The Story Behind Springfree Trampoline: How One Kiwi Engineer Reimagined Safe Play
From backyard dream to global innovation - discover how New Zealand engineer Dr. Keith Alexander set out to build a safer trampoline for his kids and ended up reinventing the trampoline entirely. The story behind Springfree is one of family, ingenuity, and a father’s determination to make play safer for every child.
min read
It all began with a boy, a dream, and a sky he longed to reach.
Long before trampolines were a staple in backyards, New Zealand’s Dr. Keith Alexander was a child captivated by the idea of flight. Growing up in a time when trampolines were mostly confined to Olympic gymnasiums, Keith dreamed of soaring through the air - free, weightless, and joyful.
“I thought it was so cool because you could get so high. It was freeing.”
That fascination stayed with him. At just eleven years old, jumping was all he could think about. But it wasn’t until much later that Keith’s childhood obsession would evolve into something revolutionary.
From Dreamer to Inventor
Keith went on to study mechanical engineering at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), eventually earning a PhD and becoming a respected professor. Throughout his academic career, his passion for thoughtful design and safety-driven innovation never left him.
“I’ve always had a passion for helping people and I knew there had to be a better way.”
That "better way" took shape after he became a father. Like many parents, Keith wanted his children to experience the joy of bouncing on a trampoline, but his wife wasn’t so convinced.
“I said to my wife, ‘Our kids should have a trampoline!’ But she replied, ‘No way, they’re far too dangerous.’ That’s when I thought... maybe I could make a safer one.”
In Australia, there are an estimated 3,000 trampoline-related injuries per year (source). Springfree Trampoline eliminates 90% of trampoline-related injuries, whereas the next-best trampoline in Australasia only eliminates 63% of injuries.
Rethinking the Trampoline
At the time, most trampolines had exposed springs, hard steel frames, and flimsy nets - features that contributed to thousands of trampoline-related injuries every year in New Zealand alone. Keith saw an opportunity to completely redesign the trampoline around one core idea: safety first.
“The steel edge was the most dangerous part. You could land on it, hit the springs... There was nothing stopping you from getting hurt. I thought, why can’t we make the edge soft, like a sofa?”
Inspired by his wish to share trampolining with his children and driven by a desire to create something his wife could trust, Keith began building a new kind of trampoline - one that removed the springs and placed the frame beneath the jumping surface. He introduced flexible composite rods in place of traditional springs, creating a smoother, safer bounce.
“I knew it had to last. The nets, the edge, everything had to withstand years of use, not just one season.”
He also engineered a tough, flexible safety net that lasts for a decade and protects wayward jumpers from falling, solving a problem that plagued many trampolines at the time.
From Kiwi Backyard to Global Innovation
What started as a passion project became a global innovation. The result? The Springfree Trampoline, now widely recognised as the World’s Safest Trampoline, is sold in over 25 countries and trusted by families around the world.
“Others used to last only a year. On a Springfree trampoline, they last at least 10.”
And that’s not just talk. Every Springfree is backed by a full 10-year warranty on all parts, a testament to its premium build and long-lasting performance.
But for Keith, the greatest reward isn’t awards or international acclaim, it’s knowing his invention helps create joyful, injury-free childhood memories.
“When I watch my own grandkids jumping, knowing how safe they are, it truly brings me joy. To think that children all over the world are playing on something I created... Wow. It all started because I wanted to prove a point to my wife!”
A Legacy of Safety, Innovation, and Joy
Today, Springfree stands as a proud example of Kiwi innovation and engineering excellence. More than just a toy, it’s a smart investment in childhood wellbeing, designed to grow with your family, engineered for safety, and built to last.
Thanks to Dr. Keith Alexander, that dream of touching the sky has never been safer.
