Belly flop competition comes to Scera Pool
A belly flopper jumps high into the air during a belly flopping competition at the Scera Park Pool on Aug. 19, 2016, in Orem. The competition was for a fundraiser for the All-Together Playground, and the flopping contest cost $3 for admission. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Kids react to a large splash during The Grand Belly Flop Contest on Aug. 19, 2016, in Orem. The competition was for a fundraiser for All-Together Playground. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A belly flopper jumps into the pool during The Grand Belly Flop Contest on Aug. 19, 2016, in Orem. The competition, which was for the All-Together Playground, brought floppers from around the county and the city of Orem for some family fun. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A belly flopper jumps into the pool during The Grand Belly Flop Contest on Aug. 19, 2016, in Orem. The competition, which was for All-Together Playground, had jumpers come in with all different types of jumping styles. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Belly floppers jump into the Scera Pool at the same time during The Grand Belly Flop Contest on Aug. 19, 2016, in Orem. Some jumpers came in and jumped together in synchronization. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A belly flop is not something a swimmer enters into lightly. It’s a cringe-worthy splash for everyone involved, but it somehow manages to still be hilarious once the floppers drag themselves out of the pool.
About 20 people participated in a belly flop competition on Saturday at the Scera Park Pool as a fundraiser for the All-Together Playground.
Steven Downs, assistant to the city manager in Orem, said the competition is part of a larger event where all the proceeds from the pool on Saturday will go to benefit the playground.
“We wanted to do something fun and unique that would catch eyes but would bring attention back to the playground and why we were are doing this,” Downs said.
Once it is built in Orem’s City Center Park, the All-Together Playground will be a place for every child to play. The idea came from two moms who wanted to give their children in wheelchairs a place to play.
“It’s evolved into a playground that takes into account kids of all abilities,” he said.
Ironically the idea for the competition was inspired by a humble belly flop in a hotel pool, Downs said.
“We were in Baltimore helping to build one of these playgrounds,” he said. “We were at the pool one day and we were chatting about what else we could do and we saw a kid do a belly flop and we saw the reaction it got.”
During the pool day there were booths set up so swimmers can get more information on the project and the help they still need to get the playground finished. While there has already been a groundbreaking for the playground, there will be a week-long push to get it built.
“We just had a lot of citizens and friends of the playground or people looking for a way to help and thought this would be a fun way to do it,” Downs said. “We have been happy with the response to it.”
Orem Mayor Richard Brunst was expected to lead off the competition by doing a belly flop in his suit and tie. He was followed by contestants of a wide range of ages and several employees from Vasa Fitness and US Synthetic.
Travis Russell, who works for US Synthetic, was one of the participants. The community representative at his company invited him to participate, he said in an interview before the competition. However, the message of the park really resonated with him once his friend, who has played a big role in the project, explained it to him.
“It almost brought me to tears as they were explaining it, not that I’m an emotional guy,” Russell said. “It’s just the idea that they can enjoy the things they’ve seen their friends and cousins do that they haven’t always been able to do.”
Another contestant Reed Wolfley said he’s been involved with some of the other fundraisers for the All-Together Playground, including a triathlon they hosted.
“I kinda wanted to see it through to the end since I’ve volunteered for the other fundraising opportunities,” Wolfley said. “I didn’t feel like I could chicken out on the hard ones.”
He said originally got involved because his brother was one of the people with Orem that was working on the project. But his perspective has changed since then.
“After you go and meet some of the families with kids that are going to benefit, it’s a little contagious,” Wolfley said in an interview before the competition. “It’s been fun to meet the families and become friends with them.”
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