ExplorerGirls

Traveling through New Zealand is a lot like traveling through Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Ring’s film. Ok, there might not be any hobbits running around, but all that beautiful scenery that served as the back drop for all three films is exactly what you see from the road.

Everything in New Zealand is larger than life…bigger than most and more extreme. If you want to go skiing you can heliski, if you want to skydive you jump into Valleys between huge mountains, if you want to Bungy Jump you jump from a canyon bridge, helicopter or a platform in the middle of timber lined mountains.

If you can think of it, most likely they have it there. It is an extreme adrenaline junkie’s playground.

In New Zealand they are always looking for the next place from where to launch a body. And, the track record for people making it out alive is pretty fantastic for the amount of people flocking to New Zealand for adventure each year.

ExplorerGirls decided since we were in Kiwiland to skip the bungee and go a little bit bigger. We decided the Worlds Largest Shotover Canyon Swing was the place to get the adrenaline pumping.

And, boy was it ever!

The Shotover Canyon Swing is not to be missed. They claim it to be the world’s largest boasting 109m from the canyon floor with a 60m/200ft free fall and a 200m arc propelling your body up to a speed of 150kph.

Deciding to do something extreme that could result in death (if all went wrong) does something to your mind, your body and your psyche. The heart begins to race and things begin to shake. You can almost break it up into steps from the moment you get the crazy idea till the moment you leave that platform.

We think the first step “putting your money down” is huge…this means commitment. Once you pay over $150 out of your pocket to sign your self up for extreme fun you feel like you have to do it. After all they have your name and signature.

It’s almost the moment the money leaves your hand you begin to feel a little rush…that you have put your name down and shown some sort of confidence to complete a task.

Step two is “thinking time” the time you have between the moment you pay till the moment you jump and this is the most important in terms of whether you will actually complete the task. This time is usually made up of calling loved ones to say goodbye or consuming alcohol to calm the nerves.

Make sure not to let loved ones talk you out of it when you call. As soon as I rang my Dad he started saying “Why are you doing this…don’t do it.” I said, “Dad, I didn’t call to let you talk me out of it…just to say I love you.” (Then he was cool and wished me well!)

Now during this time we think it is also essential to use positive affirmation telling yourself “I can do this, I can do this”…and don’t carry on like a baby…saying “I can’t do it…I won’t do it… How can I do this…why am I doing this”? It works against you!

Once you make it to step three…if you have used your time wisely in step two you should be ready to “jump”. By the time I reached the platform after telling myself a hundred times “I can do this…it’s easy” there was no turning back.

Step three is “final destination” which is taking to the air and making it safely to the ground or back up on the platform once you have completed your adventurous adrenaline pumping task. And, once you do that…no one has to tell you what it feels like anymore.

It is an amazing feeling putting so much trust into other people and once you “release” and make that jump it is even more heart pumping knowing that you “did it”. That you committed to something and you achieved it.

A lot like life and its challenges…but when you throw fear into the mix it becomes so much harder. If you achieve controlling your fear in these situations the feeling is almost like you can conquer anything…and what a great way to apply that to life.

For a girl who feared jumping off the high dive at the swimming pool…twenty years later I am stoked I completed my task for the day and jumped into the canyon…not once, but twice!

Even better the second time!

Watch Canyon Swing #1 Backwards

Watch Canyon Swing #2 Gimp Boy Goes to Hollywood

www.canyonswing.co.nz

www.explorergirls.com / Courtney Crow