Teeterboard 101
The art of controlled chaos (with a lot of air time)
What Is a Teeterboard?
Let’s start simple. Picture a seesaw – but beefed up.
Now imagine someone jumping on one end while another person gets launched from the other – up into the air, flipping, twisting, maybe even landing on someone’s shoulders or a tiny platform.
That’s teeterboard.
It’s not a trampoline. It’s not a springboard. It’s a plank of wood with a metal fulcrum, a lot of trust and even more physics. It’s fast, high-impact and absolutely not something you mess around with unless you know what you’re doing – or at least want to learn.
Who Actually Uses a Teeterboard?
Cirque du Soleil, for starters. Traditional circuses. Contemporary acrobatic shows. Some competitive gymnastics circles. And lately? A growing group of backyard daredevils, parkour athletes and circus schools teaching it to brave beginners.
And it’s not just for showboaters. There’s skill, timing and collaboration behind every single launch.
Also? It’s kind of addictive.
The Equipment Breakdown: Simpler Than It Looks
Let me explain what you’re working with:
The board: Usually made of sturdy hardwood, reinforced for impact. About 8–10 feet long.
The fulcrum: Metal or steel pipe that the board balances on. This is the pivot point – the heart of the teeterboard.
The catch zones: Soft mats, spotting blocks, sometimes padded platforms. Because landing is… complicated.
The flyer and the pusher: Two roles, one goal – perfect timing.
Some setups include safety harnesses, but most pros rely on spotters and mats.
There’s no motor. No springs. Just raw force and timing. And that makes it all the more exciting.
Roles on the Teeterboard: Not Everyone Gets Flung
It takes more than a good flyer to make this work.
Pushers generate the force. They jump down on one end to launch the flyer from the other.
Flyers ride the momentum. They soar through the air and (hopefully) stick the landing.
Spotters are the unsung heroes. They stand close with hands ready, preventing a crash from becoming a disaster.
Catchers (in more advanced setups) catch the flyer on their shoulders, on another board or while standing on a high platform.
It’s not a solo sport. It’s timing, rhythm, and communication – plus a healthy sense of humor when someone flails mid-air.
So, What Makes a Teeterboard Work?
Physics, mostly.
You’ve got downward force from the pusher’s jump. That energy transfers to the other side of the board, launching the flyer upward. Think: leverage, momentum, and just the right bounce.
If the push is too soft? The flyer flops.
Too hard? They overshoot the landing zone.
Wrong angle? Sideways launch – and no one wants that.
It’s a game of trust, reaction time and body control. The real magic happens when everything clicks mid-air and it feels right.
Can Beginners Actually Try This?
Surprisingly – yes. But with serious caveats.
Most circus schools offer beginner teeterboard training. It starts slow: learning how to push, how to fall, how to land. Maybe you hop a few inches. Then a foot. Then two. Nobody’s throwing backflips on day one. (Well, almost nobody.)
Beginner tips:
– Start with a spotter. Always.
– Use a low, soft board or padded see-saw to feel the mechanics.
– Work on basic jumping and landing drills.
– Strengthen your core – balance is everything.
– Respect the risk. Teeterboard isn’t dangerous if trained properly – but shortcuts get people hurt.
And remember: falling is part of the process. Controlled failure builds real skill.
What Makes Teeterboard So… Satisfying?
There’s nothing quite like it.
You’re flying. There’s adrenaline, sure – but there’s also precision. You’re not just flinging yourself into the sky; you’re controlling the arc, spotting your landing, hitting a platform or stack of hands like it’s totally normal.
And that first time you stick the landing? It feels like you just beat gravity at its own game.
Plus, there’s this built-in trust. You and your team are in sync. One misstep could mess it all up, but when it works – it really works.
Skills You’ll Build Without Even Trying (Okay, You’ll Try)
– Balance is the obvious one. But there’s more…
– Explosive power: Both pushers and flyers need solid vertical jumps.
– Timing: You learn to feel the rhythm of the board.
– Air awareness: Knowing where your body is mid-flip? Essential.
– Trust: With your team. With the board. With yourself.
– Focus: There’s no room for distractions mid-launch.
Also: humility. You’ll mess up a lot. You’ll laugh. You’ll faceplant. But you’ll get better.
Common Mistakes (That Everyone Makes)
Here’s a quick list of rookie errors, just so you’re ready:
– Rushing the push: Timing matters more than force.
– Flailing mid-air: Stay tight. Like, really tight.
– Over-rotating: Too much flip, not enough landing.
– Panicking mid-jump: Commit or crash.
– Ignoring warm-ups: Your ankles will betray you.
And one more: comparing yourself to seasoned performers. Everyone starts somewhere. Teeterboard is a craft – it rewards time, not talent alone.
A Quick Trip Through History: Where Did This Come From?
Teeterboard has roots in Korean and Eastern European acrobatics, with versions like the Neolttwigi (a traditional Korean jumping game mostly played by women during festivals). Over time, circus performers adapted it, fine-tuned the board and pushed the limits – literally.
By the mid-20th century, European circus acts were flinging flyers across entire tents. Then Cirque du Soleil got involved – and the visuals got wild. Multiple boards. Triple backflips. Platforms stacked three-high. Suddenly, teeterboard wasn’t just a trick – it was an art form.
Related Disciplines You’ll Start Craving
Teeterboard has a habit of leading you into new rabbit holes. Once you get hooked on airtime and precision, you might find yourself curious about:
– Tramp wall: Bounce off trampolines and flip off walls. (Yes, really.)
– Russian bar: Performers bounce on a flexible beam held on the shoulders of two porters.
– Chinese pole: Acrobatics on a vertical pole. Check out Chinese Pole 101.
– Hand-to-hand acrobatics: Because sometimes your landing zone is literally another person. Check out Hand & Foot Balancing 101.
The world of circus arts is a web – and teeterboard is one very springy node.
Where to Start If You’re Curious
Look, we’re not saying you should build one in your backyard… but if you were, at least wait until you know what you’re doing.
Safer starting points:
– Circus schools: Places like École Nationale de Cirque (Montreal), NECCA (Vermont), or Circus Center (San Francisco) offer intro classes.
– Open gyms: Some freerunning or gymnastics gyms have basic setups and coaching.
– YouTube: Try channels like Cirque Mechanics, Gravity & Other Myths or Les 7 Doigts. Watch how it’s done. Then rewatch.
And if you’re more of a visual learner? Start with drills on a trampoline. Learn flips. Learn air control. It all helps.
Final Thought: Why Teeterboard Feels Like Flying and Falling in Love
Here’s the honest truth – it’s scary.
At first, your feet leave the board and your brain short-circuits. The ground disappears. Time slows down. But then – mid-air – you find this quiet moment. Everything’s still. And somehow, your body just knows what to do.
You land. The board thumps. Your team cheers. And suddenly, the fear turns into fire. You want to do it again.
That’s teeterboard. Controlled chaos. Wild trust. And one of the coolest things you’ll ever try.