Pogo Championship Proves Regatta Isn't Just About Water Sports

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta is not limited to water events. Some of the most compelling competitions take place on land, and in the air.

Pittsburgh is the second leg of the Extreme Pogo World Championship tour, with other stops in France and Sweden.

Biff Hutchison of Idaho says most professional pogo sticks are actually pneumatic cylinders.

"It's got a valve you can pull up with a bike pump, and this whole thing is filled with air, right down to the bottom," he says. "So it works pretty well."

It's worked so well that he's a three-time world champion. But Dmitry Arsenyev of Russia has the lead after the first leg of this year's competition.

This is Pogopalooza's second time in Pittsburgh.

"We're really happy to be here," says Pogopalooza co-founder Nick Ryan "It's an amazing vibe. Beautiful city. Great spot that we're in. And we couldn't be happier that we're bringing the biggest moment in the sport right here this week."

One of the youngest competitors is 14-year-old Henry Cabelus of New Hope. Though the mid-air acrobatics are exhilarating, he also says, "It's exhausting. Like you jump on this pogo stick for an hour, you burn about 2,000 calories."

Now that's a diet plan. As for the secret to being a world champion, Biff Hutchison says, "Not fall, really."

For more information on a growing sport, log on to: http://www.xpogo.com/

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