Bouncing into a high-flying job

18 October 2015 - 02:00 By Margaret Harris

Chanette Goosen owns Rush Indoor Trampoline Park, which has partnered with a US group to bring jumping parks to South Africa and Namibia. She says her daughter is her inspiration What is a trampoline park?The park in Cape Town contains 1700m² of jumping surfaces and is the first in the world to have glow-in-the-dark trampolines. In short, it is an action-packed facility that offers endless jumping and fun. We offer everything from cantilever platforms to hydraulic basketball hoops. The parks we open this year [one in Edenvale in November] will change in the next year. We are ... in constant change.Is trampolining dangerous?Safety is our No1 priority. We have well-trained staff, extensive safety rules and the equipment is designed for safety. Trampoline jumping is comparable in risk to other extreme sports such as skateboarding, skiing, ice hockey and football. If you decide to participate, you should do so only within your ability and should not attempt advanced manoeuvres.story_article_left1What does your typical working day involve?Making sure that all the operations run smoothly, answering between 70 and 250 calls a day and helping clients with their inquiries - and at night I look at how I can make it better. I am an architect and still practise on the side, so I can help our overseas design team create spaces that work well for trampolining and that also look and feel great for non-jumping guests.How did you end up setting up a trampoline park?My beautiful daughter is our [Goosen and husband Jonathan's] greatest inspiration: she loves trampolines and jumping. After lots of research, we discovered this great concept. We invested both time and effort into our business plan and ended up finding our US partner and bringing the dream to life.What did you want to be when you were a child?I have a mind that never stops, so I wanted to be everything, from a doctor to a physiotherapist, from a counsellor to an artist. I wanted to do something to help people.What was your first paying job, and what important lesson did you learn from it?I started working at a restaurant at the age of 13, and what that taught me was that the customer is always right. I also learnt to never take anything personally, but to just serve with a kind heart.story_article_right2What do you enjoy most about the work you do?The smiles on children's faces, the joy that children with challenges - whether mental, physical or both - get out of it. I also love seeing families come together and smile and laugh again, and the opportunity to affect the youth.What part of your job would you prefer not to do?The human resources aspect is not easy for any company, but I can't say that I would prefer not to do it, as I like being hands-on in every aspect of the business.What do you think makes you good at your job?My stubborn personality - I don't take no for an answer. I believe you have to let the midnight oil burn, and push on until you have finished your task...

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