Joe Louis swings over a canyon
“The weather’s been pretty bad the last few weeks, eh?”
“Yeah the rain has been a real downer.”
I am making casual conversation with Steve, a slender 22-year old Kiwi. Although the conversation is casual, nothing else about our relationship is. As we chit chat I am hanging upside down more than 200 meters over a canyon. There is nothing between me and the rock hard, unsympathetic bottom. I have sudden empathic feelings towards Wile E. Coyote. I have second thoughts.
“It should clear up soon. Where you going next?”
“Well, we’ll probably spend a few more days in town and then starting heading up Nooooooooooooooooooooooorth”
In an instant Steve presses the button, or hits the switch, or pulls the lever, or whatever it is that he does to release the rope holding me in the air against gravity’s wishes. I am suddenly in free fall. The ground rushes up at my face. I have no time to think; only an instinct to scream. I don’t blink. I don’t miss a thing.
The fall ends quickly and after hanging around over the canyon for a minute, I am hauled back up to the platform. A huge smile is on my face. I am wondering if my underwear survived as I did.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Choose your poison
The Shotover Canyon Swing advertise over 70 different styles of jumping off a cliff. Choose something cool and memorable. Be creative.
If you are really struggling to decide, go with Jumpmaster’s Choice and put the decision out of your hands.
Double down
Don’t just do the swing once. It only costs $35 to add another jump and you should try something different. Something even scarier!
Smile
After the jump, buy the footage. It is more exciting than watching yourself skydive. They have cameras that you didn’t even know about on the platform and on the jump rope. It’s a memory you’ll want to have.
Schadenfreude
On the return trip back into town make sure to watch the blooper video. It’s a hilarious montage of people who, let’s just say lacked elegance, during their jumps.
Resources
Shotover Canyon Swing: http://www.canyonswing.co.nz/
