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Corporate bonding through bizarre games

Bumping allowed: young players are kitted out for a fun game of bubble football

Don’t be surprised if you see your boss rolling around on the grass inside an inflatable orb this April, because there’s a good chance you might be doing the same thing.

That’s the aim of Marquel Waldron, the man behind the Xtreme Sports Games, which is being marketed as Bermuda’s newest corporate team-building event.

This will be no ordinary competition between firms and corporates; it is intended to be fun all the way with unconventional sports and activities.

Mr Waldron said the idea is to provide Bermuda with something new and exciting to look forward to, as well as showcase what Xtreme Sports has to offer in terms of product and services.

It is also an opportunity for businesses to undertake corporate team-building and bonding.

“It helps with a lot of different things. It is something fun to do. A lot of people are stressed at work, with something like this teams come out stronger and happier,” said Mr Waldron.

Xtreme Sports believes teamwork is critical to a company’s success, and that team-building activities strengthen professional relationships, improve moral and help with more efficient and effective workflow.

“The importance of corporate team building and striking a good work-life balance can’t be stressed enough, and the Xtreme Sports Games is a perfect example of both.”

Sports lined up for the event include bubble football, which is similar to traditional football, except that each player is inside a large inflatable bubble so they can bump into their opponents.

There is human bowling, where a player jumps inside a giant inflatable bowling ball and hurtles into some equally oversized inflatable bowling pins.

And then there is poolball, where players kick a cue football at other footballs that resemble giant billiard balls and try to get them into the pockets of a human-sized pool table.

Further fun activities, such as slip-n-slide kickball, Zorb racing and volley pong, are shown in a promotional video on the Extreme Sports website.

The idea to create the business is less than a year old. Mr Waldron, a footballer with PHC, was travelling by train in England when he looked out of the carriage window and saw a game of bubble football being played in a field.

Intrigued, he looked up the activity on the internet.

“I read about it and thought of the possibilities of bringing it to Bermuda,” he said.

After further research he decided to bring the equipment to Bermuda and set up an entertainment activity business, with groups able to hire out the games for events, such as birthday parties and organised fun days.

“It has been successful and it has grown by word of mouth. People have found it exciting and told their friends. Many are looking to do it again.”

However, Mr Waldron is aware that other operators compete in this market, and so he has set his sights on expanding with a corporate service line.

The Xtreme Sports team presented its concept at the Bermuda Economic Development Agency’s Rocket Pitch competition for entrepreneurs in November. The idea was a hit with the judges and Xtreme Sports won the Pitch Town category.

“I expanded my pitch to launch the corporate sports idea,” said Mr Waldron, who works for KPMG.

He has created a three-year business plan for Xtreme Sports, and hopes that from the exposure generated by the corporate games, companies and businesses will decide to book their own team-bonding and fun day events.

The Xtreme Sports Games is planned for April 9 at the National Sports Centre’s North Field. It is anticipated that 16 corporate teams will take part. Companies are encouraged to enter online now.

There is a $4,000 prize for the winner, which is to be awarded to that team’s charity of choice.

Mr Waldron is optimistic that Bermuda companies will rally behind the event, which he believes will be “one epic day as 16 companies battle it out to be crowned the Xtreme Sports Games’ champion”.

To find out more about the Xtreme Sports Games, visit the website https://www.xtremesportsbmd.com/xtreme-sports-games.html

Not pocket-sized: youngsters play at poolball, where footballs are used as the cue ball and billiard balls. The game is played on oversized pool table
Ideas man: Marquel Waldron came up with the business idea for Xtreme Sports, and won the Rocket Pitch competition for entrepreneurs in November
Ready to strike: human bowling involves a full-size inflatable bowling bowl, big enough to fit a person inside, and some equally large inflatable bowling pins