stag – The Activity People Blog

Meet Geronigo.. everyone is invited to begin their adventure!

Have you heard our big news? We’re undergoing a bit of a upgrade here at Activity HQ and as part of that we’ll be changing our name from The Activity People to Geronigo, the new home of the world’s most exciting activities and experiences.

We’re still sticking to what we do best, which is providing moments that take your breath away and memories that last a lifetime, but you might notice some small changes on our social media pages.

The new and improved Geronigo Facebook and Twitter feeds will be home to even more great content, all the latest news from Geronigo HQ and a selection of must-win competitions that’ll feature some of our most exciting activities and experiences. Kind of like this.. 👇

As we’re always striving to be the best we’d love to hear your feedback too, and if there’s anything you’d like to see more of just let us know and we’ll take it on board.

These really are exciting times here at Geronigo and we’d love it if all our fans, followers and friends could join us on this exciting new adventure!

..and just in case you need you need any more persuading, here’s why we’re perfectly qualified to deliver the unforgettable experience you’ve been dreaming of!

We love what we do..

They say if you find a job you love you’ll never work a day in your life, and whoever they are we definitely agree. There’s nothing we love more than planning your incredible events and experiences and because we’re all adrenaline addicts too, we get just as excited about your dream days out as you do! In fact, we’re so passionate about providing the most exciting experiences imaginable that when we eventually escape the office we spend most of our spare time throwing ourselves out of planes, smashing clays and conquering assault courses. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it! Read more about our adventures here.

There’s an activity for everybody..

We don’t mean to come across as big headed or anything, but have you seen our range of activities and experiences? Go on, take a look, there’s something for even the biggest thrill seekers out there and we’re not afraid to show off about it. With over 70 heart-racing activities to choose from we’re proud to be the biggest and best in the game, and we’re not finished yet. Our adrenaline experts are always on the lookout for the hottest new activities and experiences, so you can guarantee if it gets your heart racing you’ll find it here first.

There are adventures on your doorstep..

If you thought our choice of experiences was impressive, get ready to be properly blown away because our enormous network of venues is even bigger! In total you’ll find more than 1600 venues to choose from across the UK & Ireland, meaning your next adventure is just around the corner. From coasteering in Cornwall to clay shooting on the Isle of Skye, we’ve got it all! Find your nearest activity venues here.

We’ve got all the experience..

Time flies when you’re having fun, and it’s safe to say we must have had an absolute blast because we’re fast approaching our 20^th anniversary. To put that into perspective, when we first burst onto the scene in April 1998 Tony Blair was in 10 Downing Street and Freddos were still just 10p! Since then a lot’s changed.. and not just the price of Freddos. Our passion for providing unforgettable experiences has remained throughout though and to date we’ve organised events for hundreds of thousands of adrenaline addicts, which makes us perfectly qualified to find yours!

Introducing Go Bubble Ball

With bubble football fever continuing to sweep the nation we’re delighted to be launching a brand new partnership with Go Bubble Ball; the UK & Ireland’s largest provider of bubble football events and experiences.

The team at Go Bubble Ball have over 19 years experience in the activity industry and know everything there is to know about this bonkers ball sport, which makes them the perfect people to plan and deliver your dream bubble football experience. With a stellar line up of 119 of the UK & Ireland’s best bubble football venues to choose from too, they really are in a league of their own.

So whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind kids party, or a fun-filled final day of freedom, head over to the Go Bubble Ball website and start planning your crazy kickabout today!

Bubble Football arrives in Northern Ireland

With the football season in full swing, we’ve got five brand new signings that are guaranteed to get your heart racing! So without further ado, we’d like to wish a warm welcome to Bubble Football Belfast, Coleraine, Derry, Omagh and Magherafelt.

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Located in some of Northern Ireland’s biggest towns and cities, these exciting new venues are the perfect place to discover the fun of bubble football – and if you’re new to this bonkers ball sport you’re in for a real treat! Bubble football features all the best bits of your standard kick about, but also gives you the chance to bump and barge into opponents, thanks to the inflatable body zorbs you’ll be wearing.. so pretty much anything goes!

Each of our new sites boasts top of the range facilities as well as modern astro-turf pitches, which are perfect for playing football on. They’re also great for bouncing on too when you inevitably hit the floor, and no mud means no mess! With all the essential equipment provided in every session, all you need to worry about is bringing your best skills and a sturdy pair of trainers. But do you have what it takes to be on the winning team? There’s only one way to find out!

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For more information about these brilliant new venues visit The Activity People website, where you can book your bonkers bubble football experience today.

Bubble Football – The Latest Craze

Over the summer, The Activity People reached a major milestone we now have over 100 bubble football sites joined up to our network. This crazy sport is sweeping the nation and it isn’t hard to see why. There are a plethora of reasons why this oddball sport is capturing the attention of groups of all ages- and here are just a few of them.

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If you don’t know about bubble football, you must be living under a rock. This thrilling sport combines zorbing and classic footie thrills; the top half of your body will be in a zorb, with your legs free to run around and score as many goals as you can. The zorbs mean you can run roll, bounce and barge around other players in the frantic rush to score a goal. If that sounds violent, then don’t worry. You’ll be playing on specially designed 3G pitches, which help ensure that just like the song, when you get knocked down, you’ll get up again, as you’ll bounce right back onto your feet. Or you could be rolling around on the floor like a hamster with your legs in the air!

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Moments after kick off, the frantic charge to beat the rival team begins. As you charge towards the ball, you’ll be barging into other players, knocking them off their feet- but unlike a premier league match, there’s no foul play or injuries here. It is just all part of the bonkers, unpredictable fun! There’s no wonder why it is such a popular activity with groups of all ages. From stag and hen dos to birthday parties and even corporate events, we’ve hosted more bubble football matches than you’ve had hot dinners.

This sport really puts the “ball” in oddball, so you should definitely come down and see why for yourself. With over 100 stellar sites across the UK, you are never too far from a completely unique action experience.

Bubble Footballl Westwood and Ilkeston Join

The football season is back with a bang, and we’re delighted to have added two brand new bubble football venues to our lineup, just in time for the big kick-off. So if you’re a footy fan in Westwood Nottingham, or Ilkeston Derybshire you’re in for some serious fun!

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You don’t just need to be bonkers about the beautiful game to enjoy bubble football though, and with top-of-the-range body Zorbs at both venues, there’s nowhere better to experience this barmy ball sport.

With games taking place on artificial pitches there’s no mud and no mess either. So when you inevitably end up on the floor, instead of sinking and sliding you’ll bounce straight back to your feet. Bumping, bouncing and barging are all add to the fun too, and with no refs and no rules pretty much anything goes.

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So if you’re aged 12+, why not get a team together and give bubble football a go at one of our brilliant new venues?

To book your bubble football experience visit our website.

Introducing Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifles & Crossbows Budby – Worksop.

We’re excited to announce the latest addition to the The Activity People network is Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifles and Crossbows at Budby, Nr Worksop.

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Located a short distance from the spectacular Sherwood Forest this brilliant multi-activity venue is home to four exhilarating activities, and with tailor-made target ranges for archery, axe throwing, air rifles and crossbows, where better to put your accuracy to the test than the home of Robin Hood!

As well as using top-of-the-range equipment, you’ll also receive full tuition from a team of experienced instructors too, which means you’ll quickly get to grips with the basics of each target sport. Almost anybody can master these tricky target sports, and as long as participants are aged 12+ they’re great fun for families, friends and team building events.

So whether you want to experience the power and accuracy of a crossbow, the elegance of a bow or the precision of an air rifle, our Budby venue is the perfect place to take on a range of target sports.

White water rafting: Six handy tips

1. Be prepared to get wet! – You’re in for a soaking so wear swimwear, take a towel and pack a spare set of clothes to change into.

2. Make sure your boat is well balanced. – Balancing the boat is essential, people of similar weight and paddling power should be positioned opposite each other.

3. Communicate with your team. – When you’re racing down fast flowing stretches of white water simple communication is key. Establishing a basic set of commands will mean you can quickly relay instructions as you meet obstacles head on.

4. Make sure you’re holding your paddle properly. – Holding your paddle correctly is key for safety. One hand should be at the base of the paddle and the other should be over the T shaped grip at the top. Keeping your hand over the T grip will not only help you control the paddle, it will also cushion the blow should you accidentally catch yourself with the paddle.

5. Fully submerge the blade of the paddle – Improving your paddling technique will give you more purchase as you fight the fast flowing water. Submerging the blade of the paddle is a much more efficient way of paddling.

6. Try and stay in the raft – It sounds obvious doesn’t it but it’s easier said than done. Hold on tight and try to keep your balance by leaning towards the centre of the boat.

Are you ready to take on the assault course?

Are you ready to take on an adrenaline fuelled assault course?

If you’re ultra competitive or just like getting muddy, taking on an assault course is a great experience for friends or workmates. So here is a quick look at what you can expect from your day tackling some of the trickiest obstacle courses Britain has to offer. A typical course will contain all the old favourites as well as a few newer obstacles. Wherever you chose to take part you can certainly expect to face rope swings, tunnels and the much feared monkey bars.

Some obstacles will require you to work on your own such as the tyre run, where you will work your way over a series of tyres placed along the course. Other obstacles will require you to depend on the help of your team mates. The most difficult of all being the dreaded high wall, for which you will have to muster all of your strength to pull yourself over an impossibly steep wall.

It is worth pointing out that the course can be made as fun or as challenging as desired. For groups who are just out for a bit of fun, this is an ideal day out too. Most courses offer a free run system where you’re given a set amount of time, usually an hour, to tackle the obstacles at your own pace. This means you’re free to get as wet and muddy as you like by repeating any of the obstacles or dodging some of the more daunting ones.

Once the adrenaline is pumping you then have the chance to take on some of the obstacles against the clock in a time trail. You can also compete against other teams taking on the assault course, teams will normally have a minimum of five members and a maximum of ten. Once in your teams it’s a race to the finish, to post the fastest time, with prizes for the winners as well as a booby prize for those with the slowest time.

Assault courses are traditionally used in military training to increase fitness and to practice techniques that can be used for crossing rough terrain. The military also understand the benefits assault courses have for improving team work and increasing self confidence. While you may not be ready to trek through the Amazon rainforest by the end of the course, you will hopefully have a new found respect for your friends or work colleagues.

Your day will normally last anything between 1-2 hours depending on how many of the different challenges you take on, with a break halfway through to get some much needed rest. Marshall’s will be situated around the course to ensure your safety and help out with any of the more difficult obstacles. Getting a bit wet and muddy comes with the territory so you will need a towel and a clean set of clothes.

So are you ready to swing, crawl and climb your way around some of Britain’s maddest and muddiest assault courses in the ultimate test of teamwork and determination?

New to Clay Pigeon Shooting? Our 5 useful hints

1.Determine your dominant eye

Prepare for your shoot by finding out which is your dominant eye before you go to the clay shooting venue. It is important to bear in mind that dominant eye does not always follow dominant hand, however by using this simple test you can decide which eye to use to look down the barrel of the gun to focus on the target

Focus on an object in a room and point at it. Close your left eye and if you can still see that object at the end of your finger this means that you are right eye dominant. If it has moved away from your finger open your left eye and close your right eye, be careful not to move your hand. If you are left hand dominant that same object will be back at the end of your finger. Simple as that!

2.Mounting the gun correctly

Holding the gun correctly is crucial to firing the shot comfortably and accurately. With the help of your instructor you need to aim for the butt of the shotgun to sit in the groove in your shoulder joint. Hold the shotgun tight to ensure that the kick of the gun doesn’t impact on you when fired.

Your front hand should be placed as far down the barrel as possible whilst still allowing you to hold the gun tightly.

3.Comfortable and strong standing position

Your standing position is important to maintain accuracy when firing the gun. Both feet facing forward, with the foot opposite your trigger finger being the furthest forward. Use this foot for the majority of your weight to lean on as it is this that keeps you steady and helps maintain your balance.

4.Bring your head to the shotgun

If you are a first time shooter it will be very tempting to bring the gun upwards instead of bringing your head to the shotgun. If you can bring your head down to the shotgun you should be able to see right down the barrel and see your target much clearer. Don’t worry if you don’t get this right at the start, the instructor will always be on hand to guide you with this.

5.Stay steady and calm while firing

Hitting your clays generally comes down to two factors – your positioning and not delaying your shot. You will get lots of hints and tips but here’s some more that will impress even the most experienced instructor.

Follow the clay as it comes out of the trap, keep your eye down the barrel and be sure to keep the bead at the end of your gun inline. Resist the temptation to follow the clay with just your eye, you need the barrel to follow your line of sight too. Squeeze the trigger just as the clay disappears out of your line of sight.

One last tip, shoot the clay as its rising, once it starts to fall it may be best to wait for the next clay!

This time of year is simply perfect for clay shooting so why not give it a go?