1. The Inflatable Sphere Idea: The very idea of a giant inflatable sphere wasn't a brand new concept in the early 1990s. It was influenced by earlier designs like:
* "The Bubble": A large inflatable sphere designed by the Canadian inventor, Chris Ball, in the late 1970s, meant for water-based amusement.
* "The Orbeez": A smaller inflatable sphere used for sports and games.
2. The "Zorb" Inspiration: Dwayne van der Sluis, an entrepreneur in New Zealand, had a vision for a large, inflatable sphere that could be used for downhill rolling. He was inspired by seeing a giant inflatable ball at a local amusement park and by watching his children roll down hills in a large rubber tire.
3. The Collaboration: Van der Sluis partnered with Andrew Akers, a local engineer, to develop a prototype for the Zorb. Akers designed and built the first Zorb, which was initially made from heavy-duty rubber.
4. The First "Zorb" Roll: The first successful roll of the Zorb occurred in 1994 on a hillside in Rotorua, New Zealand, with van der Sluis inside.
5. "Zorb" as a Trademark: Van der Sluis and Akers worked together to perfect the design, improve safety features, and secure the trademark "Zorb" for their product.
6. Commercialization: The Zorb quickly gained popularity in New Zealand and around the world, leading to the creation of a commercial Zorb-riding industry with dedicated tracks and businesses offering the experience.
Therefore, it wasn't a single "eureka" moment, but rather a combination of existing ideas, inspiration, engineering expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit that brought the Zorb to life.