This was perhaps my favourite present ever – in my mind! I wanted one as soon as I saw one! This futuristic flying saucer-like contracption, that you stood on to bounce around on.
Pogo Balls – or Lolo balls Springbal, Lolobal, Disc-O or Pogoba as they were known by many names! were great. Though, they were devilishly hard to work, I could only do about 5 bounces before careering off into the wall or an armchair (if I was cavalier enough to play with it inside), or if I was outside would always end up almost falling into the greenhouse!!
The ball / idea itself was a typical 1980’s idea, where crazyness meets technological leaps! It was patented in 1985, and it became a fad when Hasbro mass-produced it. It’s still available today – though Hasbro stopped producing it in the 1990’s. I love the idea of making a million having invented something as individual and kooky as the Pogo ball.
It was about 2 weeks before I was about to use one without almost mortally wounding someone in the vicinity. They looked like they should be a lot of fun, and were, but even for the 7 year old that I was (A fit 7 year old as well) it was exhausting after only a little time. The effort required to clamp your feet together and bounce, while holding onto the pogo ball was substantial.
I used to try and bring the pogo ball with me down the shops, and would always only get so far before I game up and tried wearing it like a hat! Or found some way to string it to my back, or stashed it in a bush to pick up on the way home.
I did get very good at it though and my favourite thing to do was to hop down stairs (okay, wide stairs!), or skip at the same time as using them.
Do You Remember Lolo Ball / Pogo Ball?
Do You Remember Lolo Ball / Pogo Ball?