1960-1962
"How the Sport of Trampoline was Introduced to South Africa"
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With the establishment of Trampoline Company of S.A. (PTY.) LTD., in May of 1960, Ron Munn and Olle Areborn became formal business partners. Their goals at the time were simply to make and sell trampolines throughout South Africa. But this dream required start-up income and customers, of which they had none. So Ron hit the road performing in numerous shows and demonstrations throughout the Transvaal region while in turn Olle set about locating facilities that would meet their needs for the production of trampolines.
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| Ron Munn and friend traveling to his show - 1960 |
By 1960, the craze of outdoor trampoline jump centers had
hit an all-time high in the United States and believing it could be a lucrative business
in South Africa as well, Olle and Ron decided to contact their good friend George
Nissen. They inquired if his Nissen Trampoline Company would be interested in
working together with them to help start up production. George was very interested,
but he explained the timing was bad. Besides trying to keep up with the soaring
demand for trampolines for all the outdoor trampoline jump centers throughout the United States, as well as moving his employees and machines to a new
factory slated to open January, 1961 - - he was also introducing a new line of
chrome gymnastics apparatus.
This left Olle and Ron with only one other option; to
contact American Athletic, in Jefferson, Iowa - - who jumped at the opportunity to
create a South African connection. The contract with American Athletic provided
Trampoline Company of S.A. (PTY.), LTD., with blueprints to manufacture folding trampolines and
the procurement of both completed web-beds along with solid Lumite material that
was used as the jumping surface for outdoor in-ground trampolines.
Trampoline Company of S.A. (PTY.) LTD., still lacked a facility so Olle turned to a Norwegian friend, Hilmar Nielson. In addition to Hilmar’s interest in joining
as a third business partner, his steelworks company in Johannesburg offered
space for the fledgling trampoline business to set up shop.
Trampoline springs were locally-made and a South
African woman was hired to sew up the imported Lumite material. Together the
three partners produced the very first trampolines made in South Africa, which included: folding competitive
trampolines, mini-trampolines and Dive-olines (mini-trampolines with an
attached ladder used at swimming pools).
However, it was the sales of backyard pit (in-ground) trampolines that led to their initial success.
Using the format of outdoor trampoline jump centers in the United States as their model, Ron and Olle chose the city of Durban, a
family holiday destination, located on the coast of South Africa for their first outdoor trampoline jump center.
But during the initial visit with Durban city council
members to discuss availability of land for their project, the two men quickly learned
it would not be as easy as they had thought. While somewhat receptive, the
council refused to lease the requested beachfront land. Although disappointed, the three men did not
give up and continued to pursue the council, pitching that a trampoline jump center would be
an added attraction for the city’s beachfront area. Finally the council relented
but not without stipulating that the trampoline jump center was restricted to an area of beach
sand and only with a three month lease.
All along Ron and Olle had planned for an outdoor
trampoline jump center on solid ground with the pits under the trampolines dug from the dirt below - - just like the ones they read about in the United States. A trampoline jump center on beach sand seemed near impossible! Despite this setback the partners
agreed to take a chance and soon created a system whereby the trampolines were laid out over sand pits. This meant holes were dug in the sand and to prevent the sand walls from caving in steel posts and
corrugated metal were inserted. Only then were the angle iron frames carefully laid on top.
Their beach-sand trampoline jump center opened just in time for the
1960 Christmas season, when many South Africans traveled to the coast to spend
their holidays. Despite the challenges of hot sand under the feet of waiting
bouncers, the nightly digging out of accumulated sand from the bottom of the
pits and tense moments when a high-tide flooded all the trampolines - - the
Durban beachfront outdoor trampoline jump center was a tremendous success. So much that, the city council extended the lease indefinitely!
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| Ron Munn with the manager of Claridges Hotel |
Ron stayed on in Durban for about a month to oversee the center and during that time had a booking with the night club, Cafe de Paris, in the Claridges Hotel, for nightly performances on the trampoline - - all which made for very full days!
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| Ron Munn performing at Cafe du Paris |
Throughout 1960 and 1961, Ron, Olle and Hilmar expanded their
business to include additional jump centers installed in the cities of Margate,
Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.
Jungle Oats, a popular local brand of cereal contracted with Ron to have him help advertise their product. This resulted in numerous full-page newspaper ads as well as short featured ads in local movie theaters.
A new niche market was created when Ron and Olle sold several in-ground trampolines to the local mining industry for recreational use by the miners.
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| Ron and Olle demonstrating the trampoline at the Mine Dancer's arena - 1961 |
The entertainment and recreation value of trampolines was an easy sell, but for the trampoline to be accepted as a competitive sport - - trampoline schools, clubs and sanctioned competitions were needed as well.
In Pretoria, Sorën Jonnson’s students at the Teacher’s
Technical College were bouncing on the original Nissen trampoline that George Nissen left behind following his demonstration tour in 1959.
Two of the four trampolines used by Ron and his teammates during their 1960 tour were purchased by brothers Syd and
Martin Trimmer and used to to establish a trampoline school in the Old
Mutual Building Sports Club located in Capetown. Word spread of their
classes and soon so many non-club athletes wanted to join that the management opened enrollment to anyone interested. Recognized Springbok divers as well as those from the provinces came to refine their skills and learn “spatial orientation.” Even a circus
performer came in for lessons!
Following Ron’s simple method of promotion, Syd and
Martin put on trampoline displays of their own throughout the Western Cape
region which in turn generated the rise of more trampoline schools and clubs across
the provinces.
At the King David School in Johannesburg, Jannie Jansen, who was Deputy Principal and in charge of the school's physical education, purchased a trampoline to add to the student's curriculum. Janie quickly became one of the leading advocates and supporters of trampoline as a competitive sport. Despite all the activity of selling and manufacturing trampolines as well as opening outdoor jump centers, even Ron Munn managed to open a trampoline school. Operating under the name of the SAGA Trampoline School and located at the Johannesburg Technical College, he had only one trampoline but students enrolled and eagerly learned the fundamentals of this exciting new activity.
By November 1961, Ron traveled back to the United States for a much anticipated visit with his parents in Amarillo, Texas. But life had one more curve
ball for him as well - - Awaiting his arrival was a letter from the U.S. Army
informing him that he was being drafted into military service. Quickly
requesting an extension, Ron explained his business interests in South Africa
and was allowed an extension of only one year.
Upon his return to South Africa, Ron and Olle decided it
was time to open a permanent trampoline school and company sales office. They
found adequate space on Noord Street in Johannesburg and moved classes from the
SAGA site to the new Ron Munn Trampoline School. 
As 1961 came to a close and the Christmas season arrived, Ron and Olle rented a campground outside the city of Margate and offered a week of trampoline training to anyone in the Natal area. Among the attending campers was Ian McNaughton, who in five years - - would go on to represent South Africa in the 1966 World Trampoline Championships placing 4th in the men's division.
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| Ron Munn instructs campers attending trampoline camp - 1961 |
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| Campers and instructors at trampoline camp - 1961 (click on photo to enlarge) |
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| L-R: Ron Munn, Olle Areborn, Kieth Anderson, Roy Yelseth, Ragna Areborn and Harold Yelseth - 1961 |
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| Mr. Dennis MacIldowie |
Participation in trampoline clubs and schools grew to the point where in May of 1962, all interested parties attended a meeting that resulted in the selection of a steering committee, structuring of a constitution and the organization of a graded trampoline competition. At a follow-up meeting the Transvaal Provincial Association (TPS) and South African Trampoline Union (SATU) were formed. Dennis MacIldowie was elected president and Charles Dorey as Chairman.
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| Mr. Charles Dorey |
In September of 1962, at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, South Africa’s first national graded trampoline championships were held. The well-attended competition sanctioned by the South Africa Gymnastics Union also saw the establishment of the annual MacIldowie Trophy (named in honor
of President MacIldowie).
Top places in the men's division went to:
1.Neil
Yelseth, 2. Martin Trimmer, 3. Peter Melvin, 4. Adrian Dorey.
Winners of the women's division were:
1. Marijke Van den Boogaard, 2. Pam Melvin.
During that same month, Ron
made the decision to sell out of his interest in Trampoline Company of S.A. (PTY.) LTD., and return
to the United States to fulfill his military obligations. Just prior to leaving the
country he, Olle, and Hilmar met with
the two owners of a new start-up trampoline business that was also located in
Johannesburg.
While saying his good byes at the airport, Ron made the suggestion to Olle that rather than being in competition with the new group, he should consider merging the two
companies together.
Olle said he’d have to think about it.
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