Jump for joy, ‘swinging from the rafters’

Mulling over marketing tactics to promote your new business? Set a world record fewer than two weeks after opening.

Staff at Apex Adventure Plex did. On April 9, an adjudicator from Guinness World Records recognized the company’s new location in Winnipeg’s Transcona neighbourhood as having the world’s longest permanent trampoline.

At 58.6 metres (192 feet), it’s a key feature at the trampoline park, which opened at 12-1150 Nairn Ave. at the end of March.

“We’re incredibly proud to bring some of the latest and greatest in attractions from around the world to Winnipeg,” co-owner Luke Shaheen said on Wednesday. “We’ve pulled out all the stops and we hope the community enjoys it.”

Armand Konecsni-Luzny, Shaheen’s business partner, led the team that designed the 40,000-square-foot facility.

The duo also own Crazy Ape Extreme Equipment, which manufactures trampolines and crash mats for domestic and commercial use.

“It’s somewhat limiting when we build facilities for other people. We have to build what they want,” Shaheen said. “This is where my business partner really gets to dream about what could be done and what could be really exciting and try it out.”

Shaheen and Konecsni-Luzny opened the first Apex Adventure Plex in December 2014 in Saskatoon. They later added locations in Kamloops, B.C., and Regina, where the company is headquartered.

“We’ve pulled out all the stops and we hope the community enjoys it.”

The Winnipeg location includes obstacle courses inspired by the reality game show competition American Ninja Warrior, bubble soccer and basketball. There’s a slackline, jousting pits, a log-rolling attraction and tug of war. There’s also a ropes course.

“It’s kind of like an outdoor playground on steroids,” Shaheen said. “Kids will literally be swinging from the rafters here.”

The park was built utilizing primarily Canadian materials, he added, including foam from Alberta, vinyl from Ontario and steel from Russel Metals in Manitoba.

Apex is built for all ages, according to Shaheen. Most attractions are ideal for ages five and older, with dedicated “toddler time” available for younger jumpers.

Admission prices start at $22.99 per person for one hour, plus $3.50 for “grip socks” patrons are required to wear.

The park runs a variety of promotions with reduced rates throughout the week, including a two-for-one deal on Mondays and a student night on Thursdays.

In addition to the trampolines, the facility includes a video game arcade. It also has a sound system worthy of a nightclub, with two subwoofers that Shaheen said cost $10,000 each.

“Kids will literally be swinging from the rafters here.”

The business partners invested millions of dollars in the Winnipeg location, Shaheen said, adding later that he’s not sure what Apex Active Entertainment Group’s annual revenue is.

“Being 35 and owning a trampoline park, we do things differently,” he said. “We really don’t run our company by our financial statements. Our accountants hate it, our bankers hate it, but the kids love it. And to be honest, that’s all that matters.”

The public’s response has been “absolutely phenomenal,” said Kevan Cabral, the park’s general manager. “A lot of what we hear from the public is that it’s a breath of fresh air for this end of the city.”

Seeing children enjoying themselves while being physically active is meaningful to Cabral, who previously worked in management at a movie theatre chain.

When children first visit the park, they don’t always make it through an obstacle course or achieve a task on the first try, he said. A look of pure joy crosses their faces when they persevere and accomplish their goal after repeated attempts.

“Being able to give them that experience is so rewarding,” Cabral said.

The park was built with safety in mind, said Shaheen, who co-chairs the Amusement Adventure Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing safety education in the amusement industry.

Apex’s Winnipeg location is outfitted with rubber flooring and Crazy Ape’s proprietary crash mats, Shaheen said. The park employs 40 people.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca