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Zorb-death-at-Russian-ski-resort/tabid/313/articleID/282433/Default.aspx | work= 3 News NZ | title= Fatal Zorb accident at ski resort | date= January 9, 2013 | archive-date= January 29, 2013 | access-date= January 8, 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130129015946/http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Zorb-death-at-Russian-ski-resort/tabid/313/articleID/282433/Default.aspx | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Roth |first=Andrew |date=January 11, 2013 |title=Man in Plastic Ball Dies on Russian Ski Slope |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/world/europe/zorbing-accident-kills-1-man-and-injures-another-in-russia.html |access-date=7 July 2025 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The incident was caught on camera and uploaded to the Internet.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mreporter.ru/reports/125474|title=VIDEO: Zorb death at Russian ski resort|date=January 4, 2013|work=Mobile Reporter (RU)|archive-date=March 14, 2017|access-date=March 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314062557/https://www.mreporter.ru/reports/125474|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the incident made international headlines, Russian authorities called for tougher safety laws.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Russia-probes-Zorb-death/tabid/417/articleID/282548/Default.aspx | work= 3 News NZ | title= Russia probes Zorb death | date= January 10, 2012 | archive-date= February 21, 2014 | access-date= January 9, 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221145022/http://www.3news.co.nz/Russia-probes-Zorb-death/tabid/417/articleID/282548/Default.aspx | url-status= dead }}</ref>
In December 2021, some of the children injured or killed by the Hillcrest Primary School Tragedy were in zorbs that were launched into the air by a gust of wind.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=McLennan |first=April |date=4 February 2022 |title=Jumping castle accident still scars Hillcrest Primary School as students prepare to return |website=ABC News |publisher=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-05/jumping-castle-accident-tasmania-hillcrest-primary-school-return/100804304 |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>
In May 2023, a nine-year-old child was injured when a zorb was lifted into the air at Southport food and drink festival in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jahangir |first=Rumeana |date=5 June 2023 |title=Boy hurt as zorb lifted into air by wind at Southport festival |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-65805111 |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> Police were investigating footage of a dust devil, filmed in the area on the same day as the accident.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 June 2023 |title=Southport zorbing injury: Dust-devil footage investigated |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-65824984 |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>
An Irish girl sustained a brain injury when a safety harness failed while she was zorbing. She was later awarded €1{{nbsp}}million in December 2024.<ref>{{cite web | title = Woman who claims she was 'thrown around like in a tumble dryer' when zorb ball harness allegedly failed settles High Court action for €1m | first = Tim | last = Healy | date = 2024-12-06 | website = Irish Independent | url = https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/woman-who-claims-she-was-thrown-around-like-in-a-tumble-dryer-when-zorb-ball-harness-allegedly-failed-settles-high-court-action-for-1m/a1414553991.html }}</ref>
==See also== * Water ball * Hamster ball * Bubble football
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Zorbing.ogg|date=2013-05-27}}
Category:Hybrid sports Category:Games and sports introduced in 1994 Category:Sports originating in New Zealand Category:Outdoor recreation