Is it a sport? An attraction? A fad? Yes! Zorbing is all these things! Here are 5 things you should know about this zany, popular, adventuresome sport and family activity: zorbing.

Zorbing is Really Fun!

Last summer, our family spent the afternoon at Body Bounce Activity Park Newquay Cornwall, UK. Our fave activity? The Body Zorbs. First, a helpful teenaged staff member pushed and squeezed us into these giant big inflated balls. Our legs stuck out so we could stand. We held on to the inside harness and just bumped and rolled around. From time to time a non-zorber would push or roll us. It didn’t feel dangerous or wild. Just mildly pointless…and really fun!

things you should know about sorbing

Zorbing in Newquay, Cornwall/Photo: Helen Earley

You Can Zorb on Land or Water

There are two kinds of Zorb: wet and dry (or hydro zorb and harness zorb). In a wet zorb, you are fully enclosed inside a bubble, and floating, or travelling on water.

There are many variations of zorb balls, including the awesome game of bubble soccer, where each player is encased in a bubble, and West Edmonton Mall’s Hurricane Ride, which has been described as something between a waterfall and a roller coaster!

Zorbing Was Born in New Zealand

Zorbing began in Rotorura New Zealand, where there exists to this day one of the most incredible sorbing tracks, hugely  popular with locals and tourists. Zorbing folklore however, claims that the ball was originally a UK design.

Zorb Balling down a hill

Zorbing down a hill via Shutterstock

There Have Been Tragic Zorbing Fatalities

The most horrific zorbing accident happened in January 2013 at a Russian Ski resort, when a Zorb rolled out of control down a mountain, eventually stopping one kilometre away. Don’t let this single incident frighten you too much: when you read the details of the sad accident, it’s pretty clear that there were zero safety precautions taken. Russia has since clamped down on the laws surrounding Zorb balls.

zorbing in russia

Zorbing in the Russian City of Veliky Novgorod, Russia by Marina Zezelina via Shutterstock

The US Government is not keen on Hydro Zorbs

The US government warns consumers not to use “Giant Water Walking Balls”, citing concerns about  too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide in the wet zorb balls. A further concern is that  fact that the balls have no emergency exit and can only be opened by a person outside of the ball.

zorbballs by Helen Earley

Photo: Helen Earley

The version of zorbing that we tried in England was easy and affordable family fun.  Has your family tried zorbing? Please share your experiences in the comments!