Fullerton resident’s self-constructed trampoline wall is a ‘dream’ for professional acrobats
J.R. Coles is all about the do-it-yourself mentality.
He started his own business. He’s booked tours for bands. And he’s constructed an acrobatic playground in his Fullerton home’s backyard for his youngest son, Ryan.
It’s known as JunkTramp on Instagram and it’s garnered more than 80,000 followers.
A 7x14 foot Olympic size trampoline sits in his backyard. Near it is a 10-foot burgundy trampoline wall adorned with a wolf-like creature. Adjacent to it is another wall displaying its name. Crash mats adorn the trampoline’s frame.
Athletes jump on the trampoline and push off the wall to create a sequence of flips. Sometimes athletes jump off a roof onto the trampoline. It all depends on how creative they’re feeling that day.
Since he first built his trampoline wall in 2015 for his family, Coles now hosts weekly trampoline sessions with acrobats and rents out equipment to big-name festivals like the Las Vegas-based festival Electric Daisy Carnival.
“It’s really unbelievable how popular it’s become,” Coles said.. “Opportunities have come from it as it grows more and more.”
He began constructing JunkTramp after “stricter rules” were implemented at a trampoline gym the family frequented every Saturday. It meant his autistic son, who was 15 at the time, wouldn’t be able to participate during open gym sessions until he turned 17.
It prompted Coles to scavenge Craigslist for crash mats, foam, scaffolding and Olympic trampolines — which could cost up to $10,000, he said.
He came across a number of trampolines on Craigslist, but few were Olympic style. He eventually found two a year later for about $100.
“Those don’t sell very often — it’s a prized possession people keep for decades,” Coles said, who noted he spent under $5,000 for his project.
After obtaining all the necessary items, he got to work. Coles said it took trial and error and feedback from acrobats to get it just right.
Athletes from all over the world message, comment and share JunkTramp’s videos. Coles said he regularly has acrobats from Cirque du Soleil contact him to schedule sessions that can last five to eight hours long on JunkTramp.
It’s a sport that’s slowly gaining traction, said Coles. Videos on social media have helped too.
Though he doesn’t charge admission to use JunkTramp, he is conscious of who can use it. He said it’s typically athletes and acrobats “who know what they’re doing.”
Coles learned he needed to allow for more air flow under the trampoline to help give it a better balance. Building it into the ground made the bounce sluggish, he said.
The trampoline is now raised about a foot off the floor. He also added a gap between the trampoline and the burgundy wall.
“A lot of people have said it’s the best trampoline set up they’ve been on, which is hard to believe but I’ve taken all suggestions and tried to implement everything,” Coles said.
Scott McDonald, an acrobat for Cirque du Soleil, agrees.
“It’s funny because all these gyms manage to screw up the dimensions but this dude built it on his own and managed to get it completely right,” McDonald said..
The two met at a training center in Los Angeles, which evolved into a friendship where McDonald would visit Coles for trampoline sessions.
McDonald would visit once or twice a week but hasn’t been recently because of scheduling conflicts.
“I do 10 shows a week and I do the same thing every show,” McDonald said. “To be able to go to (JunkTramp) where the dude who owns it is super cool and we’re having a picnic while trying crazy stuff in a safe environment, it’s a good time socially and athletically.”
Cirque du Soleil performer Ryan Shinji said via email it’d be a “dream to live close by” JunkTramp.
Shinji, who currently is in Canada, is an artist on the show Kurios. His main discipline is “acro net, a giant trampoline,” though in previous shows, Shinji said he’s performed on a trampoline wall.
“The appeal is that it’s a very play-oriented space,” said Shinji. “In professional training spaces, the kind of free-thinking and exploration that happens at JunkTramp isn’t always encouraged.”
In addition to the new friendships he’s formed through JunkTramp, Coles said it’s also a fun way to stay fit.
“I like that as a 41-year-old, I can still learn to do tricks,” Coles said. “I come from a skateboarding background and I wrecked my knee and separated my shoulder. It was hard on my body, but I haven’t had any injuries trampolining so far. I can stay in shape and still learn new tricks.”
Twitter: @vegapriscella
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