Earth Day Festival brings electricity-generating sports equipment, climbing wall

The PULSE jump rope from UnCharted Play stores green energy generated by exercise. The device will be on display on Saturday at the Earth Day Festival.

There will be jump ropes that create electricity, a two-story climbing wall, and classes in surfing, capoeira, karate & yoga at this weekend’s Earth Day Festival at Alameda Park in Santa Barbara.

The electricity-generating jump rope is a product of Uncharted Play, a company from New York that is harnessing the energy used from human exercise. Products like the jump rope and a soccer ball can store power to be tapped later as a green energy source.

“We will continue to search for more ways to use play to combat social issues,” said Uncharted Play CEO Jessica O. Matthews in an interview with the Christian Science Monitor. “Right now, we are focusing on the issue of energy …. But we could easily expand into other areas, including addressing the clean water problem found in many parts of the world.”

The PULSE jump rope and other power-generating sports equipment will be on display in the Eco Marketplace on Saturday only.

UCSB Adventure Programs is bringing a 26-foot climbing wall that will be available all weekend long. The vertical tower has four autobelay stations. It’s $3 for kids and $5 for adults.

In the kids zone, local surf school Surf Happens is hosting “learn to surf” clinics all weekend on Indo Boards and on No H20 balance trainers. Surf Happens has a long track record of environmental consciousness and will be promoting its High Five program. Any kid who brings five pieces of trash to the Surf Happens booth over the weekend will receive free stickers and a prize.

The Surf Happens team will take the stage in the Kids Zone for a land-locked surfing experience on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Earth Day Festival Sports & Activity Schedule: