Last Spring, I started researching methods of producing lighter, stronger hoops. The old kids’ hoops from Wham-O were an obvious place to start. Could Wham-O make a better hoop than black polyethylene irrigation tubing? So I shot them an email out of curiosity asking if they had explored adult hoops. I received a very short email response stating that they had already begun manufacturing adult hoops which would be released in the spring of ’09.
Spring is quickly approaching. I’m very curious as to what a Wham-O adult hoop will be like. As far as I know, no one within the hooping community has seen the new product. Did they research size, weight, etc?
This could potentially have broad-reaching effects on our community. Since Wham-O has been pretty close-lipped about this, I can do nothing but speculate as to their strategy. Wham-O’s products are marketed to mainstream America, not to our little fanatic niche. My speculation is that they will be building low-end hoops that won’t satisfy “hoopers” but will provide an excuse to the rest of America to pick up an adult hoop. Will this be the catalyst for a second hoop craze?