tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73165502882744343912024-03-26T23:36:35.407-07:00Had Trampoline Did TravelUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-38034648099866316782017-06-20T09:46:00.000-07:002017-06-30T10:24:44.383-07:00The GREAT South African Trampoline Safari: Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ-pweLCGqEmwupfpF8vWoEsdwUk5G-z5_G5gj2jkJ7NCwX4uJdIMkLGFPq8nhK4-U4lNC4UUjbeaKy-pvPQ4rbkbyFlxk7LVzymDzDCPNI_DAu-bQbLteukV35n0-eI28-EYvc5Kg2yC/s1600/Title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ-pweLCGqEmwupfpF8vWoEsdwUk5G-z5_G5gj2jkJ7NCwX4uJdIMkLGFPq8nhK4-U4lNC4UUjbeaKy-pvPQ4rbkbyFlxk7LVzymDzDCPNI_DAu-bQbLteukV35n0-eI28-EYvc5Kg2yC/s640/Title2.jpg" width="569" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: black;"> by Dagmar Nissen Munn and Ron Munn</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>"How the Sport of Trampoline </b></i></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>was Introduced to</b></i></span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b> South Africa"</b></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="color: black;">(1954-1959)</b></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WxAsSsOXl6H8RqDDbgX3TGfRMo_Llf_z-brDsUl5j69YitMyhqfNWXV46IGghDxmfqWsHNZcUjhMC7Q5VJZZIzmfHA2hkHBJigHvLdEfuZ-iJI4jKr2YDK4drvy_aLr6MDFWgOS1tE4O/s1600/springbok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WxAsSsOXl6H8RqDDbgX3TGfRMo_Llf_z-brDsUl5j69YitMyhqfNWXV46IGghDxmfqWsHNZcUjhMC7Q5VJZZIzmfHA2hkHBJigHvLdEfuZ-iJI4jKr2YDK4drvy_aLr6MDFWgOS1tE4O/s1600/springbok.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image: Yathin sk</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since time began on the African continent </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">only the springboks jumped up and down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Springboks are long-eared cousins of the gazelle and possess the innate ability to jump </span><span style="font-size: large;">vertically - - sometimes reaching heights of over sixteen feet! A height that went unchallenged until the year 1959 - - which was when the <b>first trampoline</b> landed in South Africa - - and humans have out-jumped the springboks ever since!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In South Africa, the new sport of trampoline grew and prospered so quickly that only fifteen years later, in 1974, Johannesburg was selected to host the 8th World Trampoline & Tumbling Championships. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>What follows is how the sport of trampoline </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>was introduced to South Africa.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our historical safari begins in northern Europe, when in 1954, a team of Swedish gymnasts accepted the invitation for a goodwill tour of the United States. The goal of this thirty state tour, orchestrated mainly by Gene Wettstone, men's gymnastics coach at Penn State University, was to give American gymnasts the opportunity to experience Olympic level competition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eight of the Swedish gymnasts in the group had already competed for Sweden in the 1952 Olympics, and they looked forward to the opportunity to show off their skills against their American university counterparts - - by way of the many special competitions that were scheduled throughout their tour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Accompanying the Swedish team were two renowned gymnasts - - guest judge, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Olle Areborn</span><span style="font-size: large;">, and the group's interpreter, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Helmut Rohnish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the group reached their midway point; Iowa City, Iowa, </span><span style="font-size: large;">George Nissen</span><span style="font-size: large;"> extended an invitation for Areborn and Rohnish to come visit his </span><span style="font-size: large;">Nissen Trampoline Company,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> located nearby in the city of Cedar Rapids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Developed in the 1930's by George Nissen and Larry Griswold, the modern trampoline had by 1954, been embraced by American colleges as a men's gymnastics apparatus event. This</span><span style="font-size: large;"> was the first time the two Swedes had ever laid eyes on a trampoline and immediately they became intrigued.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGyEPYGVk3RnBs6gXL3dFSS59UEwiNkyPlIEXHCWBTl_G1DPgHMwPVfjYbH6NkZUOS8zxTvbGFU4Xa1Zx73qwOzBTKEKqdHfCysOuXy4GjrB0bcsrvq4roZnzfUXlqKPQZhpH2Ho_Vjs1/s1600/swedenboys2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGyEPYGVk3RnBs6gXL3dFSS59UEwiNkyPlIEXHCWBTl_G1DPgHMwPVfjYbH6NkZUOS8zxTvbGFU4Xa1Zx73qwOzBTKEKqdHfCysOuXy4GjrB0bcsrvq4roZnzfUXlqKPQZhpH2Ho_Vjs1/s320/swedenboys2b.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trampoline students in Helmut Rohnish's class.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Sweden, Helmut Rohnish happened to own a business that sold gymnastics apparatus, so once the tour was over, he contacted George Nissen and promptly placed an order for Sweden's first Nissen trampoline.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvY2kpVy_m51J7_L_-_TigG27U13jo226VXUyYX_8y4pCso5ML_L3jdaoJo-f7kP6fNfwHVroEd1R2HL1EXTOvOT-q6-hOYWyvJyDByAAd5Omn_WU3Wgcumn8thjG4QDAJDCIxDgeRsV1/s1600/tramp-in-sweden2ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvY2kpVy_m51J7_L_-_TigG27U13jo226VXUyYX_8y4pCso5ML_L3jdaoJo-f7kP6fNfwHVroEd1R2HL1EXTOvOT-q6-hOYWyvJyDByAAd5Omn_WU3Wgcumn8thjG4QDAJDCIxDgeRsV1/s320/tramp-in-sweden2ab.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swedish students learning how to trampoline.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z3azmpPDxa0TMheCO5Cd9FDB0xPzjPFx_FWWV0arE-YzKh01JLUawYuV9abyOewVLgDgGZQ7weT3VMhNMarCoYka2znfx88Xtuhx5Y3dJ_EmNj4nglGWPKuGwsq5SNGINxTdKsWxug3t/s1600/tramp-in-sweden2bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z3azmpPDxa0TMheCO5Cd9FDB0xPzjPFx_FWWV0arE-YzKh01JLUawYuV9abyOewVLgDgGZQ7weT3VMhNMarCoYka2znfx88Xtuhx5Y3dJ_EmNj4nglGWPKuGwsq5SNGINxTdKsWxug3t/s320/tramp-in-sweden2bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning trampoline somersaults in Sweden.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">By 1957 (six Nissen trampolines later) Rohnish organized the </span><span style="font-size: large;">first Swedish Trampoline Championships, in Orebro, Sweden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among the eager competitors was a fellow by the name of Sӧren Jonsson,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">who won first place in optional routines and second in the compulsory division. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, for Swedish gymnastics coach Olle Areborn, 1956 found him responding to a newspaper advertisement seeking Swedish gymnastics instructors for South Africa. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In South Africa, early forms of gymnastics had been practiced since the late 1800s. Initially used as a conditioning system for the military, the sport eventually evolved into the more traditional style that was practiced throughout all of Europe. Even though t</span><span style="font-size: large;">eams of gymnasts from South Africa regularly attended the Olympic Games competitions, they unfortunately up to this point of time had not won any medals for their home country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">By 1956, the Wanderer's Athletic Club in Johannesburg, </span><span style="font-size: large;">under the direction of Dennis Simmons,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> had become the center for gymnastics training for all of South Africa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> And Simmons believed it was time to improve his country's standing in the international arena so it was he, who placed the ads in several European newspapers searching for competent instructors - - and it was Olle Areborn and his wife Ragna (a champion gymnast as well) who responded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Following their arrival in Johannesburg, the Areborn's were an immediate success. Together they worked in the Wanderer's Club gym nearly eight hours a day, teaching novice through elite level classes with waiting lists for every class.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Being pleased with the Areborn's progress in Johannesburg, Simmons' next focus was on Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. With approval from the South Africa Gymnastics Union, Dennis Simmons and Olle Areborn contacted Swedish gymnast (and now the Swedish national trampoline champion) </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sӧren Jonsson</span><span style="font-size: large;">, offering him a two year contract to lead the gymnastics program in Pretoria. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sӧren accepted and arrived in South Africa in December of 1957.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2hN1k3h_J9Yn98xk-IsNVwfgWgEt1gMU1vPh6dk_QI74YmnygfHeA4TsrD7UNVLJ4-PBYjYs7U57wYw1wzpYR1wfd5ZMQc1ywO6P9-8LkTYoDQMvZvWuDRIyfYTpU5EbhAJGxGOTuLXq/s1600/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2hN1k3h_J9Yn98xk-IsNVwfgWgEt1gMU1vPh6dk_QI74YmnygfHeA4TsrD7UNVLJ4-PBYjYs7U57wYw1wzpYR1wfd5ZMQc1ywO6P9-8LkTYoDQMvZvWuDRIyfYTpU5EbhAJGxGOTuLXq/s640/Untitled1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wanderer's Club, Johannesburg, South Africa - circa 1954<br />
image: www.thewanderersclub.co.za</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, the sport of trampoline had begun to take hold over all of Europe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">George Nissen and his U.S. Nissen Trampoline Company, now had an additional factory in the U.K., under the able direction of Ted Blake. Kurt Baechler of Switzerland, was appointed Nissen's representative for Europe, and together f</span><span style="font-size: large;">rom this strong base Ted and Kurt coordinated trampoline demonstrations, clinics and teacher training course throughout all of Europe and the U.K. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">Frank LaDue, Kurt Baechler, Annie & George Nissen, Duane Bruce<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ted and Kurt were soon joined by U.S. trampoline champions Frank LaDue and Duane Bruce, as well as George Nissen and his wife Annie. </span></div>
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George and Annie Nissen receiving honors at the </div>
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Nissen-Eterna Cup - <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Wassen, Switzerland - 1958</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nissen's promotional </span><span style="font-size: large;">activity culminated with </span><span style="font-size: large;">with the first all-Europe trampoline competition - - </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> the "Nissen-Eterna Cup," </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">held in Wassen, Switzerland, </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">in 1958.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well aware of the trampoline's growing popularity in Europe, Olle Areborn and </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sӧren Jonsson</span><span style="font-size: large;"> were eager to bring the new sport to South Africa as well. </span><span style="font-size: large;">But, they knew that first they'd have to generate interest - - big interest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">So, late in December of 1958, Areborn invited George Nissen and his trampoline team to come to South Africa for a several week tour of demonstrations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Of course, George thought it was a splendid idea and promptly organized the trip - - making sure that a trampoline was shipped ahead in order to be waiting for the group's planned arrival in March. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdGMer8E4suoxx4C3OtmK7UitCcpHkm0yO_FDaWXnyNJMmTpoTibLR6-LB9MXkQn3XnYP3H3WuwudbX-HjSjTGiMDCLqkQDXqxlxwsRf_6A96PPcl37kbOcWwMWo57_30zwVWDZIwGGBf/s1600/Olle1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdGMer8E4suoxx4C3OtmK7UitCcpHkm0yO_FDaWXnyNJMmTpoTibLR6-LB9MXkQn3XnYP3H3WuwudbX-HjSjTGiMDCLqkQDXqxlxwsRf_6A96PPcl37kbOcWwMWo57_30zwVWDZIwGGBf/s320/Olle1b.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olle Areborn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Elated at the good news and wanting to ensure success, Areborn decided to introduce the trampoline across the broadest audience of South Africans as was possible. He lined up demonstrations at public events and government agencies as well as a number of college and universities throughout the land.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">George Nissen, accompanied by his wife Annie, 8-year old daughter Dagmar and United States champion trampolinist Frank LaDue, arrived in Johannesburg in March of 1959.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Sӧren Jonsson, </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">the Swedish trampoline champion, now teaching in Pretoria was invited along to join in on the demonstrations. The group followed Areborn's pre-arranged schedule which began with ten performances at the big Witwatersrand Easter Show in Johannesburg. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">At that time, the Witwatersrand Easter Show held the title of being the largest consumer exhibition in the world (outside of the U.S.); attracting several hundred thousand visitors annually. Besides hosting several large exhibition halls that showcased modern and historical displays, the highlight of the exposition was the daily show held in the grand open-air arena. And in 1959, the audience enjoyed viewing their first trampoline demonstration! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6s9ohXWlEGmGJIr_aW9wKJSKjUytxQr2qBmIrUFWiB58x-B3CeZehudUHDYuO_7YX4XT6VVPrtCCOzK8Vjb0L0mDE2C8vP-y_vM8kGHBIj7CIPwNw8zeuQv4SWeg5wbEPMZw_ilW06F7/s1600/police+collegeA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6s9ohXWlEGmGJIr_aW9wKJSKjUytxQr2qBmIrUFWiB58x-B3CeZehudUHDYuO_7YX4XT6VVPrtCCOzK8Vjb0L0mDE2C8vP-y_vM8kGHBIj7CIPwNw8zeuQv4SWeg5wbEPMZw_ilW06F7/s320/police+collegeA.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
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George Nissen bouncing with the Captain of</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">the Pretoria Police College - 1959</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The team then traveled to Pretoria; South Africa's capital city. Wowing the crowds at the Pretoria Teacher's College, the Pretoria Police College and - - adding on several more performances for the Pretoria Agricultural Show at Milner Park.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQMOtP6XuPD30GoQjoDGdnwOtw_y46ZT-D3wqk8LTVVymv59avto4j8n5EaQfT22U1bcwAZvKqGwtxuonHlrgnw7OL3e3AuCajbCKdFDrVFCE6n7j2aDea7DCiHoCHN0FtKpNoKwR5aX9/s1600/police+college+instructorsA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQMOtP6XuPD30GoQjoDGdnwOtw_y46ZT-D3wqk8LTVVymv59avto4j8n5EaQfT22U1bcwAZvKqGwtxuonHlrgnw7OL3e3AuCajbCKdFDrVFCE6n7j2aDea7DCiHoCHN0FtKpNoKwR5aX9/s400/police+college+instructorsA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Nissen at the Pretoria Police College, Pretoria, SA - 1959</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The final days of the trip were left open in order to enjoy South Africa's many tourist attractions. These included a tour of the local gold mining operations with performances by the Mine Dancers, plus a trip to Kruger National Park to observe animals in the wild.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl9hg9MvCH4elT8VNq_rBmkIsp9wCXFALTh8N7NqPEgPURpOqo8sM2myCKsYYX9LHOX8Xrp8TneFDY3yezHqh0X4ejp82VHhqZEsn2YMHb8A1SjEskiPueocCJAQlCJ0hsDwihW2qpWtu/s1600/mine-dancer2a2bA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl9hg9MvCH4elT8VNq_rBmkIsp9wCXFALTh8N7NqPEgPURpOqo8sM2myCKsYYX9LHOX8Xrp8TneFDY3yezHqh0X4ejp82VHhqZEsn2YMHb8A1SjEskiPueocCJAQlCJ0hsDwihW2qpWtu/s320/mine-dancer2a2bA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demonstration by the Mine Dancers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">By the end of the tour, the Pretoria Police College was the first to order a trampoline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">In addition, George wisely offered to leave behind the Nissen trampoline that was used in the demonstrations - - a trampoline that </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sӧren Jonsson</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> gladly accepted. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sӧren</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">took the trampoline back to Pretoria, and later during the same year of 1959, used it to open the very </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">first trampoline school</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> in the country!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFMRd8EHbqYjYMu_ghSZLtO3gDpiXd9LLvj5UZ2LXa54a5FheDxe0jFpD0Oae_lQL8F7mLFa25I6sE9GqBaGmYUB1C6k49v1IZbyEoii1jxKh-jZ9jDCn94FziEsH1Y7TRG2HmxJyKi-I/s1600/airport-arrival-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFMRd8EHbqYjYMu_ghSZLtO3gDpiXd9LLvj5UZ2LXa54a5FheDxe0jFpD0Oae_lQL8F7mLFa25I6sE9GqBaGmYUB1C6k49v1IZbyEoii1jxKh-jZ9jDCn94FziEsH1Y7TRG2HmxJyKi-I/s320/airport-arrival-b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: George, Dagmar and Annie Nissen leaving South Africa in 1959</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although Olle was extremely pleased with how much had been accomplished so far, he knew he needed to keep the "trampoline momentum" going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, as 1959 drew to a close, Olle Areborn extended yet another invitation to George Nissen. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">_________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Scroll down or <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_19.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>continue on to Part 2 </i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Helpful Links:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_20.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 1</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_19.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>for Part 2</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_18.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 3</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 4</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-d4Ta_y2z6_4%2FU2f_3BOS8HI%2FAAAAAAAACPw%2FfB7OgxnRng8%2Fs1600%2Fspringbok.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WxAsSsOXl6H8RqDDbgX3TGfRMo_Llf_z-brDsUl5j69YitMyhqfNWXV46IGghDxmfqWsHNZcUjhMC7Q5VJZZIzmfHA2hkHBJigHvLdEfuZ-iJI4jKr2YDK4drvy_aLr6MDFWgOS1tE4O/s1600/springbok.jpg" -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-82905875837635797072017-06-19T09:47:00.000-07:002017-06-28T15:39:53.819-07:00The GREAT South African Trampoline Safari: Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>1960</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>"<span style="font-size: large;">How the Sport of Trampoline was Introduced </span></b></i></span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">to South Africa"</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following his successful trampoline tours of Europe and South Africa, George Nissen's trampoline business continued to flourish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In December of 1959, while making plans to attend the annual National Gymnastics Clinic, held in Sarasota, Florida - - George received a letter from Olle Areborn in South Africa.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Olle wrote that Sӧren<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>Jonsson's fledgling trampoline school in
Pretoria was doing extremely well. T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">he Pretoria Police College was happy with their trampoline, the Pretoria Teacher’s College had just purchased one as well and a trampoline was now being used at the
Wanderer’s Club in Johannesburg. Finally, Olle shared the real reason behind his letter: the Witwatersrand Easter
Show in Johannesburg wanted another U.S. trampoline team to return to South Africa for a series
of performances in March 1960 - - now, only three months away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">George knew he could possibly pull a demonstration team
together from the many trampoline athletes attending the Florida clinic. Luck
and opportunity prevailed; while at the clinic George happened to ask U.S. trampoline champions Ed
Cole and Ron Munn if they would be interested in a trip to South Africa. The
two young men quickly accepted the offer - - and even promised to assist George by personally hand picking the
rest of the team.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ed Cole and Ron Munn quickly contacted Charlie Bates, Chuck Clarkson, Ann Coleman and U.S. tumbling and trampoline champion Barbara Galleher, who all eagerly agreed to join the tour.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi9BjdVRVgmZYu_u5g-MJkve9VbrHUxg1KESzffY-XhEAvfoSTFmkPrLxOjzzdedDS8Ey-co6q1R87we70Ck5WoJ_sXkizIhKZp_njegnpj5M3y0NoyKaqcByb-uj6Qskmre-2ln5RY3w/s1600/1Nissen+Company+in+1960+with+Eddie%2527s+Car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi9BjdVRVgmZYu_u5g-MJkve9VbrHUxg1KESzffY-XhEAvfoSTFmkPrLxOjzzdedDS8Ey-co6q1R87we70Ck5WoJ_sXkizIhKZp_njegnpj5M3y0NoyKaqcByb-uj6Qskmre-2ln5RY3w/s400/1Nissen+Company+in+1960+with+Eddie%2527s+Car.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed Cole's car parked at the Nissen Trampoline Company - 1960</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By late January 1960, the six athletes met up in Cedar Rapids and spent the next four weeks in the Nissen factory gym rehearsing their performances, which included a demonstration of synchronized routines using four trampolines. Meanwhile,
George contacted Ted Blake at the U.K. Nissen factory and arranged to have the trampolines shipped directly from the U.K. over to Olle Areborn in Johannesburg. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">March finally arrived and the excited team began their adventure: a 42-day tour of South Africa to demonstrate the trampoline.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2i5ygR4MqWQgY7_lHj81Qtf9bs3FpINB8ry3ojbAXzOyQVjbSppNyzlP2GiMtzLHBPYjnHJAFzXy7qZ4JBlqkEPIlp84JYVeMgAP4ntZjV0MBHYHryYykEJBKrcqK8hYiWr9-POW7c9I/s1600/Stopover+in+Paris+on+way+to+South+Africa%252C+1960+B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2i5ygR4MqWQgY7_lHj81Qtf9bs3FpINB8ry3ojbAXzOyQVjbSppNyzlP2GiMtzLHBPYjnHJAFzXy7qZ4JBlqkEPIlp84JYVeMgAP4ntZjV0MBHYHryYykEJBKrcqK8hYiWr9-POW7c9I/s400/Stopover+in+Paris+on+way+to+South+Africa%252C+1960+B2.jpg" width="383" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, at
their first stop in Paris, airline officials pulled the group aside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seems that during all their frenzied pre-planning, the team had failed to obtain visas for South Africa!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal;">A short discussion with representatives of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-style: normal;">Union de Transports Aériens (U.T.A.), the airlines servicing South Africa from France resulted in the use of a special rule - - that allowed the team to travel forward </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>only if </i>they all signed special forms that released the airlines from any liability. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Relieved, the six
Americans quickly added their signatures to the paperwork and boarded the U.T.A. prop-plane for
the 36-hour flight to Johannesburg, including the then required fuel
stops in Nice, Tripoli, Kano, Brazzaville, and Salisbury. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily, Olle along with the Witwatersrand Show representatives were at the Johannesburg airport to welcome the very tired travelers, and assist with navigation through customs and immigration.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4s9LbmzaMXMsca_CgW5lwl9wrz_og3b_x1l9BehopAEpigdcEKmEqEQ2V_vVPU6AAORDaMOXj-7x5wpIBEBDRA2UiYcUPMJbuJwCDLxTNQn1lTtxaqBGOqjK-ORq44KlCld7mGvImGMs/s1600/Arriving+in+South+Africa%252C+1960+B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4s9LbmzaMXMsca_CgW5lwl9wrz_og3b_x1l9BehopAEpigdcEKmEqEQ2V_vVPU6AAORDaMOXj-7x5wpIBEBDRA2UiYcUPMJbuJwCDLxTNQn1lTtxaqBGOqjK-ORq44KlCld7mGvImGMs/s400/Arriving+in+South+Africa%252C+1960+B2.jpg" width="391" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoCaption">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: small;">Chuck Clarkson, Ron Munn, Charlie Bates, Ed Cole</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: small;">arriving in South Africa. 1960<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2LTvZHbXRvN2Nhl99xSHGwy8HvcAXlE6FBNORnoq2BLG4S4Gz0jQU0PESmLPdsv3me8g9N4j__-q4cCSXxpMQIKnlb0uG9tYK1wHroVL6e3wMx2XsSi2QSq0_NTTUS-Aejz6P5JxN-sQ/s1600/Barbara+Gallerger+arriving+in+South+Africa%252C+1960+B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2LTvZHbXRvN2Nhl99xSHGwy8HvcAXlE6FBNORnoq2BLG4S4Gz0jQU0PESmLPdsv3me8g9N4j__-q4cCSXxpMQIKnlb0uG9tYK1wHroVL6e3wMx2XsSi2QSq0_NTTUS-Aejz6P5JxN-sQ/s400/Barbara+Gallerger+arriving+in+South+Africa%252C+1960+B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: small;">Barbara Galleher arriving in South Africa -1960</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following their first night in Johannesburg the group then traveled by train to the coastal city of East London,
where their pre-shipped trampolines were waiting to be assembled. One week of performances at the East London agricultural show helped the Americans adjust
to the nine hour time difference and to fine-tune their performances. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfBchlfu_i2eiG5y13r9rBzw5QRHN_oC_flpDGPhRP7570kp72fyOcpQ84hjzgL1_uBuChqHA8eBVovkLYhn81caZw86xCPK3DDs4oRiBTxbyjEy9nlI9zenNHyKqGjXtYVSBnfSapSc7/s1600/1+Our+loaner+car+in+East+London%252C+South+Africa+during+the+shows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfBchlfu_i2eiG5y13r9rBzw5QRHN_oC_flpDGPhRP7570kp72fyOcpQ84hjzgL1_uBuChqHA8eBVovkLYhn81caZw86xCPK3DDs4oRiBTxbyjEy9nlI9zenNHyKqGjXtYVSBnfSapSc7/s640/1+Our+loaner+car+in+East+London%252C+South+Africa+during+the+shows.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Munn checks out the trampoline team's loaner car in East London - 1960</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNOMfGDn19baP99V8bIGp6LGB0Vbi_ei9AvNaQDfiIfxiKHWjjDNBAeOrOmCH2ecI5urJ2Wp0qo3FeVloRL6ttBtsMmlULVdtyxZKroerMjqt6VE6Uzfynu_2b_3RiHoDHDklgOxVdQE2/s1600/Train+that+took+team+from+Johannesburg+to+East+London%252C+South+Africa%252C+1960B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNOMfGDn19baP99V8bIGp6LGB0Vbi_ei9AvNaQDfiIfxiKHWjjDNBAeOrOmCH2ecI5urJ2Wp0qo3FeVloRL6ttBtsMmlULVdtyxZKroerMjqt6VE6Uzfynu_2b_3RiHoDHDklgOxVdQE2/s320/Train+that+took+team+from+Johannesburg+to+East+London%252C+South+Africa%252C+1960B.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Train that took the team from Johannesburg</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> to East London, S.A.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A train ride
back to Johannesburg delivered them in time for their scheduled three weeks at the Witwatersrand Easter
Show.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHEBbJAdy3o7_6ONub9Y2kgPjqJt33Uuc22DzOylzPal6vmPvaKRNHtc-ax7mP_NGGlbzLODkVNSpIHkufQZR0MyT0aZEMNteiiwZNJoNiOJJPdQWSIFiziIe6i4HrWIVy0-56MkiYlk8/s1600/Eddie+Cole+%2526+Barbara+Gallegher+in+South+africaB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHEBbJAdy3o7_6ONub9Y2kgPjqJt33Uuc22DzOylzPal6vmPvaKRNHtc-ax7mP_NGGlbzLODkVNSpIHkufQZR0MyT0aZEMNteiiwZNJoNiOJJPdQWSIFiziIe6i4HrWIVy0-56MkiYlk8/s640/Eddie+Cole+%2526+Barbara+Gallegher+in+South+africaB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ed Cole and Barbara Galleher performing on the trampoline - 1960</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">April 9, 1960 - - Opening
day at the Witwatersrand Easter Show. Many of the country's top dignitaries were seated
in the large grandstand, including the country's Prime Minister, Dr. Hendrik F.
Verwoerd. Already in their performance uniforms and waiting for the rest of their team to join them, Ed and Ron thought
they'd sneak a peek at the show and check out activity already going on in the arena. Suddenly - - above them from where they were standing,
a small commotion in the grandstand caught their attention. Looking
up they watched as a man with a handgun ran up to P.M. Dr. Verwoerd, and -
- fired off a shot!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">From their vantage point below, Ed and Ron not only witnessed the country's <a href="https://youtu.be/lJBChGJDGJs" target="_blank">Prime Minister being shot</a>, they also watched in
awe the chaos that followed. This included the herding of animals and people from the arena, an ambulance driving in to whisk away the injured Dr. Verwoerd and law enforcement officers grappling with the shooter.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Needless to say, neither the American trampoline team nor any of the other attractions performed that day!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But within days, the show did go on - - and thankfully remained uneventful for the remaining three weeks of scheduled performances.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_KuSVQoriqPPMgh0Eq6zzPzSYu71sLeKNW-Rm_w-GEY4guVphytTRWK_FHHgfQABKv3QM6VN0y4QQgkuZg-FdbTSh9_nA7CJATr1bbwEQY9abACa54yAAjafJTVCciKZdLWf7kLGi6O5/s1600/Trampoline+Team+that+went+to+South+Africa+with+Olle+Areborn+in+picture%252C+1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_KuSVQoriqPPMgh0Eq6zzPzSYu71sLeKNW-Rm_w-GEY4guVphytTRWK_FHHgfQABKv3QM6VN0y4QQgkuZg-FdbTSh9_nA7CJATr1bbwEQY9abACa54yAAjafJTVCciKZdLWf7kLGi6O5/s640/Trampoline+Team+that+went+to+South+Africa+with+Olle+Areborn+in+picture%252C+1960.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Charles Bates, Ron Munn, Ann Coleman, Olle Areborn,
Barbara Galleher, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Chuck Clarkson and Ed Cole. 1960</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the remainder of the
tour, Ron fell in love with South Africa, so when Olle offered up the idea for
Ron to stay back to further help promote and develop the sport of trampolining in South Africa - - the decision was an easy one! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Their plans included the continuation of
shows and performances by Ron throughout the country as well as the idea of
opening trampoline jump centers, similar to those becoming popular in the United States at that time. With these ambitions in mind, Ron and Olle shook hands to become
partners in their future endeavors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But first, Ron needed to fulfill the last of the group's tour obligations, which included stops in Freiburg, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland, for the first</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> international trampoline competition between athletes from the U.S.A., Switzerland and Germany. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgfeJ2teOwESmVFjFyfE5pjIR42pwif2RvQZegu1ZZMEiJzkZVP4owqYUg59VLYkOrVbz4FBoqbk2oIUxRc27aYVdKTrE9nM1Nn4JWBu5ALfuNjLecuxp2k4DBOCQqIFyCVpcR0kbKv0/s1600/brochure+adj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgfeJ2teOwESmVFjFyfE5pjIR42pwif2RvQZegu1ZZMEiJzkZVP4owqYUg59VLYkOrVbz4FBoqbk2oIUxRc27aYVdKTrE9nM1Nn4JWBu5ALfuNjLecuxp2k4DBOCQqIFyCVpcR0kbKv0/s640/brochure+adj.jpg" width="449" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the current 1959 United States national champion and now, winning these international competitions, Ron realized he held the title of being the best trampolinist in the world. Which helped him feel better about his surprise decision to return to South Africa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following the competition
in Germany, the team began their long journey home to the United States and while
at the Zurich stop, Ron followed through with his plans and cashed in the
remainder of his ticket to the USA for a return ticket to South Africa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ron said his good-byes as the team took off for America and by
afternoon he was anticipating his own flight back to Johannesburg - - and looking
forward to what would be an adventure of a lifetime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But life had a few <i>curve balls </i><i style="font-style: normal;">headed</i> his way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the Zurich-to-Johannesburg gate,
airline officials noticed that Ron lacked an entrance visa for South Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"No problem..."
Ron told them (remembering how easily the issue had been resolved at the start of
the tour), "...I'll just sign your release form and be on my way."</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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"Big problem," the officials replied, "The release form only
works if you have a <i>letter of invitation</i> from someone in South Africa." <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seems the <i>handshake and
verbal agreement </i>Ron made with Olle Areborn didn't count!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Only one flight left Zurich for South Africa every Wednesday and Sunday - - and today was Wednesday! If Ron missed this flight he’d have to wait four days before catching the next flight out! Checking his pockets Ron discovered that no matter how he counted, he didn't have enough money for an
unplanned stay in Zurich. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fortunately, the airlines offered to take care of the visa application details and even offered up a free hotel room while he waited. Relieved, Ron quickly sent a cable to Olle who, anticipating Ron's speedy return had already built up a busy schedule of trampoline performances. Suddenly, it would all have to be put on hold!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three days of waiting passed and when Saturday arrived Ron received bad news. The airline representative called and said they couldn't obtain Ron's visa; Ron would have to do it in person
at the South African embassy - - which was not in Zurich but - - located 77 miles away in the city of Berne. Then the airline representative added, as of
Sunday morning they would no longer pay for his hotel room! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Receiving this shocking news and in total desperation, Ron made a collect phone call to his father in Texas hoping for a small loan to help tide things over. Luckily the loan came through and the following Monday, Ron rode the train to Berne, walked into the South African embassy, completed his application and returned to Zurich to wait until Friday - - four long days away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Friday, Ron made the 77-mile trip once again to Berne - - and with much relief, he collected his hard-earned visa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday couldn't come fast enough and when it did, Ron eagerly boarded his flight to Johannesburg - - to follow his new-found dream:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To begin his business ventures with Olle Areborn and help the trampoline expand throughout South Africa. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Scroll down or <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_18.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>to</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>continue on to Part 3 </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Helpful Links:</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_20.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 1</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_19.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 2</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_18.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>for Part 3</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 4</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-85392452865815560182017-06-18T09:47:00.000-07:002017-06-30T09:40:44.817-07:00The GREAT South African Trampoline Safari: Part 3<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">1960-1962</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>"How the Sport of Trampoline was Introduced </b></i></span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>to South Africa"</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKF5kPN6GvPhx802nD_ccsJyZL3DBZ4Jba8yUdzzf3oxL5uavi_aRB9dHdAlQCwV94SDFugeW4HZR5GmGpAJbTXkGJoGuFt2NlcBHbU1gwjG_TvORTRaysR-WEx4Mh15KpHRWm8gzMkvE/s1600/aStamps+%2526+Tramp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKF5kPN6GvPhx802nD_ccsJyZL3DBZ4Jba8yUdzzf3oxL5uavi_aRB9dHdAlQCwV94SDFugeW4HZR5GmGpAJbTXkGJoGuFt2NlcBHbU1gwjG_TvORTRaysR-WEx4Mh15KpHRWm8gzMkvE/s320/aStamps+%2526+Tramp.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many <i>firsts</i> for South Africa happened as a result of Ron
Munn’s decision to not return to the United States and to instead go back to
Johannesburg to partner with Olle Areborn. These included: South Africa's first trampoline
school, first trampoline camp, first outdoor trampoline center and the first graded national trampoline competition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaoWUGzN1KhbNnCnwr1_AHkqHP53KeOkoPUe6E8Lge8A55XKP16K3RvX5WhGOHo83jF7wfxN3zl_1zJRpOxNunO0QXSUn7RE2nt4SKGln8xc-SwYyxK_BerOGfM5tcpVi6wS6bgV2kHDy/s1600/aTraveling+African+style+to+performances+in+South+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1283" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaoWUGzN1KhbNnCnwr1_AHkqHP53KeOkoPUe6E8Lge8A55XKP16K3RvX5WhGOHo83jF7wfxN3zl_1zJRpOxNunO0QXSUn7RE2nt4SKGln8xc-SwYyxK_BerOGfM5tcpVi6wS6bgV2kHDy/s400/aTraveling+African+style+to+performances+in+South+Africa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Munn and friend traveling to his show - 1960</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For 20-year old Ron Munn, the next several months were a
true adventure. Driving throughout South Africa’s countryside in a used Land
Rover with a trampoline strapped on top he performed nearly “anywhere and
everywhere.” Including many local county fairs where he discovered that adding a
few jokes in the local Afrikaans - - with his Texas accent, had audiences
rolling in the aisles.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8asp3zRhIaZFkH0OhYaI_unRl2x6VmkV0IVoyebRlRdrElwC8A9goodDMVIAugfCiGomyw800EH-GHgUO4gq_BuX8FKeGFj3KJsqjs6uMsxLE4SsuR6d5sCY2FFI0wNpKDfwfj1CwAhrD/s1600/Flyer+for+Ron+Munn+Trampoline+Act+in+South+Africa.+1960-62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8asp3zRhIaZFkH0OhYaI_unRl2x6VmkV0IVoyebRlRdrElwC8A9goodDMVIAugfCiGomyw800EH-GHgUO4gq_BuX8FKeGFj3KJsqjs6uMsxLE4SsuR6d5sCY2FFI0wNpKDfwfj1CwAhrD/s640/Flyer+for+Ron+Munn+Trampoline+Act+in+South+Africa.+1960-62.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whenever back in Johannesburg, Ron shared an apartment
with Ray Burer, a South African athlete who as an outstanding swimmer in the United States had attended Southern Methodist University (S.M.U.), in Dallas, Texas. Ron had been
introduced to Ray by fellow S.M.U. alumni Barbara Galleher, one of the members
of the recent U.S. team tour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMfJABpp4X4WL3gILV6Om92ASYm4RuCqXqKYWgT6mUupMbBNant-B19OdoK1FCyadlNdLqWNXZKu7MyMf7wD40FyFJMOC3jobwNT416WNqpq1dZ6hYw5VW2jWybHbC1rCjUVPvUSIgPBN/s1600/aFactory+in+Johannesburg%252C+1961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMfJABpp4X4WL3gILV6Om92ASYm4RuCqXqKYWgT6mUupMbBNant-B19OdoK1FCyadlNdLqWNXZKu7MyMf7wD40FyFJMOC3jobwNT416WNqpq1dZ6hYw5VW2jWybHbC1rCjUVPvUSIgPBN/s400/aFactory+in+Johannesburg%252C+1961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">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 </span><span style="font-size: large;">first trampolines made in South Africa, </span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">which included: folding competitive
trampolines, mini-trampolines and Dive-olines (mini-trampolines with an
attached ladder used at swimming pools).</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kJnI_sSOP91bG9sOQ69gjoJoC2usd3ZRs4ySdyvsz9rSRCXVjDzp-1hFwJh9WpTQBpzUUis7jBN5I4JPGWpxwe5ILqOKyw8Wb4i-6S16q3w-6j4m5OSgMw_XzwUqw89L6ObdojP3omXB/s1600/aJohannesburg+Factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kJnI_sSOP91bG9sOQ69gjoJoC2usd3ZRs4ySdyvsz9rSRCXVjDzp-1hFwJh9WpTQBpzUUis7jBN5I4JPGWpxwe5ILqOKyw8Wb4i-6S16q3w-6j4m5OSgMw_XzwUqw89L6ObdojP3omXB/s400/aJohannesburg+Factory.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, it was the sales of backyard pit (in-ground)
trampolines that led to their initial success.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZxChVcko-awjU9atd5OgEiJPj1A9VnNa30924vIh2vGjiRzTiHrN7UcthCfErzyGmOQBKgdlZnlRIJejzi3SNDAbn4HsiwHFZUqeIzx82U8oyx5fsx2y8cryRAAj_Mwdm0i0vUM9CWqQ/s1600/Jump+Center+-+Durban%252C+South+Africa2new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="800" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZxChVcko-awjU9atd5OgEiJPj1A9VnNa30924vIh2vGjiRzTiHrN7UcthCfErzyGmOQBKgdlZnlRIJejzi3SNDAbn4HsiwHFZUqeIzx82U8oyx5fsx2y8cryRAAj_Mwdm0i0vUM9CWqQ/s640/Jump+Center+-+Durban%252C+South+Africa2new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-jJj1_9nM_24WimYYRSMWM0aZ5lenD0aCEHNRJyob_LhPdNHaTOTaKd-H20JpZ585iIu74p75MBHrtqOfrHLkk5i9UNBntk_0NcNhI6HjH9igejROso11mlcmqYtmzGCng6ePkFp1igG/s1600/aWith+the+Manager+of+the+Claridges+Hotel+in+Durban+where+I+performed+in+nite+club..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1393" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-jJj1_9nM_24WimYYRSMWM0aZ5lenD0aCEHNRJyob_LhPdNHaTOTaKd-H20JpZ585iIu74p75MBHrtqOfrHLkk5i9UNBntk_0NcNhI6HjH9igejROso11mlcmqYtmzGCng6ePkFp1igG/s320/aWith+the+Manager+of+the+Claridges+Hotel+in+Durban+where+I+performed+in+nite+club..jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Munn with the manager of Claridges Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ron stayed on in Durban for about a month to oversee the center and during that time had a booking with the night club, <i>Cafe de Paris</i>, in the <i>Claridges Hotel</i>, for nightly performances on the trampoline - - all which made for very full days!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSm8Dd7EtkiDswoP1EMvbh0uYDhyphenhyphen0U7oi8ej2c7Oqj6U_P8-AazG78tyVVljcqYV90HwGgJRSFYmhKoqYDfgxAOyQg24cMOKSsrlpgw5Z3mJwU5mxvsNWRmzOTUZPP2bwevmN40tw3k2K/s1600/aDurban-Picture-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="800" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSm8Dd7EtkiDswoP1EMvbh0uYDhyphenhyphen0U7oi8ej2c7Oqj6U_P8-AazG78tyVVljcqYV90HwGgJRSFYmhKoqYDfgxAOyQg24cMOKSsrlpgw5Z3mJwU5mxvsNWRmzOTUZPP2bwevmN40tw3k2K/s400/aDurban-Picture-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Munn performing at Cafe du Paris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJatwTr3OmLyd-rBiooNzSDa0Ro2RgXsq5WOO36-sk-5Q-3N9mk0Fmyv2VpU_Z3ZVEbC-mzoM8uXmxr7vuyfdwWswerg9YmUgzvKJe_X0_0tCHWLwOGCKg4Ra8TDkXdUL1h8ednCczCOC3/s1600/Company+Flyer+for+Trampoline+business+in+South+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJatwTr3OmLyd-rBiooNzSDa0Ro2RgXsq5WOO36-sk-5Q-3N9mk0Fmyv2VpU_Z3ZVEbC-mzoM8uXmxr7vuyfdwWswerg9YmUgzvKJe_X0_0tCHWLwOGCKg4Ra8TDkXdUL1h8ednCczCOC3/s640/Company+Flyer+for+Trampoline+business+in+South+Africa.jpg" width="472" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman";">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic17WiQr7yCRZgaescidxsdfTARr24mbGwe2V7Xa8Nq9V6Wvq4NaLFMve4pSNmqvt2zLkbluRmNWQNvhPhS4XHZmm3KWezxqH_nhr23HtEJ_eDPzLze4HFsLCfMSj0h9ScY6rGkcRzo7Sy/s1600/jungle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="941" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic17WiQr7yCRZgaescidxsdfTARr24mbGwe2V7Xa8Nq9V6Wvq4NaLFMve4pSNmqvt2zLkbluRmNWQNvhPhS4XHZmm3KWezxqH_nhr23HtEJ_eDPzLze4HFsLCfMSj0h9ScY6rGkcRzo7Sy/s400/jungle2.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBv1liumBpWT2jcx0KYowIl4oL3zo53gFjrl8YB3NS1ppbHd8SAwyO-XMH4q-o0XnuMUcXKcMsmCu_Khz41wg4BPSGmmGwsn7yiZhzcrPxr7XYaxAI7j0_gLGxPsNkcz_vfX-mZHdDicN/s1600/aSelling+Trampolines+to+the+Gold+Mines+in+Johannesburg+at+Native+Mine+Dances%252C+1961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1600" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBv1liumBpWT2jcx0KYowIl4oL3zo53gFjrl8YB3NS1ppbHd8SAwyO-XMH4q-o0XnuMUcXKcMsmCu_Khz41wg4BPSGmmGwsn7yiZhzcrPxr7XYaxAI7j0_gLGxPsNkcz_vfX-mZHdDicN/s400/aSelling+Trampolines+to+the+Gold+Mines+in+Johannesburg+at+Native+Mine+Dances%252C+1961.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron and Olle demonstrating the trampoline at the Mine Dancer's arena - 1961</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxysw-dM3T1Meirj0UlCijtbqfHk71aA3FecndXrCueFl-mo7_ft013IFJl7PgsVZyVocy03MvvQ2UdA9D44I6BVDTfHnri7D-t_DuLBTe0kb6YNCCWhWgpv1d1jEbZ5cASGWcGGUmpFFN/s1600/martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="242" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxysw-dM3T1Meirj0UlCijtbqfHk71aA3FecndXrCueFl-mo7_ft013IFJl7PgsVZyVocy03MvvQ2UdA9D44I6BVDTfHnri7D-t_DuLBTe0kb6YNCCWhWgpv1d1jEbZ5cASGWcGGUmpFFN/s200/martin.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMCrQN2VjONnoz4PTfwCeJiahxVOK6uJ5cHCGtA2pYtWXshluxIX7fZNR_eJu11MZu6UGiAIk9Cj9H-4u7eQHf7_fYCsQRL2tb9z-Oez5MnhQlqdolJeXRp9bXaSpcvEy8yt0jPNACvb7/s1600/Syd+Trimmer+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMCrQN2VjONnoz4PTfwCeJiahxVOK6uJ5cHCGtA2pYtWXshluxIX7fZNR_eJu11MZu6UGiAIk9Cj9H-4u7eQHf7_fYCsQRL2tb9z-Oez5MnhQlqdolJeXRp9bXaSpcvEy8yt0jPNACvb7/s200/Syd+Trimmer+final.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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 </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdm8et4_5PN3Q022vgK4TFt20dWr1Kph4GYU3ngW9J7xpGoxRrZlZh7nIy3PAbF7w1pp5mHPZJyVftjP6gG9twPyFNnVP8EC1K9jq-f_ePBcUoUMCntDgylTtxvIPCG8u8VpM5iZos-e67/s1600/janni2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="330" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdm8et4_5PN3Q022vgK4TFt20dWr1Kph4GYU3ngW9J7xpGoxRrZlZh7nIy3PAbF7w1pp5mHPZJyVftjP6gG9twPyFNnVP8EC1K9jq-f_ePBcUoUMCntDgylTtxvIPCG8u8VpM5iZos-e67/s200/janni2.jpg" width="139" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1KjiBkAn9M0Vi7eATeOg0AqBT20plHdvUgQjEElX_LVX2AaHnYwoanZrYz5ZGnma3qeDqrzraJQWZBaCmxAZMMzH6nnhlVmeNJ84AaZOKXPxzkr5_8UivJDu4srdoIwQFzYN5IEIMQa1/s1600/aRon+Munn+Trampoline+School+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1KjiBkAn9M0Vi7eATeOg0AqBT20plHdvUgQjEElX_LVX2AaHnYwoanZrYz5ZGnma3qeDqrzraJQWZBaCmxAZMMzH6nnhlVmeNJ84AaZOKXPxzkr5_8UivJDu4srdoIwQFzYN5IEIMQa1/s320/aRon+Munn+Trampoline+School+Sign.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYSaTyeyO_dt86ffbs7ga8Kn44scAFU7-Pkj1_i2ejlbsIK1F2UjhdZrIY84TWt2Wkxhsu2zzbcj5kpOad5_tiKw4d7hHjDv4BQw-fqajJ0Bl-5DaszZ09_SVMLlC2ccW4Rd1as8H_TEL/s1600/aMargate+Trampoline+Camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYSaTyeyO_dt86ffbs7ga8Kn44scAFU7-Pkj1_i2ejlbsIK1F2UjhdZrIY84TWt2Wkxhsu2zzbcj5kpOad5_tiKw4d7hHjDv4BQw-fqajJ0Bl-5DaszZ09_SVMLlC2ccW4Rd1as8H_TEL/s400/aMargate+Trampoline+Camp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Munn instructs campers attending trampoline camp - 1961</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYDlQMKzW_CYCReVVHqOQ4KBt0ooYWMDTukbtDQgQyU2uQvU_epdyKVXtjTirji3_MXhLMzs2RzHS-ifVqh8Ls8knYv34m67fldpdmPsFY8SKHUUZn1xQ6BDM_Ob8U1u4EpbQBKxbT5lS/s1600/a1961+Margate+Trampoline+Camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYDlQMKzW_CYCReVVHqOQ4KBt0ooYWMDTukbtDQgQyU2uQvU_epdyKVXtjTirji3_MXhLMzs2RzHS-ifVqh8Ls8knYv34m67fldpdmPsFY8SKHUUZn1xQ6BDM_Ob8U1u4EpbQBKxbT5lS/s400/a1961+Margate+Trampoline+Camp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campers and instructors at trampoline camp - 1961<br />
(click on photo to enlarge)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5St4hePMU60mr1TsfLC9Pd-N7f9Rn5X0M41lmQpUJRSXHnRc2Z7eljtUZb9_ydKfULCoHtn0N6pvvPhMSJEskbK_eVpNdmXgaE1Fc6XGHPOkMpGgcPq3sfQM9jQ72f52Tysds7dfhyMw/s1600/aMargate%252C+South+Africa+Trampoline+Camp%252C+1961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1491" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5St4hePMU60mr1TsfLC9Pd-N7f9Rn5X0M41lmQpUJRSXHnRc2Z7eljtUZb9_ydKfULCoHtn0N6pvvPhMSJEskbK_eVpNdmXgaE1Fc6XGHPOkMpGgcPq3sfQM9jQ72f52Tysds7dfhyMw/s400/aMargate%252C+South+Africa+Trampoline+Camp%252C+1961.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Ron Munn, Olle Areborn, Kieth Anderson, Roy Yelseth,<br />
Ragna Areborn and Harold Yelseth - 1961</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of South Africa's future champions can track their first bounce on a trampoline to these early years. These included: Derick Lotz, Ian McNaughton, Marijke Van den Boogaard, Spencer Wiggens, Neil Yelseth, Stephen Pelser, Valken de Villiers, Jennifer Liebenberg, Lorraine Hoffland, Stephanie Smith and <i>many, many more.</i> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXFvvHmLyB9S7Eeak1BxNNsWZdPPnZMrRkuHIw9V4VKEhfmrh66Kqi60GcKwYhZuThW-2oDS1uCz6TbsM6aaY4hpGFlXrhwkM6kiD8IFhL_q48Z0HL2cQg0uhYsJ-WmRcuDXUwGaaHBVW/s1600/McDlowie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="673" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXFvvHmLyB9S7Eeak1BxNNsWZdPPnZMrRkuHIw9V4VKEhfmrh66Kqi60GcKwYhZuThW-2oDS1uCz6TbsM6aaY4hpGFlXrhwkM6kiD8IFhL_q48Z0HL2cQg0uhYsJ-WmRcuDXUwGaaHBVW/s200/McDlowie.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Dennis MacIldowie </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBUKFOAM3Mc-5d1lCrBwCjqW4e44gYWs4vGSVfcNFBEfZJpvFcsIa5VlBJul34G4sq-U8yhKKnrf7zhZPrt-kVwk0TvfORuhXCCkaaV0z2Ub9U6qsNUemfUZeEd3N2iIONtGPhLVcLuCE/s1600/dowey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="664" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBUKFOAM3Mc-5d1lCrBwCjqW4e44gYWs4vGSVfcNFBEfZJpvFcsIa5VlBJul34G4sq-U8yhKKnrf7zhZPrt-kVwk0TvfORuhXCCkaaV0z2Ub9U6qsNUemfUZeEd3N2iIONtGPhLVcLuCE/s200/dowey.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Charles Dorey</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In September of 1962, at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, South Africa’s <b>first national graded trampoline championships </b>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). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Top places in the men's division went to: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.Neil
Yelseth, 2. Martin Trimmer, 3. Peter Melvin, 4. Adrian Dorey. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winners of the women's division were: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Marijke Van den Boogaard, 2. Pam Melvin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Olle said he’d have to think about it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Scroll down or <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>continue on to Part 4</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_20.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 1</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_19.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 2</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_18.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>for Part 3</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 4</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-4177732938143816692017-06-17T09:47:00.000-07:002017-06-30T09:49:04.563-07:00The GREAT South African Trampoline Safari - - Part 4<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">1963 – 1974</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i><b>"How the Sport of Trampoline </b></i></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i><b>was Introduced to</b></i></span><i style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b> South Africa"</b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdngXt3MdT1GwdCYapAtfqWqTMtLXPWS8stD7xX0KRL6mF-a3-jk_a9PKegaS6DFKncMbnw4bLWnx4Q6_8gPC88QJwxavSG-r1-7BAuUXSwFY4DDyzzbtP9GO0aaX8aDQR7g1aETOFdsWr/s1600/314068_101813206596725_429702992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdngXt3MdT1GwdCYapAtfqWqTMtLXPWS8stD7xX0KRL6mF-a3-jk_a9PKegaS6DFKncMbnw4bLWnx4Q6_8gPC88QJwxavSG-r1-7BAuUXSwFY4DDyzzbtP9GO0aaX8aDQR7g1aETOFdsWr/s320/314068_101813206596725_429702992_n.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derick Lotz wearing his Springbok colors<br />
at the 1974 World Trampoline Championships,<br />
held in Johannesburg.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It took only four years for the trampoline to become one of South Africa's favorite past-times. By 1963, across the country trampoline jump centers were thriving,
athletes were in training and the first graded national trampoline competition had
taken place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What follows are highlights from the years 1963 – 1974, leading
up to South Africa hosting the 8<sup>th</sup> World Trampoline Championships in Johannesburg, on March 22-23, 1974. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The business of providing trampolines throughout South Africa was both a lucrative
and growing enterprise. Since its formation in 1960, Trampoline Company S.A., (PTY)
Ltd., had been successfully promoting and selling all types of trampolines. But owners Ron Munn, Olle Areborn and Hilmar Nielson
certainly weren’t alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The popularity of trampolines had also caught the
attention of 33-year old Ronnie Lombard, a Springbok gymnast who competed for
South Africa at the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games. He owned a high-end men’s clothing store in
Johannesburg and partnering with his good friend Ron Froehlich, started a
company under the name: Ron’s Trampoline (PTY), Ltd. Their main source of
business was building and selling backyard trampolines. However, they were also
on the lookout to expand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The opportunity came at the close of 1962, when Ron Munn
returned to the United States to report for military duty leaving Olle and
Hilmar worried that without Ron’s promotional skills they would be hard pressed
to maintain the previous pace of sales. Clearly they were in need of more
man-power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A friendly meeting in 1963, between Olle Areborn, Hilmar
Nielson, Ron Froehlich and Ronnie Lombard ended with the merging of the two companies;
going forward under the name, Ron’s Trampoline (PTY) Ltd. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile for trampoline
athletes world-wide, 1964 rolled in with an exciting announcement - - the First
World Open Trampoline Championship, to be held in London in March. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsHy291ChgKPrpNdprxDkiNmJElsE2jKu9eGpVieS1VKENK1DUdkLmlFeiqG2oFn-GYvWZHZRyYUYgrrbcORMCQp9ACqeXYotyFzqWm3CMV3XolNaEFqyMAiHYT5Ht1ZhyOiS0eNlelQb/s1600/nick+hayes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="218" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsHy291ChgKPrpNdprxDkiNmJElsE2jKu9eGpVieS1VKENK1DUdkLmlFeiqG2oFn-GYvWZHZRyYUYgrrbcORMCQp9ACqeXYotyFzqWm3CMV3XolNaEFqyMAiHYT5Ht1ZhyOiS0eNlelQb/s200/nick+hayes.jpg" width="136" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOY9v6tiLHUySH3GboTCG2-jzJ_sUAjwLMlIE_gUkFv8tJ-jQrd4adRlxTqtI3vB94ZFG7Kv-L5aqPZpzf4ACsuyKcMtjzy51ZNOudTw3vqar1DrxSnNcPsAXPKXKkW1p0d92jPtnAinZ/s1600/marijke+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="222" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOY9v6tiLHUySH3GboTCG2-jzJ_sUAjwLMlIE_gUkFv8tJ-jQrd4adRlxTqtI3vB94ZFG7Kv-L5aqPZpzf4ACsuyKcMtjzy51ZNOudTw3vqar1DrxSnNcPsAXPKXKkW1p0d92jPtnAinZ/s200/marijke+head.jpg" width="126" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Marijke Van den Boogaard and
Nick Hayes were selected to represent South Africa in this international competition, thus qualifying them to wear the traditional green and gold blazers; commonly referred to as 'Springbok Colors.' </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A total of 41
athletes representing the countries of: Belgium, Denmark, England, West
Germany, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.A. and Wales participated
in the iconic event that was held in Royal Albert Hall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyH5Uz0UCjx3njxOihpHO73LVuqljE6FdxexzffVr9mOrpnQ5TBIfca1AA8hMoaoRXukrRSHNDzJE5OHxugLyueEviGsWYfMRTgsU8-t2bzthZwD3vKZqABZ7fyspJ0WFTO0V-Bl9e6IZ/s1600/17ur11vcijv3ajpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyH5Uz0UCjx3njxOihpHO73LVuqljE6FdxexzffVr9mOrpnQ5TBIfca1AA8hMoaoRXukrRSHNDzJE5OHxugLyueEviGsWYfMRTgsU8-t2bzthZwD3vKZqABZ7fyspJ0WFTO0V-Bl9e6IZ/s320/17ur11vcijv3ajpg.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the conclusion of the
competition, Marijke Van den Boogaard stepped onto the winner’s podium to
accept the third place trophy and Nick Hayes placed sixth in the men’s
division. Both athletes achieving highly respectable honors for South Africa’s very first participation in the international arena.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Read more!</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/2014/03/part-2-trampoline-turns-50-1964-first.html" target="_blank">Use this LINK to jump to </a><b><a href="http://trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/2014/03/part-2-trampoline-turns-50-1964-first.html" target="_blank">Trampoline History Blog</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: medium;">for photos, results and full-length video of
the <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">1964
First World Trampoline Championshi</span><span style="font-size: medium;">ps <span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Immediately following the spectacular world
event in London, three champion trampolinists from the United States arrived in
South Africa for a six-week visit. Frankie Schmitz, Steve Johnson and Nancy
Smith were met by their expert host Olle Areborn. Olle had pre-arranged numerous
trampoline displays and test matches against South Africa’s finest bouncers:
Marijke Van den Boogaard, Martin Trimmer, Peter Melvin and Neil Yelseth.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRInxE-jn1SCFpep6aPQIetSbT95BPeRhbzqdypMqFaD9SfFeJUfCDVUOKnRywXZfD0xPqX_IAODnzQn2nQEszdmzoz7ow48PuZGjRSKm5msI1gB7CFdGfAvZPqM6wMGtWM6rQhnLl9GRC/s1600/tour1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="708" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRInxE-jn1SCFpep6aPQIetSbT95BPeRhbzqdypMqFaD9SfFeJUfCDVUOKnRywXZfD0xPqX_IAODnzQn2nQEszdmzoz7ow48PuZGjRSKm5msI1gB7CFdGfAvZPqM6wMGtWM6rQhnLl9GRC/s400/tour1b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Article from Cape Argus - 1964<br />
(Courtesy of Derick Lotz)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicy_p5sZOdw79kbu-3F72TDcOZHTFM4DyrDLPl28dMPqkGjnIzhlIYFVsMHJ4cWngzvhyphenhyphenLrQk7Fz7LzjbziGMizgFkhquY329ginZCpytg1TaX0lEQE5QFIWWZcHZnf_sf6Bzc94Vnoc_W/s1600/tommy+and+marijke1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicy_p5sZOdw79kbu-3F72TDcOZHTFM4DyrDLPl28dMPqkGjnIzhlIYFVsMHJ4cWngzvhyphenhyphenLrQk7Fz7LzjbziGMizgFkhquY329ginZCpytg1TaX0lEQE5QFIWWZcHZnf_sf6Bzc94Vnoc_W/s320/tommy+and+marijke1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marijke Van den Boogaard and Tommy Steyn<br />
performing in Cape Town - 1964<br />
(Photo courtesy of Derick Lotz)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_HkWPi9pi-JMFf5ZSPpHm3a3RHsQ-nHU8wkQfm4zY9MR-nY9ef-1jdHKSft3WA67xU12P-vqSdekumJhth2gS__uMBe1sytvGJNP-9X9gUxEDheVewT0M9DW5vXfLildS-0XzoFot_lG/s1600/peter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="832" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_HkWPi9pi-JMFf5ZSPpHm3a3RHsQ-nHU8wkQfm4zY9MR-nY9ef-1jdHKSft3WA67xU12P-vqSdekumJhth2gS__uMBe1sytvGJNP-9X9gUxEDheVewT0M9DW5vXfLildS-0XzoFot_lG/s320/peter1.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neil Yelseth performing in Capetown - 1964<br />
(Photo courtesy of Derick Lotz)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzhY3gna_UXT7rSdP5iZs1XuLltWB22WbiBFPDBbB9cddxKv-Cc7LMbigGKGGjFtHnexsCXiffVs2IX7tl0KsHpc4hQPuFv9loTae0J-ppMIKZWeqoSumT6vgTTHcm4ZgfZJ5PVAfxIyz/s1600/1964MarijkeCoverGirl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzhY3gna_UXT7rSdP5iZs1XuLltWB22WbiBFPDBbB9cddxKv-Cc7LMbigGKGGjFtHnexsCXiffVs2IX7tl0KsHpc4hQPuFv9loTae0J-ppMIKZWeqoSumT6vgTTHcm4ZgfZJ5PVAfxIyz/s1600/1964MarijkeCoverGirl.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;">Read more!</span><br />
<a href="https://issuu.com/usagymnastics/docs/1964_7septoct/12" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to read Olle Aerborn's detailed account of the</a></div>
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6-week tour, published in </div>
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Modern Gymnast magazine, Sept/Oct. 1964, page 13 & 32</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout this decade, visits
by international trampoline teams to South Africa became an annual tradition. Standouts
included Great Britain in 1965, and West Germany in 1967. These tours shared South African hospitality and the country’s iconic sites such as:
Kimberly Gold Mines, Durban beaches, Cape Town’s Table Mountain and Kruger National Park in exchange for invaluable trampoline coaching, test matches, judging
clinics and life-long friendships. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All their hard work and training certainly paid off, as also throughout this decade, South Africa’s trampoline athletes consistently
placed high in every World Championship that they entered. What follows are highlights and results for World Trampoline Championships spanning the years 1965 - 1974. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Results:</i></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Marijke Van den Boogaard - (1965) <i>Consolation bracket;</i>1st Individual, 4th Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Colleen Melvin - (1965) 4th Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ronnie Meintjies - (1965) <i>Consolation bracket;</i>1st Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ian McNaughton - (1966) 4th Individual, 2nd Synchro, (1967) 3rd Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ron Abbott - (1967) 6th Individual, 3rd Synchro. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Charlene Paletz - (1966) 3rd Synchro, (1967) 3rd Individual, 4th Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Linda Dinkelman - (1967) 4th Synchro, (1968) 5th Individual, 3rd Synchro, (1970) 1st Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Vivian Breedt - (1968) 6th Individual, 5th Synchro, (1970) 4th Individual, 2nd Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spencer Wiggens - (1965) 4th Individual, (1966) 2nd Individual, 2nd Synchro, (1968) 5th Synchro, (1970) 2nd Synchro, (1972) 4th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Jennifer Liebenberg - (1968) 3rd Individual, (1970) 3rd Individual, (1972) 2nd Synchro, (1974) 3rd Individual, 3rd Synchro.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Charlene van der Merwe - (1968) 3rd Synchro, (1970) 1st Synchro, (1972) 2nd Synchro. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bernard Cross - (1970) 4th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Linda Odendaal - (1970) 5th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Derick Lotz - (1974) 9th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Valken de Villiers - (1974) 3rd Synchro, 8th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Stephanie Smith - (1974) 3rd Synchro, 9th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Steven Pelser - (1974) 3rd Synchro, 7th Individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Lorraine Hofland - (1974) 7th Individual. </span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0w5PkD47Q8JdqRBK3cTfo4CMf9LHj99gKvswi2LAf6sDr460OXgH7xx5Vr1CljTSjtmcqk_0APRML3shyrOrwUSZOk17U0ci7Jxf1a2-BL390IUixi-7-hJtBDNVZk2mruRYUOtEGbDz/s1600/ted-at-2ndb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="700" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0w5PkD47Q8JdqRBK3cTfo4CMf9LHj99gKvswi2LAf6sDr460OXgH7xx5Vr1CljTSjtmcqk_0APRML3shyrOrwUSZOk17U0ci7Jxf1a2-BL390IUixi-7-hJtBDNVZk2mruRYUOtEGbDz/s400/ted-at-2ndb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Collen Melvin and Marijke Van den Boogaard present Ted Blake with a gift<br />
from the South African trampoline team while at the 1965 World Trampoline Championships.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Read more!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">CLICK for: <a href="http://trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/1965-jan-30-second-world-open.html" target="_blank"><i>Trampoline History Blog - - </i>1965 Second World Trampoline Championships</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lQESKE_p755k44OP_2EsTSPR7h7w_LrFnMEXD1AJH5c5RGNlrdh88GopyPtMcpbuCOnRxdqb1n9GulgURgRYrDzbx6_OQG7lte-_r6YbgY-D8beHDXQ9LV0p3whHhZq7ideuwE6gzamA/s1600/mens+champ1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="579" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lQESKE_p755k44OP_2EsTSPR7h7w_LrFnMEXD1AJH5c5RGNlrdh88GopyPtMcpbuCOnRxdqb1n9GulgURgRYrDzbx6_OQG7lte-_r6YbgY-D8beHDXQ9LV0p3whHhZq7ideuwE6gzamA/s1600/mens+champ1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's Trampoline Champions - - 1966 World Trampoline Championships</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx77OM8jJN27jTBOz10jAdJhTijnUOyxshf15wlPmnF2PzdbkVPMS0CppkH1SfdeCbDW53ETQpMfNJq5l5TOPN0i4DPE1_4d9wBRK6n55IQ2sxJ5PtWFkllOLCpc8vWtXIE1fhxH6mv_Qg/s1600/synchro1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="571" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx77OM8jJN27jTBOz10jAdJhTijnUOyxshf15wlPmnF2PzdbkVPMS0CppkH1SfdeCbDW53ETQpMfNJq5l5TOPN0i4DPE1_4d9wBRK6n55IQ2sxJ5PtWFkllOLCpc8vWtXIE1fhxH6mv_Qg/s1600/synchro1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Synchronized Trampoline Champions - - 1966 World Trampoline Championships</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Read more!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 294.05pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">CLICK for: <a href="http://trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/1966-3rd-world-trampoline-championships.html" target="_blank"><i>Trampoline History Blog - - </i>1966 Third World Trampoline Championships</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Backing up a bit in our story ~ In August, 1964, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Ron Froehlich traveled to the United States to meet
with George Nissen to set up licensing agreements to manufacture and sell the
Nissen brand of trampolines in South Africa. Under their unique arrangement,
Ron’s Trampoline (PTY) Ltd., imported the key components such as chrome hinges for
trampoline frames but could manufacture their own steel tubing, springs and other necessary
parts plus have them chromed locally. A special loom, purchased from the
American Trampoline Company was used to weave trampoline beds</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiACCkN0XA2WrPIy8LrABwxNAZnLD6Zklrqp3c_E2Z4ASVC7tv6WsAZSc0-CJt0nzuhDVDV4bDtgTDBN7u2cRiRO3q8TCbwpJGONkiQJrHfA1tcRURodqmGfnqPLP6veBZ0hu3sgZuY6kP/s1600/aRons+on+a+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiACCkN0XA2WrPIy8LrABwxNAZnLD6Zklrqp3c_E2Z4ASVC7tv6WsAZSc0-CJt0nzuhDVDV4bDtgTDBN7u2cRiRO3q8TCbwpJGONkiQJrHfA1tcRURodqmGfnqPLP6veBZ0hu3sgZuY6kP/s320/aRons+on+a+bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advertisement for Ron's Trampoline on double-decker bus!<br />
(Photo courtesy of Ron Froehlich)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrM9zDW-omdOhuBYbaV0u5aIvCQMPGsOOI2a7_KQuEfpiWWNUTCNG3Xv0VnwdJIeX7E80fCtnK03jc0KKHs7VSJvX0APWh_ICPNMaRw_lSe7-WwOgJQaI7_ErWWFcC-YdBshMn4ACohm_/s1600/steyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrM9zDW-omdOhuBYbaV0u5aIvCQMPGsOOI2a7_KQuEfpiWWNUTCNG3Xv0VnwdJIeX7E80fCtnK03jc0KKHs7VSJvX0APWh_ICPNMaRw_lSe7-WwOgJQaI7_ErWWFcC-YdBshMn4ACohm_/s200/steyn.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Following another change in management; Hilmar Nielson’s
return to Norway and Ronnie Lombard’s decision to pursue other interests, Ron
Froehlich and Olle Areborn became the sole owners of Ron’s Trampoline (PTY) Ltd.
Under their supervision the company imported Spieth gymnastics apparatus and Puma shoes from Germany as well as expanded into track and field and fitness
products. For a short period, even champion trampolinist Marijke Van den
Boogaard worked at the company and Tommy Steyn, who had assumed trampoline instruction
duties at Ron’s Trampoline School, plus served as National Coach, was hired as the company’s Plant Manager.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WAhRjKLE-aalZw9mdoqDQzWqWoCa8RcMjxEXC0jCQ8jcBNOGbnRCY2Gm156aq5UZjE6TvIskGevh5h-Ens4jH86eathjWBrSXwfWPC-J4GqjlrSS70OzUSU0cNJ-CXvCn5-1hGy8uhOm/s1600/Olle+at+company.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WAhRjKLE-aalZw9mdoqDQzWqWoCa8RcMjxEXC0jCQ8jcBNOGbnRCY2Gm156aq5UZjE6TvIskGevh5h-Ens4jH86eathjWBrSXwfWPC-J4GqjlrSS70OzUSU0cNJ-CXvCn5-1hGy8uhOm/s320/Olle+at+company.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olle Areborn in front of Ron's Trampoline Company</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjXnlw_MeDxAxyuOGnnAPmguTnxzV2xTfF154INiP4-nYUiMdMwoa9mNhsQEKf4fPaRK_RRlFyR8sym_Jcvhhcmdbkl8UOiQjSXjBt9CQiYapHpHplDmZqDvJu7y4DE-FmjWHKS2Lhd1R/s1600/Ron+Froehlich+%2526+Olle+Aerborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjXnlw_MeDxAxyuOGnnAPmguTnxzV2xTfF154INiP4-nYUiMdMwoa9mNhsQEKf4fPaRK_RRlFyR8sym_Jcvhhcmdbkl8UOiQjSXjBt9CQiYapHpHplDmZqDvJu7y4DE-FmjWHKS2Lhd1R/s320/Ron+Froehlich+%2526+Olle+Aerborn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Froehlich and Olle Areborn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the years that followed, both Olle Areborn and Ron
Froehlich remained active businessmen as well as volunteer sports
administrators. They both provided leadership to the South Africa Gymnastics Association (S.A.G.A.) with Olle serving as President and Ron as Vice-President from 1966 - 1976.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In 1974, during Ron's tenure as President of the South Africa Amateur Trampoline Union he was was elected General Secretary of
the International Trampoline Federation (F.I.T.), which opened the door for
South Africa to host the 8<sup>th</sup> World Trampoline Championships in Johannesburg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PygOOD2Tn_0zCo7cL1pN3Gcjye1wLA7vHSSG8TEU4hA6r-nTc32B6tyYi242EF9i5Qr19l80mXNI5y4wELjec45xEjvBoof_I7uiRFQJcKuONq9Xh1JAFSZbL34AxAW-1yj5s8lqpLLy/s1600/img227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1059" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PygOOD2Tn_0zCo7cL1pN3Gcjye1wLA7vHSSG8TEU4hA6r-nTc32B6tyYi242EF9i5Qr19l80mXNI5y4wELjec45xEjvBoof_I7uiRFQJcKuONq9Xh1JAFSZbL34AxAW-1yj5s8lqpLLy/s400/img227.jpg" width="263" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuGQuDmnH9cyx1anbUTlCQ7Ox7zVmUyY6u9vn00AOo0vJdvIyRrNFhIxDQ71vOmyOUKg0q5aac-QFrVRuCvK98f3pG7Pdc1I44gt8qC1W1igpVjZwGWZb-fcBfYfv2FaXetiF9x2XoU_8/s1600/img244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1229" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuGQuDmnH9cyx1anbUTlCQ7Ox7zVmUyY6u9vn00AOo0vJdvIyRrNFhIxDQ71vOmyOUKg0q5aac-QFrVRuCvK98f3pG7Pdc1I44gt8qC1W1igpVjZwGWZb-fcBfYfv2FaXetiF9x2XoU_8/s400/img244.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1974 committee members during the<br />
World Championships in Johannesburg<br />
(click on photo to enlarge)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Note the many familiar names in the above list of 1974 committee members during the World Championships in Johannesburg. Especially Helmut Rohnisch who was instrumental in bringing trampoline to Sweden in the 1950's. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prior to the big competition, several </span><span style="font-size: large;">pre-arranged group trampoline demonstrations were held throughout Johannesburg</span><span style="font-size: large;">, in which all the international trampoline athletes attending the world championships were invited to participate - - including Ron Munn. This was his first visit back to South Africa since leaving in 1962. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the demonstrations took place at the King David's School, where Jannie Jansen, Deputy Principal and director of physical education, was one of the first institutions to include trampoline in their curriculum. As one of the sport's avid supporters, Jannie also served as an international judge and Chairman of the South African Amateur Trampoline Union. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Watch the Video!</span></div>
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Trampoline demonstrations in Johannesburg </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">at King David School </span>and City Hall - - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">in addition to World Championship's opening</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ceremonies and p</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">reliminary competition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">During the 1974 World Trampoline Championships, Double Mini-tramp and Tumbling were exhibitions events, with the official demonstration provided by a special team from America.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Trampoline safety end-decks were also used for the first time in competition and proved to be such an asset they have been used in championship events ever since.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Watch the Video! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Individual trampoline and synchronized trampoline competition.</div>
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Tumbling and mini-tramp demonstrations.</div>
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World Championship's closing ceremony</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the week following this competition, athletes and their coaches were treated to tours of local sights and a few days stay in Kruger National Park.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Watch the Video!</span> </div>
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- Double-mini Tramp demonstration in Kruger National Park</div>
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- Kruger Park animals and touring plus group BBQ party.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i>And that is how the trampoline came to South Africa!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i><b>~~~</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i>Trampoline continues to grow and flourish </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i>throughout the country as both </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i>a sport and a recreational past-time. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Epilogue ~</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Munn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ron Munn, who was highly instrumental during the early introduction and promotion of trampolining in South Africa, married George Nissen's daughter Dagmar, in 1980, and continued to work for the Nissen Corporation until his retirement in 2000. Ron and Dagmar live in Green Valley, Arizona and enjoy collecting and sharing with others the many interesting stories of trampoline history. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(via their <a href="http://www.trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.TrampolineHistory.blogspot.com </a>and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY37miIkK4s1XmZw8ChmzEA/videos" target="_blank">Trampoline History Videos</a>) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQdiOoSzlbb6SqewmKkknhxbP3s41SSvQbvPvukkMrUgzIg9U0ur4h3FS2SfmOaWH-CTN_P33IP0K6yEI8WeswUY3Hq0WgHEnopAnJtcLpeEnY_TlhVVo7L3BV8W8x0hg5YHBJvCmk-nw/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQdiOoSzlbb6SqewmKkknhxbP3s41SSvQbvPvukkMrUgzIg9U0ur4h3FS2SfmOaWH-CTN_P33IP0K6yEI8WeswUY3Hq0WgHEnopAnJtcLpeEnY_TlhVVo7L3BV8W8x0hg5YHBJvCmk-nw/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Froehlich</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ron Froehlich left South Africa in 1976, immigrating to Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A., where he continued his intense involvement in the world of trampoline. Following his election as President of the F.I.T. in 1998, Ron Froehlich became instrumental in the
negotiations and final vote to include trampoline in the Olympics as an
official medal event - - which became a reality at the 2000 Olympic Games
in Sydney, Australia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Ron Froehlich continues on with involvement in the International Federation of Gymnastics as an Executive Board Member.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">Read more!</span></div>
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<a href="http://trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/1998-historic-vote-moves-trampoline.html"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://trampolinehistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/1998-historic-vote-moves-trampoline.html</span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWPdAefQ4an5SA6CsFY7iS4aBmEqOR30gBlM8Y6OmryNe_QjgK-i10mCMjje3MnfJBw8dUEtTaX1f9eDC06NrHWDkVT-rKm4kA5V4jNdWf65jOSLwX3ZnVXjQS0EZOGJcJVX4Igg-cDX0/s1600/Olle1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="426" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWPdAefQ4an5SA6CsFY7iS4aBmEqOR30gBlM8Y6OmryNe_QjgK-i10mCMjje3MnfJBw8dUEtTaX1f9eDC06NrHWDkVT-rKm4kA5V4jNdWf65jOSLwX3ZnVXjQS0EZOGJcJVX4Igg-cDX0/s200/Olle1b.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olle Areborn (1919 - 2015)<br />
"The Father of Trampoline in South Africa"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Olle Areborn </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">continued managing the business until his retirement at which time he returned to Sweden. But his love for South Africa drew him back to the country. He remained there until he passed away in 2015. It can be agreed by all that Olle Areborn truly was the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father of trampoline in South Africa.</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He not only had the foresight in 1959 to bring trampolining to the country, but through his efforts and dedicated support paved the way for trampoline's continued success, even through today, in both the recreational and competitive arenas. <i>Thank you Olle - - You will always be remembered. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">* * *</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Acknowledgements ~</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We thank the following individuals for their help </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">in sharing memories and photographs </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">that contributed to the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Great South African Trampoline Safari.</i></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pia Areborn, </span>Ron Froehlich, Sӧren Jonsson, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Derick Lotz, Ian McNaughton, Martin Trimmer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and Marijke (Van den Boogaard) Greenway</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Dagmar Nissen Munn & Ron Munn</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Helpful Links:</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_20.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 1</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_19.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for Part 2</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline_18.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>for Part 3</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-great-south-african-trampoline.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>for Part 4</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-11505598991014586122013-05-01T21:07:00.000-07:002017-05-30T15:31:22.381-07:00Part 1 - Let's Go to Egypt!<div style="border: currentColor;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i>The Great Pyramid Trampoline Caper</i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">A short story by Ron Munn</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;">“Say George...Wouldn’t it be great to put a trampoline </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;">on top </span><span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;">of this pyramid?"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UGspRRrjOQt6X899JMp-eUqX9gTv20Ht1n9zmnTuVQf8BWmEMb8GKL7iLAH3ojjKkuh_HpXHa4BBf6KsZE-nKVhyphenhyphenDYjGU7DLEVXrloDFpW80kzJmXj-_5vSEhtmVGO9cAGyp1Jg1goJi/s1600/%2314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UGspRRrjOQt6X899JMp-eUqX9gTv20Ht1n9zmnTuVQf8BWmEMb8GKL7iLAH3ojjKkuh_HpXHa4BBf6KsZE-nKVhyphenhyphenDYjGU7DLEVXrloDFpW80kzJmXj-_5vSEhtmVGO9cAGyp1Jg1goJi/s1600/%2314.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;">And so the story begins….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;">JUst George and Ron with an outrageous idea!</span><span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "algerian";"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 1—“Let’s go TO EGYPT”<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In the fall of 1976 George Nissen and I traveled to Egypt in hopes of introducing the competitive sport of trampoline to the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation. To become an Olympic event George knew that a sport must be recognized in numerous countries and each must have it included in their Federations. Adding Egypt to the list would only help in the dream of one day seeing trampoline as an Olympic event. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Prior to our trip George had become friends with an Egyptian who lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He had been the former captain of the University of California Gymnastics team and a member of the 1948 Egyptian Olympic Gymnastics team. His name was Adli Roushdi and through his contacts within the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation we were able to organize the trip and meet with the Federation executives. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Adli was a realtor in Cedar Rapids but was also working on an enterprising idea which took him to Egypt quite often….ice cream that was made in Iowa from corn, and in extreme heat didn’t melt as quickly….a perfect product for Egypt which he felt would be a big seller if only he could find the right connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great idea, but unfortunately it never materialized.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">With Adli’s connections we were introduced to the executive board of the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation, along with its President, Lt. General Gadawi of the Egyptian Armed Forces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout our initial trip and additional trips thereafter both General Gadawi and Adli proved to be invaluable at every turn……and during the “Great Pyramid Trampoline Caper” there were numerous doors that needed opening.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Upon our evening arrival in Cairo we were met by Adli and Lt. General Gadawi along with officials from the Gymnastics Federation and shown to our hotel that the </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Federation had booked. In 1976 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cairo only had two hotels that would be considered up to the standard of western visitors…….unfortunately both were fully booked which left us staying in one of the more local establishments! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The next day our order of business was to work on booking a room at the Nile Hilton Hotel……and, through hook and crook we were successful………but, that first night was one that will always be remembered , along with this lovely view from our room.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">During the next day</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> we spent a great deal of time with the Federation officials, overseeing the local equipment and facilities and discussing their involvement in the sport of gymnastics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had little background in the sport of trampoline, but were very interested in finding out additional information and expressed an interest in having a team of U.S. gymnasts and trampolinists travel to Egypt for exhibitions and clinics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">During these discussions we explained that one important expectation of providing such a tour would be proper equipment for all the demonstrations. Although the Egyptian Federation was unable at that time to commit to the purchase of Nissen equipment they felt that once the equipment was shipped and in Egypt the necessary procurement channels could be addressed and the equipment could be purchased. Somewhat a risky proposition, but even so, one that George was willing to take.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">It should be pointed out that earlier in1973 George sold the Nissen Corporation to Victor Comptometer of Chicago. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although George remained President of the Nissen Corporation the Victor organization kept a close eye on George’s trampoline escapades and associated expenses since trampoline product liability was becoming a growing concern. In 1977 Victor Comptometer was sold to the Kidde Corporation which increased the scrutiny of George’s activities even more. Then in 1978 the Nissen Corporation was finally forced to discontinue manufacturing trampolines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During these tumultuous times George continued to set his sights on seeing trampoline in the Olympics. He felt having an additional country such as Egypt added to the roster was important, since there was a possibility that the sport might be included in the 1980 Olympics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though he felt the negative pressure from the new owners, George gave his personal assurance to the Egyptians that a team would be put together, the necessary equipment would be shipped and in April of 1977 the tour would begin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Although I had been to Egypt in the early 60’s and had seen the Pyramids, George was certainly interested in visiting the area himself and checking them out, so on our second day we made the journey along with Adli. For those who have been to the area you know that once you step out of a taxi it’s basically straight onto the back of a camel, head dresses are applied and from there you’re off and running with no guidance on where the camel is going…..although I’m sure the camel knows! The owner slowly follows and when the camel finally stops in some far off place you don’t want to be, the owner shows up asking for “bakshish”……tip money!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt;">Either pay up, or you’re in for a future rough ride….of course we paid up!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Riding a camel is fun, but no matter what “Lawrence of Arabia” might say the fun wears thin very quickly….especially in the hot sun with head dresses on and potential fleas in the blankets you’re sitting on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally convinced our “camel jockey” that we had enough fun and pictures riding around the “Sphinx” therefore with additional “bakshish” he was kind enough to let us dismount. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Once dismounted we set our sights on the three pyramids that appeared to be so close, but as we walked towards them we realized the true distance due to their enormous size. The “Great Pyramid of Khufu” is the largest pyramid of the three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is 756 feet long on each side and 450 feet high and is the only one of the famous “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” that still stands. Even today it remains the most massive building on Earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we gazed in amazement we were approached by an Arab individual. Little did we know that he would become a close friend and helpful comrade throughout our future adventure…..but the best part was when I asked him his name and he replied, “Sam Scooby-Dooby”! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Of course we asked “Sam Scooby-Dooby” if we could climb to the top of the Great Pyramid and he said yes, and led the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So off we went, and about 30 minutes later we were standing on top enjoying an outstanding view of the entire area, the city of Cairo and the desert beyond…….as well as providing some “bakshish” to “Sam Scooby-Dooby” for his assistance in getting us to the top! Part of this “baskshish” would be shared with a few of the guards at the bottom of the pyramid</span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> “Sam Scooby-Dooby” knew the ropes around the pyramids and over time became very helpful.</span><span style="background: black; border-bottom: black 1pt; border-left: black 1pt; border-right: black 1pt; border-top: black 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">After doing numerous handstands and having “Sam Scooby-Dooby” take pictures I turned to George and said, “Wouldn’t it be great to put a trampoline on top of this pyramid?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that point forward the seed was planted, and the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Great Pyramid Trampoline Caper” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">idea began! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_26" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 215.35pt; margin-left: 127pt; margin-top: 78.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 177.75pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 2558 0 21515 21509 21515 21509 2558 0 2558"><v:imagedata o:title="Picture12" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When it was originally built the Great Pyramid was 481 feet tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today 31 feet are missing from the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some say that when Napoléon invaded Egypt in 1798 he took the top off looking for treasures, but this theory was never proven. Without these huge missing blocks there is now an uneven surface on top. To signify the original height of the pyramid the Egyptians have erected a 31 foot pole. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">George and I took a very close look at how the pole was connected, noting that it was anchored by three additional poles set at angles for support. We came to a final conclusion that it was possible to disconnect them and lower the main pole, thereby allowing us to put a trampoline on top!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least we hoped it would work! Of course replacing the pole to its original position was another question….but we were confident it could be done with some additional help. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During our flight back to the U.S. our discussions centered on the arrangements for the tour in April of the following year, but there was also a burning desire by both of us to accomplish the goal of putting a trampoline on top the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and how it could be accomplished. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">...Maybe with a helicopter?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jump to <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2013/04/part-2-trampolines-gymnastics-and.html" target="_blank">Part 2: "Trampolines, Gymnastics & Pyramids"</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-65228929640862432372013-04-28T18:52:00.000-07:002017-05-30T15:32:05.542-07:00Part 2 - "Trampolines, Gymnastics and Pyramids"<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">1976 had been a very busy year for the Nissen Corporation: including several trips at the beginning of the year to Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia to promote Nissen products. Then came the World Trampoline Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma along with the World Age Group Games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Finally at the end of the year, Nissen provided the equipment and employees to tour with the Russian Gymnastics team throughout the U.S.A., not to mention providing some equipment for the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Now with the onset of the Egyptian tour, 1977 was shaping up to be an equally exciting year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first order of business was receiving the official sanction for the trip from the United States Gymnastics Federation, United States Trampoline & Tumbling Association and the United States Sports Acrobatics Federation. All organizations happily provided their sanctions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYx0eImdgxmQUp8A2J6UnLhbthlLrkIfIaZcWrV4ryHeVz22OmGtUfOxTkah6q381oCB2F6_a58V70sOBPazsYdonm67p5MtKlHA8i1wR4Ht8kvsx3Zxcf9nsTdAtAbePFmfcTnrVmvy-/s1600/P2-%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYx0eImdgxmQUp8A2J6UnLhbthlLrkIfIaZcWrV4ryHeVz22OmGtUfOxTkah6q381oCB2F6_a58V70sOBPazsYdonm67p5MtKlHA8i1wR4Ht8kvsx3Zxcf9nsTdAtAbePFmfcTnrVmvy-/s640/P2-%231.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">A selection was made to have a combination of 10 gymnasts and trampolinists, along with a supporting party as follows:</span></span></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Leigh Hennessey – Trampoline<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Dian Nissen – Trampoline<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Rob Bollinger – Trampoline<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Ron Merriott – Trampoline<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Ron Munn –Trampoline<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">George Hery - Trampoline<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Amy MacHamer – Gymnast<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Dana Hopper – Gymnast <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bob Rikii – Gymnast<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Breck Grigas – Gymnast<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Linda Metheny – Gymnast & Chaperone<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Glenn Sundby – Photographer <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">George & Annie Nissen – Tour Leaders and Sponsor<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Adli & Nina Roushdi – Tour Translators</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">As expected, everyone selected was very excited and looked forward to their visit to Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">There was of course, some question within the Nissen Corporation regarding the shipment of equipment to Egypt without first receiving a letter of credit or some other form of pre-payment. Even so, arrangements went ahead for a complete set of gymnastics equipment and trampolines with delivery in Cairo scheduled for late March or early April, just in time for the tour, April 11-21.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_30" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 175pt; margin-left: 129pt; margin-top: 35.4pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 240pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21477 21465 21477 21465 0 0 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="Picture2" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Annie Nissen did a wonderful job in selecting the women’s dress uniforms for formal occasions while George and I chose the men’s suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sharp group we were!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Leaving from Chicago and flying through London, we arrived in Cairo where we were graciously met at the airport by our Egyptian hosts, and escorted to the beautiful Le Meridien Hotel located directly on the Nile River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0G2FnicIXoS6BlkQI8BF4VPj7NNwXnLqXMfaTVLvaYPA-pDInQTF3b9MojJYK93LmSj6VKFGo7A_1mgzTIL_z7eV4e6xHbi5BFkAaavHLkUPYmL0t_WQxoeIa3EaY-X0MpcfmfsGm4pm/s1600/%2335E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0G2FnicIXoS6BlkQI8BF4VPj7NNwXnLqXMfaTVLvaYPA-pDInQTF3b9MojJYK93LmSj6VKFGo7A_1mgzTIL_z7eV4e6xHbi5BFkAaavHLkUPYmL0t_WQxoeIa3EaY-X0MpcfmfsGm4pm/s1600/%2335E.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Certainly a</span> wonderful start to our adventure but, little did we know that we were in for a BIG surprise. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">While we were checking in at the hotel, the Egyptian delegation pulled George and me aside and told us….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">THAT DUE TO A TREMENDOUS BACKUP AT THE PORT OF ALEXANDRIA...ALL OUR EQUIPMENT WAS STILL ON-BOARD A SHIP </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">THAT WAS ANCHORED OUT TO SEA OFF THE COAST!</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">UNDER THESE <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CIRCUMSTANCES IT WAS TIME TO MAKE NEW ARRANGEMENTS... AND THE NEXT DAY, WITH THE HELP OF THE EGYPTIAN FEDERATION WE BEGAN LOCATING EQUIPMENT THAT OUR GYMNASTS AND TRAMPOLINISTS COULD USE UNTIL THE NISSEN EQUIPMENT WAS OFF-LOADED AND DELIVERED TO CAIRO!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The gymnastic equipment which we obtained for the exhibitions was of European origin and even though somewhat old, it was deemed satisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two Nissen trampolines were located, and the one with a 1” web bed was quickly selected by the trampoline performers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The exhibitions which included the Egyptian gymnasts began on the third day, and received tremendous news coverage throughout Cairo. Friendships between the gymnasts developed quickly and fun times were had by all.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceDdjEjRCcSWAYpO2tIZc6ApChw98jX-VkonYSifNuUcpZB5yZZ5LkLPJ35KhafrNrUsZ77GucG9TCEbcUeY5MDV3tEcC09K2Uh90a0wtDOx2Te6Ju-kCoBPe2cAwl5rv2chORnDuq_TG/s1600/P2-gym1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceDdjEjRCcSWAYpO2tIZc6ApChw98jX-VkonYSifNuUcpZB5yZZ5LkLPJ35KhafrNrUsZ77GucG9TCEbcUeY5MDV3tEcC09K2Uh90a0wtDOx2Te6Ju-kCoBPe2cAwl5rv2chORnDuq_TG/s1600/P2-gym1b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EVERY DAY GEORGE AND I, ALONG WITH THE FEDERATION OFFICIALS CONTINUED TO TRY TO GET THE NISSEN EQUIPMENT OFF LOADED AT THE ALEXANDRIA PORT, BUT TO NO AVAIL….</span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">WE WERE TOLD THE SHIP HAD TO WAIT IT’S TURN WHICH WAS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER A MONTHS TIME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">NOT GOOD NEWS! <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_292" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 183pt; margin-left: -11.85pt; margin-top: 136.85pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 260.85pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21423 21488 21423 21488 0 0 0"><span style="font-size: small;"><v:imagedata o:title="Picture3" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Even so, the group stayed positive and the demonstrations continued on with a great trampoline halftime show at the National football/soccer stadium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Since is was a match between the two best teams in Egypt, cl</span>ose to 100,000 spectators were in the stands. The game ended in a tie. The trampoline exhibition was a tremendous hit and even received more coverage in the press than the football match. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Merriott</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">After numerous demonstrations and clinics the group was ready for some fun and sightseeing. Our hosts took the entire group to the one place we had all been waiting for….the pyramids!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For additional fun we brought a trampoline along so that our photographer, Glenn Sundby could get some really outstanding photos. Most of the day was spent exploring the area, as well as climbing some of the smaller pyramids and just having a fun time….especially with the trampoline! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Watch: Trampolining at the Egyptian Pyramids</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Being at the pyramids George’s mind reflected back to our previous trip and the idea of putting a trampoline on top of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. </span></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p><span style="font-size: 16pt;">During the confusion of the delayed equipment and ongoing demonstrations, George managed to make arrangements for a helicopter. With the help of Adli and Lt General Gadawi, George met with an Egyptian gentleman who had a helicopter and agreed to the idea of lifting the trampoline to the top of the pyramid the day before we were scheduled to leave Cairo.<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">That same day while we were at the pyramids, we crossed paths with Sam “Scooby Dooby” who was not only excited to see us, but was more than willing to help in any way he could after hearing our grand plans involving a helicopter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George, George Hery and I climbed to the top of the pyramid to check out the pole and its supports. We concluded that on the day of the big event George Hery and I would be stationed on top in order to lower the pole as the helicopter took off from the ground with the trampoline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The folded trampoline would be hanging in a net beneath the helicopter allowing it to be lowered to the top of the pyramid once George and I had the pole down……. It all seemed like a good idea and everyone agreed that it would probably work!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Jump to <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2013/04/part-2-continued-trampoline-gymnasts.html" target="_blank">Part B: of "Trampolines, Gymnastics & Pyramids"</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-55776153140175941302013-04-25T17:46:00.000-07:002017-05-30T15:32:25.846-07:00Part 2 (continued) Trampoline, Gymnasts and Pyramids<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt center 3.25in;">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Returning to our hotel that evening, we met with the Egyptian Federation executives...we had yet to solve the problem that all our Nissen equipment was still stranded at sea; floating in the Mediterranean just off the coast of Alexandria. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Stronger actions had to be taken. On that point we were all in agreement since only a few days remained before our trip was over. Further complicating these last days was the special trip to Port Said and the Suez Canal that the Egyptian Federation had arranged for our entire group. This trip included one more exhibition plus, an overnight stay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Lt. General Gadawi made the decision; announcing that the very next day George Hery and I would accompany him and his officer to Alexandria in hopes of putting government pressure on the port officials to allow our ship to dock. Meanwhile, the rest of our tour party would travel on to Port Said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The following morning found George Hery and myself off to Alexandria. </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We soon learned that there are only two routes traveling from Cairo to Alexandria - - the "quick route...via the desert or, the "slow route" down the Onion Road.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both George and I got along well with the General's friends!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lt. General Gadawi<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The General's vehicle took the Onion Road and I must say, it not only was slow, but most certainly filled with numerous onion wagons along the way! We did manage to arrive however by early afternoon, with enough time for the General to visit a few of his military friends in Alexandria.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">T</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: "arial";">he next morning we were up early "with the roosters" and now off to the port itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure they knew we were coming, since once there we were instantly loaded onto a pilot boat that chugged out of the safety of the harbor and soon entered the open sea heading towards the anchored ship which contained the Nissen equipment deep in its hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Once there</span> we shimmied up the ladder on the side of the big ship and were taken directly to the captain’s quarters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The captain who was Norwegian, spoke English and was most accommodating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He produced a manifest and showed us were all the cargo was located. </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Together we looked at the chart and saw that the boxes containing a full set each of Nissen men's gymnastic apparatus, women's gymnastics apparatus plus, two Nissen trampolines was located under... 30,000 pounds of flour!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The captain was on our side, as he didn’t want to stay anchored out to sea for up to a month either. He heartily assured us that if his ship was given priority to enter the port he would see to it that our equipment would be "second off"... just as soon as the flour was gone. </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We thanked him for his assurance and sailed back to the port office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Lt. General Gadawi then spoke with the officers of the port and in no time at all, authority was given to let the ship come into port... once the next available berth opened up. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Lt. General Gadawi added that he would make the arrangements for military trucks to be on standby, load up the equipment and bring it all to Cairo post haste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thanked everyone all around for their understanding and headed back to Cairo feeling much better but, still not knowing exactly <em>when</em> our equipment would arrive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Reuniting with George Nissen, and the group who had just returned from Port Said, we shared the good news. But, since we now were down to only two days before having to leave Cairo, it was still a big question of whether or not we would actually see the equipment at all. Staying on was impossible as we were scheduled to travel on to Madrid, Spain, for a few days of more exhibitions and were told we absolutely could not make any changes to our travel arrangements. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Our final day in Cairo arrived, and now plans were under way to place a trampoline on top of the Great Pyramid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Apparently the international press had gotten word as well. For wh</span>en we arrived at the pyramids that morning with our trampoline on board, we found the Associated Press ready and waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We also had arranged for a</span> 16mm camera to take photos out of the helicopter window so of course, all eyes scanned the skies anticipating the helicopter's arrival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">There was a special area near us that was apparently within range of Anwar Sadat's home and was off limits to any aircraft. But our helicopter had received special permission to fly over the area, thus securing a more direct path to the pyramids. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">After a great deal of discussion on how the logistics of the operation would actually be handled, it was finally time to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Hery and I climbed to the top of the pyramid. Once there we anxiously waited for the helicopter to start up its engine, then lift slightly up off the ground in order for someone to attach the net containing the trampoline!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That would be the signal for George and me at the top to</span> disconnect the supports holding the pole and dismantle the entire pole apparatus.</span></span><br />
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 182.85pt; margin-left: 0.75pt; margin-top: 114.6pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 198pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21441 21436 21441 21436 0 0 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="Picture14" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We waited and waited. Looking down, we could see that the helicopter did not move…then finally, the blade of the helicopter began to turn and our level of excitement increased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The helicopter</span> rose up off the ground and continued to move upward...but no net was attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Hery and I were puzzled as to what was happening…the helicopter continued to rise upward until it was eye level with us at the top the pyramid…and then, the pilot and his wife both waved to us as they flew off over the desert!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What had gone wrong? Why were they leaving?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would soon find out why as George Nissen then began climbing the pyramid and when he was finally close enough for us to hear him, yelled out, "The pilot felt that the weather was to dusty and it might be unsafe!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Of course we were very disappointed, but from the start of the project we had all agreed that safety would be the number one priority. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Even so, we decided to make the best of the situation. There was one last exhibition taking place that evening so the remainder of the group returned to Cairo. George Nissen and I, along with George Hery and Glen Sundby stayed back with a mini-tramp since we were still determined to “turn a somersault on top of the pyramid.” </span></span><br />
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 304.05pt; margin-left: 263.1pt; margin-top: 302.4pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 215.25pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21525 21525 21525 21525 0 0 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="img800" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 250.9pt; margin-left: -3pt; margin-top: 21.45pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 265.5pt; z-index: -2;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21436 21478 21436 21478 0 0 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="Picture15" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">To get things started, George Hery and I hauled the mini-tramp to the top of the pyramid…no easy task! Once there, the fun began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George Nissen and Glen Sundby were already at the top, and Glenn was ready with his camera as we finally made it as well.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdq-6nATqB5EizmVCvYxf2RB-o_7N-jx05MUji2wZBR4QG0w5V6uhcykUAy2m7p4UYEWove_t7HjM2d3rIUJhzQhyphenhyphenh1aSwnI1cnrlhkfjyxss8YDP31OJW_U-iGIfO08i_M5XKTbpHKBO/s1600/Picture15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdq-6nATqB5EizmVCvYxf2RB-o_7N-jx05MUji2wZBR4QG0w5V6uhcykUAy2m7p4UYEWove_t7HjM2d3rIUJhzQhyphenhyphenh1aSwnI1cnrlhkfjyxss8YDP31OJW_U-iGIfO08i_M5XKTbpHKBO/s1600/Picture15.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">Getting the mini-tramp situated in a spot that was level took a bit of maneuvering as we were determined to do a back somersault but had no landing mat...the fear was avoiding injuring our ankles when landing on the large boulders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In honor of the occasion, George Nissen was allowed to go first, and at the age of 63, it was certainly an outstanding accomplishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Although there are numerous names and initials carved into the boulders at the top of the pyramid that date back many, many centuries, we’re pretty sure that George was the first person ever to turn a somersault off a mini-tramp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Congratulations George Nissen! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 279.45pt; margin-left: 281.25pt; margin-top: 24.9pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 210pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21449 21446 21449 21446 0 0 0"><v:imagedata o:title="Picture17" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 274.7pt; margin-left: 9.1pt; margin-top: 28.65pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 219.75pt; z-index: -2;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21466 21526 21466 21526 0 0 0"><v:imagedata o:title="img801" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span> <span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span> <span style="font-size: 16pt;"></span> <span style="font-size: 16pt;">Of course, we figured if George could do it, so could we…</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_DqoKYXTFxMz6kCgyFxEMRhDaw0G5YdNTCkvhL7EtJIWJvf737vIgKP5HHCjbGhF0cbC-v3Z1lzsfkH1B3tjrnKWpzLEaunB5jnfNhbDewbBVI_15B6w45_6L4guAz4sh9g_UEuOAqnZ/s1600/%2331.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_DqoKYXTFxMz6kCgyFxEMRhDaw0G5YdNTCkvhL7EtJIWJvf737vIgKP5HHCjbGhF0cbC-v3Z1lzsfkH1B3tjrnKWpzLEaunB5jnfNhbDewbBVI_15B6w45_6L4guAz4sh9g_UEuOAqnZ/s1600/%2331.png" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Glenn even joined in on the fun and we partnered up for some impromptu hand balancing. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BDeaEm6-ievjUVl2Qc5J9AkmYTlXd7TuQBZnTNttAX4xvMPZNitrJVw9ID3qjQ1hzBysBC6K5lnXeCvy3m3EhO6wcBfG4WOC1YF43UYB7Mx0KHeRqI4Zrn_94X1e-w-6RkVFVBHXHB1O/s1600/%2334.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BDeaEm6-ievjUVl2Qc5J9AkmYTlXd7TuQBZnTNttAX4xvMPZNitrJVw9ID3qjQ1hzBysBC6K5lnXeCvy3m3EhO6wcBfG4WOC1YF43UYB7Mx0KHeRqI4Zrn_94X1e-w-6RkVFVBHXHB1O/s1600/%2334.png" width="280" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eg0z8LBWD2cXoV-bYshBlGDuBrRC3kGeerYpzn4J2JiExn0SeDLZjOtCu-4n8W7oEjXPDPx4N4Fu8ci31du6n99j8mWWUmx8v99lU8O96Uq9ubPIkIxTMh8JjPDsAFgJNy3liw1Ptrj-/s1600/%2333.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eg0z8LBWD2cXoV-bYshBlGDuBrRC3kGeerYpzn4J2JiExn0SeDLZjOtCu-4n8W7oEjXPDPx4N4Fu8ci31du6n99j8mWWUmx8v99lU8O96Uq9ubPIkIxTMh8JjPDsAFgJNy3liw1Ptrj-/s1600/%2333.png" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eg0z8LBWD2cXoV-bYshBlGDuBrRC3kGeerYpzn4J2JiExn0SeDLZjOtCu-4n8W7oEjXPDPx4N4Fu8ci31du6n99j8mWWUmx8v99lU8O96Uq9ubPIkIxTMh8JjPDsAFgJNy3liw1Ptrj-/s1600/%2333.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">By late in the afternoon we finally decided that we had flipped, and balanced as many ways as is possible and had taken enough photos. It was time to return to Central Cairo and meet up with the group that was performing their last exhibition.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">When we arrived at the exhibition Lt. General Gadawi was waiting for us with good news…the Nissen equipment had been off-loaded and was at that moment being delivered to the outdoor field of a local sports club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> As soon as</span> the exhibition was over, George and I went directly to the sports club to check things out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The last truck was just unloading as we drove up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We saw that a</span>ll the boxes containing the multiple pieces of equipment were now lying scattered in an open field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Knowing that we</span> were leaving the very next morning there was no way to set up the equipment and show it to possible buyers plus, leaving it in the open was not a good idea at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">But, there was nothing else we could do but thank the General and tell him that we would return to Cairo as soon as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not exactly what we had planned, but it was the only option that was available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">At the airport the next morning we said goodbye to our new found friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone on the tour agreed that they had a wonderful time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great experience for all and, as we flew over the pyramids and on to our next stop in Spain, both George and I knew we would be back very soon…not only to rescue and sell the gymnastics equipment that we had left behind, but also to get a TRAMPOLINE on top of the Great Pyramid….. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">George would not give up!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Jump to <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2013/04/part-3-wanna-buy-sidehorse.html" target="_blank">Part 3: "Wanna Buy a Sidehorse?"</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">When George and I returned to
the factory in Cedar Rapids there were numerous questions regarding the tour,
but primarily the discussion centered on the equipment, and was it sold?</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Even though the story of the tour was quite
compelling it was met with blank stares, and questions on what our next plan
was.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Since there was a complete
set of both men’s and women’s gymnastics equipment sent along with mats and
trampolines, the value was quite considerable.
Also the fact that the equipment was now setting out in the desert sun
with hopes that no rain was predicted for Cairo made for a very delicate
situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To complicate matters even
more, some of the equipment required floor plates which are used to anchor
certain apparatus into wooden floors….examples being, women’s uneven parallel
bars and men’s ring frame. The men’s
horizontal bar shipped was of a new portable style and did not require floor
plates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Having to anchor these two
pieces of equipment in an open dirt field when we returned would be quite a
challenge….but not for George. Right
away he put his inventive mind to work and came up with the perfect
solution….just make long cork screws with the floor plates welded to the top. We could screw them into the ground and
attach the required equipment. It was a
great idea and soon the lawn in front of the factory was littered with cork
screw floor plates! And the best part was that they worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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May with hopes that the equipment was still in the field and most importantly
that we could get it sold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMGUhmifTnLwwM-M8bOmQMmdMyeQ4wS0_GM4y1Xej2gMgliW_PdNulkb2cRPaElDDvST47kEQThFJvZoCzK8K1da76dDLVN9XHUaMKyeILhyphenhyphenPnXYXZMDs8rruQeb7Xtf0JV35z7Dx4UKE/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMGUhmifTnLwwM-M8bOmQMmdMyeQ4wS0_GM4y1Xej2gMgliW_PdNulkb2cRPaElDDvST47kEQThFJvZoCzK8K1da76dDLVN9XHUaMKyeILhyphenhyphenPnXYXZMDs8rruQeb7Xtf0JV35z7Dx4UKE/s1600/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George arriving once again in Cairo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">As in the past our
dear friends, Adli and General Gawadi were there for our arrival. They had
organized representatives from various sport clubs for the official showing of
the equipment….in hopes that the clubs would be interested in purchasing
items. During the heat of the first day
George and I opened the boxes and set everything up. This included screwing
eight of George’s cork screw invention into the ground. Later that evening when
it was cooler club representatives showed up with great interest and</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">enthusiasm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Commitments were made for the
purchase of all the equipment, but actual money did not exchange hands. We were
of course hopefully that the necessary letters of credit or transfer of funds
would take place as soon as possible, but as they say in Egypt, “en sha Allah”
which means “God Willing.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">We spent our last
days in Cairo visiting with Adli and his friends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjKjlQJ37ZoD8uLvkWwF17IhbjtFKtzHNCIpiTLpevLIBoTpkHeP8A3q1HK6Q-Lr9vfYAg2Bkep1IksZKSk-6w-n4YblNjIOvWjP6wJhRYQsph-MyqdQ8et6Kma-1BzbUc5YXIV69O9Dk/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjKjlQJ37ZoD8uLvkWwF17IhbjtFKtzHNCIpiTLpevLIBoTpkHeP8A3q1HK6Q-Lr9vfYAg2Bkep1IksZKSk-6w-n4YblNjIOvWjP6wJhRYQsph-MyqdQ8et6Kma-1BzbUc5YXIV69O9Dk/s1600/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Before we left Cairo
once again, we paused on the balcony of our hotel for another picture with the
pyramids looming over George’s shoulder in the background....he had not
forgotten the dream of putting a trampoline on top, and continued to talk about
it as we once again left the country….. I knew we’d be back</span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 16pt;">J</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY00CQjCUYlkVdlsuG_S2H_8hIWf4JlTNoLKxE14bk3tD37sbHwdfZc7jjDN7uvRNIjECVZl878c9NFzuqDmNxpIMNZeEj0aSVn-6jTeT3eYFih1kV_Al3703zXU1FnCqSEbj3mcgArXA/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY00CQjCUYlkVdlsuG_S2H_8hIWf4JlTNoLKxE14bk3tD37sbHwdfZc7jjDN7uvRNIjECVZl878c9NFzuqDmNxpIMNZeEj0aSVn-6jTeT3eYFih1kV_Al3703zXU1FnCqSEbj3mcgArXA/s1600/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 21.3333339691162px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 21.3333339691162px;">Jump to <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2013/04/part-4-here-we-are-again.html" target="_blank">Part 4: "Here We Are Again!"</a></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-16793006097607805882013-04-22T18:41:00.000-07:002017-05-30T15:34:06.082-07:00 Part 4 - "HERE WE ARE AGAIN!"<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt;">George Nissen and I returned to Cedar Rapids following our recent and successful “desert sales of gymnastics equipment."</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt;">By the time we reached the factory, the Egyptian letters of credit and money transfers were beginning to roll in. That lightened the atmosphere in the office quite a bit and everyone was eager to hear us recount the events, over and over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Two months later, in June, Charles “Bus” Klinge (our Vice President of Marketing) and I planned a visit to Bahrain for the United States Sports Academy. We were going there to promote Nissen’s new line of fitness products. Then we planned to fly over to the Philippines and meet with their gymnastics federation. Bus made the suggestion that on the way to Bahrain we make a quick stop in Cairo and finalize any loose ends that might still exist regarding final payments for the gymnastics equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">So there I was, off to Egypt once again!</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Our good friend Adli Roushdi was there to meet us, and he proved a wonderful host during our short three day stay. Since it was Bus’ first visit to Cairo, he of course wanted to take in the local sights as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Off we went to the pyramids and who should we run into, but my ole’ buddy, “Sam Scooby-Dooby!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good to see him again, and he proudly gave Bus the full tourist treatment….but, I sure could have passed up riding the camel</span></span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">While we were in Cairo, the Egyptian Federation contacted us and asked if I could provide instruction to several of their springboard divers and gymnasts using one of the new trampolines they had purchased from us in April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pleasure working with these young people; who were extremely enthusiastic to learn how the trampoline could improve their skills. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We left Cairo, finished up the rest of our business in Bahrain and the Philippines and finally returned home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The remainder of the summer however, was busy; as I found myself traveling once again with George. This time to Japan and Hong Kong…throughout these trips however, George kept pulling me aside, persistent in wanting to discuss and deliberate the question, “how can we get a trampoline to the top the pyramid?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">He was <em>determined</em> to pull off the “Caper” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">and he had a new plan!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jump to <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2013/05/part-5-conquering-khufu.html" target="_blank">Part 5: "Conquering Khufu"</a></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-74541470932297041612013-04-18T14:37:00.000-07:002017-05-30T15:33:04.157-07:00Part 5 - "Conquering Khufu"<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">True to his nature; whenever he was presented with a challenge or problem, George always rose to the occasion. If the challenge turned out to be an idea of his own making, he applied ever more persistence in order to achieve the goal…even if it took one small step at a time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In spite of our earlier set back of not being able to place a trampoline on the top of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, once again George demonstrated his outstanding resilience; and came up with an alternate idea that was successful in finally accomplishing his goal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">This time George was determined more than ever…….that a trampoline would be on top of the pyramid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">If the Egyptians could build a pyramid by moving “one stone at a time” to the top, George planned to do the same thing with a trampoline!</span></span> </div>
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<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">George remembered back to the early years of his business, when he manufactured smaller trampolines that were popular for young children.</span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></o:p></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3T82SHXIKE7lers6Htu93wr5nQ4URsc4gKUMNqm4IsFi1dCGXH0QvF4gdIjnyuyMW2E5iuPS4Qq39_5E3UpurllP45XrhIRNWMQcZ1V0FDEghAFNqCm26R0nkil06WmHhftMvYIMLXCu/s1600/j-55b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3T82SHXIKE7lers6Htu93wr5nQ4URsc4gKUMNqm4IsFi1dCGXH0QvF4gdIjnyuyMW2E5iuPS4Qq39_5E3UpurllP45XrhIRNWMQcZ1V0FDEghAFNqCm26R0nkil06WmHhftMvYIMLXCu/s1600/j-55b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">(1955) J-55 Nissen Trampoline</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt;">Based on the J-55 model, George was convinced that a similar trampoline could be designed and then cut into specific pieces, in order to carry it all to the top of the pyramid. With the help of his research and development team at the factory, he created a 4’ x 8’ “break-away” version.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt;">This special trampoline consisted of the solid nylon bed, chromed metal parts that hinged together and finally, long bungee cords. The cords not only supplied the bounce, but were also used to hold the entire unit together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">George figured that the bed and bungee cords could easily fit into a back pack, leaving only the metal frame pieces to be physically carried to the top. I agreed with George’s concept, although we both knew it would require more than just the two of us to carry the metal pieces to the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, we knew we would incur expensive over-weight limits on our flight to Cairo, but none of these deterrents stood in our way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">So in November, a mere six months after his first attempt; we were off to Cairo again. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">As in the past, Adli and Lt. General Gadawi met us at the Cairo airport, and during the drive to our hotel we explained to them the details of how we planned to put a trampoline on top of the pyramid. We then asked for their assistance which included hiring someone to help us carry the heavy metal frame pieces to the top. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both were keen to help and by the time we arrived at the hotel all the arrangements were in place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The morning of our adventure arrived, and Adli picked us up at 3:00 am. The extreme early start-time was selected to not only take advantage of the cooler desert temperatures but, we figured the security level around the pyramids would be low as well. We also wanted to avoid attracting the throngs of curious tourists that appeared during our early attempt in April. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">As we drove up to the base of the great pyramid we spotted two young men waiting for us, per Adli’s prior arrangements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did they both speak good English but were enthused as well to be involved in such an adventure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">After quickly unloading the car, we began our climb by staging ourselves on different stone blocks, making sure we were close enough to each other to hand the parts upward as we went along. It was a “bucket brigade” of trampoline parts. Adli stayed behind on the ground to run interference in case any problems arose, as well as to take telephoto pictures once we were on top. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1035" style="height: 203.95pt; margin-left: 186.75pt; margin-top: 47.95pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 266.25pt; z-index: -10;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21446 21539 21446 21539 0 0 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="#36" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.png"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The going was slow, but steady progress was made. Over three hours later as the sun was just beginning to rise, I reached the top stones and laid the first piece down. I looked through the morning-darkness ...and much to my surprise saw two bedrolls over in the far corner!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU69aCBOUU9v4-Am-yJBRgLjXgqVc8XzM16yoYjC-Ql1zm9UlHQsG0waIj9G0o-Unpzb8nQDAAJKkNjPk27dl3cKMntjVCViKyJbAzqdjIryBk3zEHCfAsgsxZUAG9AGFs__46UM3S5K-8/s1600/%2336.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU69aCBOUU9v4-Am-yJBRgLjXgqVc8XzM16yoYjC-Ql1zm9UlHQsG0waIj9G0o-Unpzb8nQDAAJKkNjPk27dl3cKMntjVCViKyJbAzqdjIryBk3zEHCfAsgsxZUAG9AGFs__46UM3S5K-8/s1600/%2336.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We continued systematically placing all the pieces on the top and by the time we finished the two bedrolls came “alive” and suddenly we had a very surprised audience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Two young men emerged, and their first question to us was, “What are you doing here?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We answered, “We’re putting a trampoline on top of this pyramid…What are you doing here?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">After a short exchange with the two young French Canadians, they revealed that their plan had been to be the very first to sleep on top of the pyramid…only now to be outdone by a couple of Americans with a TRAMPOLINE!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">As the sun continued to rise we quickly assembled the trampoline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George and I brought a camera with us, but we found that the French Canadians had one as well, and they asked if they could take pictures. We even had them shoot one roll of our film in their camera. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Once everything was assembled, we were quite relieved to find that the pole structure in the middle of the pyramid didn’t interfere with the placement of the trampoline. Our only challenge then was to find level placement for the legs on the pyramid blocks. It ended up being at the very edge of the pyramid!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, being that close to the edge made it all even more exciting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The “bouncing” began…and, George was on top of the world!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt;">I found the unit somewhat small as well. Along with it being placed so close to the edge - - it was a 450’ drop, I was a little hesitant as well. But, I asked George to spot me on my first attempt. We both agreed that this attempt was certainly the first somersault ever turned on a trampoline atop the Great Pyramid of Khufu!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVTk_xaTa1LjHNfor7hOKDvw_w5xUDqtOP_zbFomrhwHb68CUVq-Jw0qmZjjWOeDVGd3u6U-fBFaAVijj1AueVfvtQeTEoFi4x0m5xRJEWxJBARF39mDmwXlqTRDHYRuiPZ3Ri_ZYrFZ2/s1600/First+Somersault+on+Great+Pyramid+-+1977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVTk_xaTa1LjHNfor7hOKDvw_w5xUDqtOP_zbFomrhwHb68CUVq-Jw0qmZjjWOeDVGd3u6U-fBFaAVijj1AueVfvtQeTEoFi4x0m5xRJEWxJBARF39mDmwXlqTRDHYRuiPZ3Ri_ZYrFZ2/s1600/First+Somersault+on+Great+Pyramid+-+1977.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "algerian"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></o:p></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_14" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 207.9pt; margin-left: -63.9pt; margin-top: 70.45pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 302.15pt; z-index: -4;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="0 0 0 21506 21446 21506 21446 0 0 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="First Somersault on Great Pyramid - 1977" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Once the butterflies left our stomachs from all the excitement, we settled down, and took numerous pictures of the historic occasion:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xJEb93omU8JDMpY_cYliFZFRKxeizZqSZ2O66fYKaLJJGUwCRWQVkkRW4LLw3YFYBCDUeXSDC0CfWCUkMoRpPWaik8-DSK3TZaWZqroc_SWBU3NcGVICuhGoB2_0mhbIidd5QGaArZQP/s1600/img817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xJEb93omU8JDMpY_cYliFZFRKxeizZqSZ2O66fYKaLJJGUwCRWQVkkRW4LLw3YFYBCDUeXSDC0CfWCUkMoRpPWaik8-DSK3TZaWZqroc_SWBU3NcGVICuhGoB2_0mhbIidd5QGaArZQP/s1600/img817.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></o:p></span><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_12" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 198.4pt; margin-left: -63pt; margin-top: 84.35pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 283.95pt; z-index: -6;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-114 0 -114 21393 21566 21393 21566 0 -114 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="img820" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image015.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 201.75pt; margin-left: 235.05pt; margin-top: 86pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 288.15pt; z-index: -5;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-112 0 -112 21520 21589 21520 21589 0 -112 0"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><v:imagedata o:title="img821" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.jpg"></v:imagedata><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></span></v:shape><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Having Adli on the ground with the telephoto camera allowed us to have pictures which truly show how high we were and also how close to the edge of the pyramid.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvsemVAYfyeyd4K13hWMs_ZIwFpJxBcUYf_4MPQ_P0E2Kl3h4kwGi1LeXfvvmm7v5qOi0I70L66p1BhziokecPiNEaLs560TCtkLAHDB07_zmaiVkzVLlcie74H3bRFqLbV14wwULfoKr/s1600/img821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvsemVAYfyeyd4K13hWMs_ZIwFpJxBcUYf_4MPQ_P0E2Kl3h4kwGi1LeXfvvmm7v5qOi0I70L66p1BhziokecPiNEaLs560TCtkLAHDB07_zmaiVkzVLlcie74H3bRFqLbV14wwULfoKr/s1600/img821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The final photo was of the entire gang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We placed the camera on one of the large boulders and set it to automatic. We captured an image of everyone who was witness to the “Caper”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">After turning a few more somersaults, taking pictures and just having fun, we came to the realization that we still had to take the trampoline apart and return to the bottom of the pyramid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when the real fun began!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Of course by now, an enormous crowd of Egyptians and tourists had assembled below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our young Egyptian helpers and the French Canadians became concerned that they would get in trouble once we made it to the bottom. But George and I assured them that there would be very little trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never the less, we made the suggestion that if anyone approached us once we all were on the ground, our new found friends should quickly disperse and leave us to do the talking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The decent certainly was much quicker than it had been going up in the dark, but still felt difficult due to carrying the metal parts and the effects of the now extreme heat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">I was first to touch ground and when handed one of the metal pieces, I put it on my shoulder. Immediately, I began walking through the crowd towards our car which Adli had parked along the road next to the pyramid. As I moved forward a large Egyptian man grabbed the metal piece on my shoulder. Thinking he wanted to carry it for me I instinctively pulled away saying, “No thank you, I will carry it myself”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This turned out to be a big mistake on my part as the Egyptian then hollered, “You’re under arrest!” and, pulled a gun out of his tunic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Shocked, the crowd pulled back. I became irritated, especially when the gun was then put directly in my face accompanied by his shouts of, “You’re under arrest, you’re under arrest!” </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You're Under Arrest!"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">At that point I said probably one of the dumbest things I ever said in my entire life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Don’t put a gun in a man’s face unless you’re going to use it!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Once the words left my mouth, I realized how foolish the comment had been. Luckily for both of us, we could only understanding half of what each other was saying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">By this time, the young Egyptians and French Canadians were long gone. George was now standing on the ground next to me laughing, although we both weren’t sure what the next step would be!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Just then, another guard came over to us and said we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">both</i> were under arrest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a small police wagon quickly pulled up the guard said that George had to go to see the Director of Antiquities, while I stayed back at the pyramid still under arrest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Off George went…and, in 15 minutes he returned saying everything was OK. The only thing was, we had to promise, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>“that we would never do it again!”</u></i></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Do it again?” I thought to myself, “Are you kidding me?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">George, Adli and I quickly packed up the car and<em> </em>were <em>"out‘a there!”</em> in a flash.</span></span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Truly, it was a wonderful experience …but wait, there’s still one more crazy twist to the story...!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jump to: <a href="http://hadtrampolinedidtravel.blogspot.com/2013/05/epilogue-great-pyramid-trampoline-caper.html" target="_blank">"Epilogue"</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316550288274434391.post-60313358714077200062013-04-06T15:50:00.000-07:002017-05-30T15:33:30.205-07:00Epilogue - "The Great Pyramid Trampoline Caper"<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><strong>"Epilogue"</strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Following our return to Cedar Rapids, George and I once again shared stories and photos with the Nissen staff and friends. Soon, the excitement of the whole adventure faded into a wonderful memory. That is, until three months later, in February, 1978, when </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">George received the following letter:
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWaYOmz4DGB6Z90sdwH-i1jMjXjETA8sOXkxjb3LEmY65cWjnSyPvfpu4_E3Xqlqbpu9r1d4X-DysE2hQr_sK3-tbQvNnLgkc-gLHFoOfCUHLpcVjVlukGoCTCMFKWUL3-_TB0vjxuTnt/s1600/letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWaYOmz4DGB6Z90sdwH-i1jMjXjETA8sOXkxjb3LEmY65cWjnSyPvfpu4_E3Xqlqbpu9r1d4X-DysE2hQr_sK3-tbQvNnLgkc-gLHFoOfCUHLpcVjVlukGoCTCMFKWUL3-_TB0vjxuTnt/s1600/letter.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Included with Jean Pratte’s letter was a copy of “Perespectives,” a Sunday insert in the French edition of Montreal’s weekly newspaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Gracing the front cover was a familiar picture of me; turning a somersault on the trampoline, on the very top of the Great Pyramid of Khufu! Inside the publication there was a full page article about that fateful morning in Egypt, written by Henri Colombani. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though we couldn’t read the article, George and I were surprised and delighted that our adventure had actually received some notoriety.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">So, I carefully stored the newspaper article in a file, and there it remained for the next 36 years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In writing this blog however, I came across the article and decided to finally get it translated once and for all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">(The full article is reprinted below*)</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Imagine my surprise to learn that the French Canadians never knew <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">who</i> George was, and referred to him as the famous French comedian, “Louis de Funés.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Maybe… there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">IS<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> </i>a similarity?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">You be the judge!</span></span></u><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdkgSn2TkNoZA_1wcGnr_ivM0OblYOFDgRESJq-c_vHg0T9XgnDzWU6jof0jRhUpWlOGQG3cbzWtZDA9qJZK9Y6mC_jMKk1d7hEmKHPZ-NxQZh4MfdZw3Ru01XzxhvCdzWZJjo-6D7gWS/s1600/geo-louis11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdkgSn2TkNoZA_1wcGnr_ivM0OblYOFDgRESJq-c_vHg0T9XgnDzWU6jof0jRhUpWlOGQG3cbzWtZDA9qJZK9Y6mC_jMKk1d7hEmKHPZ-NxQZh4MfdZw3Ru01XzxhvCdzWZJjo-6D7gWS/s400/geo-louis11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Louis de Fun<span style="font-size: x-small;">é</span>s, 1914-1983 George Nissen, 1914 - 2010 </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">It’s too bad George never got to read the article from the newspaper, but I’d like to think that perhaps now he and Louis de Funés are together sharing a chuckle over the entire “Caper”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">“Thank you George for all the wonderful memories!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>*Che~ops!<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By Henri Colombani<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Six o’clock in the evening, 25 C, night begins to fall on Giza on this May 23, 1977. Dressed in their perpetual nightshirts, crowned with tuques stiffened with dirt and proudly armed with antique muskets, a dozen Egyptians patrol the feet of the pyramids, as they do every evening, to prevent tomb raiders or other marauders from penetrating the mausoleums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The old pyramid of Cheops, immutable witness of numerous human storms, is about to experience one of the most eccentric events of its history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My buddy André Labelle, a long-necked traveller stuck with a long nose, nomadic Quebecois released from Montreal into Amsterdam, arrives in Cairo after short hops through Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia and Greece. André, a.k.a. Picolo, a.k.a. Pic, accompanied on his pilgrimages by his faithful companion Robert Lagendyk, decides, then, to go pay homage to the pyramids. No sooner said than done. When, around six o’clock, the foot of the Great Pyramid is reached, an irrepressible desire takes hold of them: to sleep on the summit. Completely absurd and formally prohibited, of course. Obviously an idea of the infidels. Spending the night at the top of this 150-metre giant is in itself a rare performance, which would have made Napoleon Bonaparte say: “Soldiers, from the top of these pyramids, 40 centuries and two Quebecois look down upon you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A game of hide-and-seek with the guards, two of them bribed for $1.50, and Pic and Robert begin climbing the huge blocks which form monstrous stairs a metre high. An hour of effort and there they are, ready to admire the daily sound and light spectacle from a highly privileged vantage point. Once covered by a veneer of polished stone, the pyramid’s point has disappeared, leaving in its place a square platform of around five metres by five metres made of irregularly eroded blocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While Cairo sleeps far away, unexpected hosts are waking up at the top of the pyramid. The Nile basin had seemed to be exempt from mosquitoes. The surprise is especially great for our Canadians who find themselves assaulted by hundreds of these voracious bugs. Though swaddled in their sleeping bags, they awaken at sunrise, at 5 in the morning, devoured from head to toe. Restaurants being rather rare at 150 metres above the desert, breakfast consists of a good hookah pipe while admiring the awakening of an entire country and its capital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And thus begins the astonishment: four ants, two of which are blue, white and red, are climbing one of the faces of the pyramid. The two others are schlepping some rather voluminous gear. As they gradually ascend, the ants take form, become human, two Egyptians and what turns out to be two Americans in tracksuits, highly astonished to see our Canadians at the summit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The first, Ron Munn, blond and athletic; the second, a “Louis de Funès” astray in the country of the sarcophagi. The gear: aluminum tubing, canvas, resources that, once assembled, reveal themselves to be a trampoline. The trampoline is wedged into the edge of the platform and there is Ron jumping, bouncing, spinning, at each jump risking the fall of 150 metres and certain death, the feet of the trampoline resting on a decayed stone that could crumble at any moment. And Ron jumps, turns, bounces: the incongruity of the situation fascinates the five spectators who, transfixed, are waiting for an accident that will not take place. Pic and Robert decline the invitation to admire the desert and the Sphinx upside down, three metres above the pyramid’s summit and 153 metres above the sand. For fifteen minutes, Ron abandons himself with euphoria to his exercises. The bet is won. The duo will become heroes in their distant Iowa. It is time to go back down because, at the foot of the monument, Jeeps and alerted Egyptian soldiers now make up a troubling welcome committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A dozen guns pointed at their chests instantly mark the end of the descent for the two Americans, the two Egyptian guides and their Canadian accomplices, who begin to seriously envision a stint in an Egyptian jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For, after all, it is a sacrilege, a desecration that cannot be tolerated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Happily for Picolo and Robert, the “Louis de Funès” from Iowa parleys with the soldiers, who end up letting our friends and the two Egyptians go. What happened to Ron and his buddy? We don’t know, but with the relationship between the United States and Egypt being in good shape, we can imagine that the American embassy was able to intervene.</span><br />
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