Hula Hoop (0)

Hula Hoop
Maarja Loikonen
K109
Introduction
A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around
the waist, limbs or neck. Although the exact
origins of hula hoops are unknown, children
and adults around the world have played with
hoops, twirling, rolling and throwing them
throughout history. Hula hoops for children
generally measure approximately 28 inches in
diameter, and those for adults around 40
inches. Today, they are usually made of plastic
tubing
History
The hoop gained international popularity in the
late 1950s when a plastic version was
successfully marketed by California's Wham-O
toy company.
In 1957, Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud"
Melin, starting with the idea of Australian
bamboo "exercise hoops".
Hooping
The past few years have seen the re-
emergence of hula hooping, generally referred
to as either "hoopdance" or simply "hooping" to
distinguish it from the children's playform.
An International Holiday World Hoop Day has
become the hula hoop holiday celebrating the
circle around the world.
Many modern hoopers make their own hoops
out of polyethylene tubing. They are much
larger and heavier than hoops of the 1950s.
The size and the weight of the hoop affects
style of the hooper.
Heavier, larger hoops are more often used for
slow hooping and body tricks while lighter,
thinner tubing is used for quick hand tricks.
These hoops may be covered in a fabric or
plastic tape to ease the amount of work in
keeping a hoop twirling around the dancer, and
can be very colorful.
World records
An early duration record for the hula hoop was
set by 11-year-olds Paulette Robinson, Charles
Beard and Patsy Jo Grigby in Jackson,
Mississippi lasting 11 hours and 34 minutes
(August, 1960).
The record for the most hoops twirled
simultaneously is 132.
The largest hoop successfully twirled was 13.88
meters in circumference, by Ashrita Furman of
the United States in September, 2005.
Pictures
Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EODqabY8Gxs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NiQaDgj8Z10&feature=related