In you avatar I see you are standing on a rola bola board. How difficult was it to find you balance on it? The reason I ask is I have a heavy chunk of 8" diameter (Actually it's German made, I can't find my tape with CM on it.) How long and wide do you think the tube and pipe are? I was thinking of building one. Also If I may ask, the board dimentions would be helpful also.
Any advice you may have would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Scruffy

Rola bola's are a matter of personal taste and availability of the parts. Any size rolla will do, the bigger the rolla the easier it is to stay balanced but more difficult it is to mount. The board is also a matter of trial and error but must be at least a few inches longer than your shoulder width, short enough to not constantly hit the ground yet long enough to be able to mount the rolla. You need to be able to keep your legs about a shoulder width apart to balance.

The trick to balancing is to keep your head in line with the rolla at all times while you avoid letting the board twist on the rolla. Trick here is to avoid twisting movements in your hips. Like juggling it comes with practice. I don't consider myself to be great at either but as you can see from my pic. I can manage both simultanoiusly. Once you have learned to balance you can quickly learn to make it look like you are not balanced. Another tip is to keep focussed on a staitonary object in front of you that is a reasonable distance away.

Is there any kind of grip tape to help you stay on, on either side?

I can't beleive how many times I've seen your avatar, Gilbert, and never though to ask you about that!

Scruffy, lemme know how it goes, and how easy to make, because I'd love to learn how to work one of these! I've got the three ball cascade down pretty good now, and that would be a neat addition...

I'm not getting on that thing!. I stuck my nine year old on it. (Bike helmet, pads, the whole shot) and held his hands. The eight inch cylinder is to big for a beginner to mount without assistance. It is stable but a long way down. Try a four inch cylinder. And make it at least a foot wide. Everything gilbert said is right on about how to control it. We used heavy duty Schedule 40 drain pipe and a piece of 3/4 inch ply wood.
Good luck.

BTW, Eddie was getting the hang of it. I'll get a smaller pipe and let his try it with that. The big one is just way to hard to mount.

Is it easier to control on the grass? We tried it in the garage on a smooth, painted floor. Hence, the skateboard pads. Should I take him and try it outside?

Sorry for the delay. I've been at a training weekend. I just use a plain wooden board and I found that a flat floor is easier to learn on than grass because the uneveness will cause the rolla to change direction.

Just wondering if a piece of PVC pipe would work for a cylinder? I figure it's paintable too.. or would something heavier be needed?

Tinks

TInks, Schedule 40 is a grade of PVC. Extremely strong stuff. From what "Giggles" (My son's clown name) and I tried. I think four inch would be a good starting point. Three might even be better; I just can't find any in our area.
Be careful, it's tricky. make sure you use a wall to help you.

When I run workshops I get one person to stand in front to assist by letting the balancer place their hands on the supporters shoulders. as the balancer gains confidence they are encoraged to lift their hands off the supporter. Initially people use an assistant for everything then move on to just mounting and dismounting then one or the other and finally reach the point where no assistence is required.

Just wondering if a piece of PVC pipe would work for a cylinder? I figure it's paintable too.. or would something heavier be needed?

Tinks

The pipe is up to you but make sure it can safely take your weight. Origionally wooden rollas were used. I may be wrong but I have always assumed they were cut off ends of the big top poles when they were replaced. Maybee someone here knows the origin of the rola bola and can tell us if I guessed correctly.

Very interesting you should bring that up Gilbert.-- I haven't a clue. Does anyone here know?