Extreme pogo

History

The beginnings of extreme pogo are contested within the community, though Dave Armstrong of Provo, Utah, is acknowledged as likely the first individual in the 20th century to consciously and consistently attempt tricks on a traditional steel spring pogo stick, starting in 1999. Around that time, he created a website named Xpogo.com to share pictures and videos of his bouncing. Shortly after, several others—including Nick McClintock, Nick Ryan, Fred Grzybowski, Dan Brown, Rick Gorge, and Matt Malcolm—independently began developing the idea of an extreme sport around pogo. Each initially believed they had created the sport alone, but they eventually connected through Xpogo.com, sharing tricks and media and laying the sport's groundwork. The first extreme pogo stick capable of carrying an adult and reaching heights of about 6ft appeared in 2004. From 2000 to 2004, groups of extreme pogo athletes emerged across the United States and in countries such as the Netherlands, inspired by Xpogo.com. At that time, only traditional steel spring sticks from retailers were available. These groups adopted names like Team Xpogo, Team Hyper Pogo, Pogo Cult, Rittman Pogo, Grand Theft Pogo, Say No To Park, and The Pogo Squad from York, PA. As the groups developed, a core set of tricks—grabs, stalls, spins, and wraps using the foot pegs, handlebars, and frame—became standard. Some tricks received descriptive names like "One-Foot Peg Grab" or "Under-the-Leg Bar Spin," while others gained specialized names such as "Malcolm X" (180 no-foot peg grab) and "Candy Bar" (one leg between the handlebars while jumping). Additional tricks draw from BMX and skateboarding, including "Can-Can" and "Heel Clicker."