IT is being called the largest indoor trampoline park in Europe, and at 35,000 square feet it's easy to see why.

Air Space, in East Kilbride, boasts three trampoline dodgeball courts, a football area, two bouncy basketball lanes, high performance trampolines and a free- style area with more than 60 interconnecting trampolines wall to wall.

There are also trampolines set at 45 degree angles, so jumpers can literally bounce off the walls.

The centre is being launched by forest adventure company Go Ape, which has 28 sites across the UK.

Tristram Mayhew launched Go Ape with his wife Rebecca in 2002, and calls himself the 'Chief Gorilla' instead of managing director.

He said: "We don't see ourselves as being just about trees, we see ourselves as creating adventures and encouraging people to live life adventurously.

"We're always looking for stuff that's new, exciting, with an element of risk, because that's what we do well, but we try to control the risk so people can do fun things, but safely."

Mr Mayhew said he hopes to start a 'freestyle jumping revolution' with Air Space.

Arriving at the centre, jumpers are taken through a safety briefing, which teaches them the do's and don'ts of trampolining.

Centre manager Sheila Cook said: "There's no UK standard for trampoline parks, so Air Space is trying to create that, along with all the other centres open at the moment, to make sure that safety remains paramount."

A session costs £12, which gives access to absolutely everything, but to ensure people don't slip or fall when jumping an additional £1.50 is needed to buy a pair of special 'jump socks', which have grips on the soles and can be taken home and used again.

Mr Mayhew explained they had gone for something a bit different to the typical trampoline centre.

He said: "There's an element of parkour, there's a new twist on things like basketball and football. You can do slam dunks off trampolines, in football the goalie will be on a trampoline, and we've got a massive airbag, so people can try aerials before they go ski-ing and snowboarding.

"We also have high performance trampolines, which get real height, you can bounce off the wall, on to the wall, and we have dodgeball pitches. There's a really healthy mix of madness, fun and semi-violence."

Staff, known as 'air crew', have even been coming in to play on the trampolines three hours before their shifts are due to begin.

Centre deputy manager Catherine Kane, 23, a former member of the Scottish trampolining team, says the sport was her life between the ages 9-18.

She said: "One of my friends sent through the advertisement, I knew it was the perfect job for me, I had been going on about places like this all the time and I knew I wanted to work here.

"Trampolining is a really laid back culture, it's very social, which is the main thing about here."

Surprisingly, trampolining is a physically demanding exercise.

Ms Cook said: "Trampolining is amazingly beneficial, 10 minutes trampolining they say, is equivalent to 30 minutes hard running.

"For the heart and the lungs, I don't think you'll get anything better than this.

"The most important thing in trampolining is that you keep your core muscles, your stomach area, strong. A lot of people, especially women who have had children, struggle to tighten that area. Trampolining will do that for you."

Jumping on trampolines with any grace and elegance is much harder than it first appears, even trying to control where you land, never mind doing flips, takes a lot of concentration.

The fun and non-imapct nature of the sport appeals to people of all ages.

Ms Cook said: "We had a 74-year-old coach on the trampolines on Monday night, it's nice to see people of all ages participating.

"We are initially opening for ages 10 and up but that will change quickly, and we will cordon off areas or have specific evenings for under-10s.

"Because we want everybody to be able to enjoy it, with nobody getting hurt due to overzealous jumping, we don't want adults mixing with kids."

In-between the trampoline courts, there will be a chill out area, with bean bag chairs and balls for people to play with when trampolining becomes too tiring.

Mr Mayhew is positive that, when the centre is up and running, school groups will make bookings.

He said: "There are so many different ways it ties in with the national curriculum and it's so good for your cardiovascular system and core strength. Exercise has never been so much fun.

"It's just a fun place to throw a few shapes and have a good time, and a terrific low impact way to get fit."

Air Space, beside the Kingsgate Shopping Park, is open to anyone 10 and over and costs £12 per hour.

It's open 5pm until 10pm on weekdays and 9am until 10pm at weekends.

sarah.cooper@ eveningtimes.co.uk