Eurobobble

Eurobobbles comes to Summerside for the weekend

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

People at Spinnakers’ Landing on the dark and dreary Thursday were having fun flipping, flopping and falling in a large plastic ball.

The ball was part of the Eurobobble set up Wayd McNally and his family set up this week in Summerside as part of the Lobster Carnival.

The Eurobobble is much akin to a hamster ball for humans, except it is completely sealed as to not allow water in, and allows you to, if you can, walk around a pool of water 15-20 inches deep. The pool where the participant takes part allows three Eurobobbles at a time, while the experience lasts an average of five minutes.

The McNallys, along with business partner Craig MacEwan, designed their own set up for those looking to try to be perfectly safe.

The Eurobobble, however, is very controversial. Thomas Gatzunis, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Safety commissioner recommended they be banned according to an article in the Boston Herald in December.

However McNally said he knows it’s safe.

 “We’ve designed it to be safe, we’re all parents as well and we want to make sure if we’re comfortable putting our own kids in it that we’re comfortable putting other people’s kids in it,” he said. “It’s actually a very well controlled environment.”

The Eurobobble has been a lot of places recently, including the Cavendish Beach Music festival, and received warm receptions from those wishing to try, said McNally.

“We’ve put literally hundreds of people through this thing. We’ve had no issues and only lots of very positive feedback.”

Sophie Betts, a 12-year old from Summerside, was the first person to ride the waves in the Eurobobble Thursday morning. She was very happy with her experience.

“It was really great, really fun. I’ve never done anything like that before, it was fun to try and walk on water,” she said. “I thought I’d be better at it but it’s harder than it looks.”

Sophie’s sister, Chloe Betts, an 8-year-old from Summerside, said her success in moving the ball was inspired by an animal.

“I found out the only way to move it is to do it like a hamster wheel.”

Samantha Beck, a 12-year-old from the Miscouche area, said it was a hard but fun experience.

“(It’s) really hard because the ball is moving at the same time you’re trying to get up.”

CAPTION: Sisters Sophie Betts, left, and Chloe Betts, right, try to walk on water in the Eurobobbles Thursday morning at Spinnakers’ Landing.

The Eurobobble will be at Spinnakers’ Landing from Thursday to Saturday and will be operating from 11 a.m. to about 9 p.m.