To Ogo or to Zorb?

Zorbing

Picture climbing inside of a giant, squishy, air-filled, clear human-sized hamster ball, and then getting pushed down a hill.  Crazy?  Or crazy fun?  🙂  As with most seemingly insane ideas in this modern day world, someone has created and implemented a business plan around this very premise.  To check out this unusual adventure sport for yourself, just head to Rotorua, New Zealand, the birthplace of the Zorb and the Ogo.

Tyler and I originally set out to Zorb on our honeymoon in May 2013, as it was something I had done while studying abroad in NZ back in 2007 and remembered as being a blast.  However, as we were driving from Rotorua to the Zorb location we passed what appeared to be a close cousin of the Zorb, known as the Ogo.  This new kid on the block appeared in December of 2010, created by one of the original inventors of the Zorb.

The human hamster ‘orb’ itself was originally invented in 1994, with the first permanent “Zorbing” site being established in New Zealand in 1997, just outside the town of Rotorua on the North Island.  Long story short, the original inventors and owners of the Zorb eventually left the company and sold their shareholdings due to their dislike of the corporate culture, and subsequently started the Ogo company.

To our untrained eye, the Zorb and the Ogo seemed exactly the same, so we checked out both locations in order to decide which to try. Here is a summary of the differences we found:

Photo options: Though costs for photos/videos are not outlined on either website, both are ridiculously expensive. We recommend skipping out on a “professional” Zorb or Ogo photographer and bringing your own water proof camera to capture the fun.  We also found it annoying and cheesy that they made you jump in the air after each ride for a photo-op (whether you are purchasing their official photographs or not).

Ogo

Note on cost:  Both places seem to nickel and dime you – everything costs extra, including towel rentals, so make sure you are prepared.  Wear something that can get wet, bring dry clothes to change into, dry towels, and your own camera.  While the cost for one ride per person is a bit steep especially considering that a ride can be as short as 30 seconds, I do believe the fun and once in a lifetime experience is worth the price.  Though we do not have kids, I would recommend explaining to your children the high cost of each ride and to savor the experience, otherwise I can see them begging for more and more rides which will end in either their disappointment or a giant hole in your pockets.

Gracefully Entering the Ogo 🙂

View from top of Ogo runs

In the end we decided to Ogo so that we could ride together down the Sidewinder track.  We selected the 3 runs for $99NZD per person – 2 Sidewinders and 1 Straight track.   Tyler and I were driven up to the top of the hill, where we took in the amazing view of Lake Rotorua and the mountains beyond.  The Ogo operator filled our Ogo with a few inches of fresh warm water, and Tyler gracefully dove/slid through the entry hole.  Attempting to repeat this, I dove hands first, only to get stuck like a beached whale halfway into the rubbery plastic ball.  Already laughing hysterically, Tyler pulled me in and we were zipped into the ball.  A moment of claustrophobic panic ensued before we were lightly pushed down the hill.  Nothing can describe the experience rolling down that hill, tumbling legs over arms over heads with my husband – nothing except perhaps this video of us:

When deciding whether to Ogo or Zorb, the only major difference for us was that we could ride together down the Sidewinder track at Ogo but not at Zorb.  While the Straight track was enjoyable, it did not compare to the Sidewinder track in  terms of fun, hilarity and ride time.  Though neither of us rode single, our general impression was that it is a lot more fun to ride with others than alone.  In summary,  while I have laid out a comparison of Zorb vs. Ogo, the answer to the question “to Ogo or to Zorb” is Yes.  Either. Both. You might have a few bruises the next day and your wallet may be a bit lighter, but in our experience you won’t regret it.  🙂

Post Ogo Smiles

Resources:

http://www.zorb.com/zorb/locations/zorb-rotorua-nz/about-us/

http://www.ogo.co.nz/

http://www.theogo.com/About_History.html