So you’ve seen those St. Paul Bouncing Team women rocketing off the canvas blanket during Winter Carnival parades.
They’re touching their toes, doing flips and getting pretty close to having conversations with people in the skyways.
They’re former trampoline gymnasts or high school cheerleaders, right? Not necessarily.
They need to be athletic, but Bouncing Team vets say the “bouncing girls” or “bouncing queens” usually have little, if any, training.
When hopefuls attend tryouts this evening, judges will look more for enthusiasm, balance and a knack for quickly getting comfortable with the blanket.
“You can’t have a fear of heights,” said senior bouncing girl Torrie Johnson, of Hugo. “And you can’t look petrified, because the crowd quickly picks up on that.”
But a warning to potential hot-doggers: For safety reasons, judges won’t let you pull any backflips or other fancy stuff. Judge Greg Guswiler says no bouncing girl has been injured since the team was founded more than a century ago – and he wants to keep it that way.
– Alex Friedrich
BOUNCING TEAM TRYOUTS
When: Tonight at 6:30
Where: Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth St., St. Paul
Who: The team also is recruiting “pullers” to hold the blanket during parades; no experience or physical prowess is required
More information: stpaulbouncingteam.org
Copyright 2008 Pioneer Press.