courtesy of peregrinari

With only a rope tied to your legs you throw yourself dozens of meters down, just before you think you might crash on the ground, you go back up really fast. Only real heroes dare to do this. New Zealand is the country where this great adrenaline rush has been invented! You can face this bizarre challenge at several spots. Queenstown is the spot where it all began and it offers you several types of jumps, and at night in the Mokai Gravity Canyon you can also go into the air horizontally and vertically. In New Zeeland, not only nature offers you a splendid panorama, before, during and after your jump, but you can also jump from the highest tower in the middle of Auckland city. Queenstown, southern island
Bungee Jumping: to let yourselves fall dozens of meters down with only one rubber band fastened to your legs, and just before you think of bumping against the ground you zoom back up. Literally and figuratively speaking you have to cross a daring border - and they gladly help you with it there in Queenstown - then you will really experience the ultimate thrill that you will never forget!

What is a better place to experience this, then in the city where Bungee Jumping started? The New-Zealander A.J. Hackett considered it a challenge to jump with only a rubber line tied to his ankles. He tried this first in 1986 from the Eiffel tower, and then he enthusiastically decided to share this mad experience with others. In 1988, he organized the first public Bungee Jump centre in the world in Queenstown. At AJ Hacket Bungee you can choose from several jumps that you book including the tour to get there. The Kawarau Suspension bridge was the first Bungee Jump spot and lies about 23 km outside of Queenstown. Here you fall off a platform 45 meters down. Do not forget in advance to look around, because the surroundings are really beautiful! On top of Bob’s Peak with view over the city, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, you find The Ledge. Here you can choose between a ‘mild’ and a ‘wild’ jump of 47 m.  You can make a jump of 71 m. at the Skipper’s Canyon Bridge. This is really spectacular because you jump from the Shotover River into the Grand Canyon of New Zealand. For more adrenalin you can also jump at night during the Full Moon Bungee. Inform yourself in advance of the possibilities.

Not exciting enough? Then do the Pipeline Bungee! This also takes place in the Skipper’s Canyon but here you jump from a pipe line with an altitude of 102 m. The excursion to get there is already adventurous because you can drive only with 4WD through this rough terrain. But the real dare devils go for the newest acquisition in Bungee Jumps: The Nevis Highwire. A cable, that crosses a 380 m. canyon, has been stretched above the Nevis River on which a gondola is hanging… in 134 m altitude. And you can jump off it with a speed of 128 km per hour! Here you will have a free fall of no less than 8.4 seconds. This is one of the highest Bungee Jumps in the world, so if you dare…

Queenstown lies at Highway 6 in the south of southern island. For further information and prices refer to the Queenstown Bungee Center on the corner of the Shotover and Camp Street in the centre of the city.

Mokai Gravity Canyon, northern island
That New Zealand is famous for it adventure sports, is known. Provocative nature lures thrill seekers who not only want to experience the surroundings by means of a good walk, but also want to fly and  fall down and swinging in the air! And all this is possible at Mokai Gravity Canyon at Taihape. Here is the highest Bungee Jump of the northern island. From an 80 m. altitude you dive into the narrow Mokai Canyon and experience a free fall of 5 seconds! If you are totally used to Bungee Jumping already, then there is still another challenge: the World’s most extreme Flying Fox. Here you can fly with no less than 160 km/hr. on a cord about 8 m. over the water! And if you are not frightened of the dark, then you can also go through the sky both horizontally and vertically, at night, because the Bungee Jump and the Flying Fox both operate into the night.

If you have experienced all this, then the Kiwi’s know another fun thing to do: the Swing Bridge. With 200 people at a time you swing speedily through the Mokoi Canyon! This is only for the strong-hearted! If you’re not an adventurous hero, or are simply sane, then you can also enjoy a cup tea or cafe late in ‘the Gravity’ café. There you have a perfect view of the nerves of anyone who ventures themselves to the Bungee Jump, Flying fox or the Swing Bridge for the first time. And of course, just like in the rest of New Zealand, the surroundings are splendid and you can enjoy great walks here.
The Mokai Gravity Canyon lies 5 km. to the south of Taihepe on northern island. On Highway 1 there are signs which indicate the Mokai Gravity Canyon.

Taupo Bungee, northern island
Although this is not the highest Bungee Jump-start, at Lake Taupo, it is nevertheless, spectacular as well! Above the splendid volcanic Waikato River Valley a platform that sticks out 20 m. from a cliff has been built. This platform is strong enough to hold you with 99 others 45 m. above the Waikato River. Thus you can see a lot of dare devils jump in the direction of the river before and after you. At Taupo Bungee you can choose from a solo and a tandem jump and if you do or do not want a ‘water touch’. Ingeniously sophisticated jumping technology is applied, with which you can touch the water of the Waikato River for a second. Of course you can get a video tape as proof of your heroic action for your friends at home or for yourselves when you didn’t dare to open your eyes because of your own fear.
You will find Taupo Bungee at the Spa road in Taupo, on highway 1 and 5 on northern island.

Christchurch Bungee Rocket, southern island
This adrenalin rush is unique in its type in New Zealand! Instead of jumping from above, downwards, you are being shot off the ground into the air in the Bungee Rocket. Stringed in a special Bungee Rocket Launch Vehicle you fly with a speed of 160 km/hr. towards the sky. For a moment you feel weightless and then you are being pulled back to earth like crazy and you keep on flying back and forth for a while. This is really a great experience and suitable for every age. The Bungee Rocket lies next to the beautiful coast of Christchurch, so if you’d rather leave the Bungee Rocket to real adrenalin kickers, you still have a beautiful view.
You will find The Bungee Rocket in the New Brighton Mall in Christchurch. Christchurch lies on the East coast of southern island at Highway 1.

Auckland Sky Tower, northern island
In 1997, the center of Auckland was freshened up thanks to the arrival of Sky city with, as its largest attraction, the impressive Sky Tower which is no less than 318 m. high. The tower can nowadays call itself the highest tower of the Southern hemisphere! And you can jump down from it! This Sky jump is the highest jump that you can make from a tower in the world. It is no ordinary Bungee Jump because from the Sky Tower you do not hang upside down from a cord. Here you put on a real flying suit! Then you go up, you enjoy the view for a bit and you jump down like Superman or Superwoman. With a speed of 75 km/hr. you go down for about 18 seconds and you land softly on the ground on two feet. The entrance of Sky Tower is in the center of Auckland in Hobson Street, a side street of Queens Street.

Auckland Harbour bridge, northern island
For a unique experience you should jump from the Harbour Bridge in Auckland. Although this jump is ‘only’ 40 meters high, you can make it as fun as you want. There are, as it happens, several ways to ‘water touch’. This implies that you yourself can choose how far you touch the water. Do you prefer this with the tips of your fingers, or dare you go with your shoulders? For the real adventurer you can even immerse your entire body, whereupon you are being pulled up to dangle back and forth above the port. Can you keep your eyes open during the jump? Then enjoy the beautiful view of the city for a moment. When you are done dangling, you will be pulled up by means of a special system. For this you don’t have to do anything, thus, if you missed the view during the jump, here’s your second chance. Did you come up safely? Then you get a t-shirt as a souvenir and you can still take a walk over the bridge.
Nice to know: In an attempt to phone and jump at the same time, 12 people have already let their phones fall into the water.

courtesy of shugyou

“Ooooohhhyaaaaheeesss!!!” there were the words that I cried out as I threw myself from three hundred meters in the sky, from a helicopter. My ankles tied to it with only a piece of rubber band. Madness or… It all started during my travels in Australia, where I heard from other travelers of the most exciting (and also exaggerated) stories about Bungee Jumping in New Zealand. I knew of course as an experienced thrill seeker (really, I drove with my tricycle on the highway) what Bungee Jumping was. I have seen it a couple of times when a few people, loudly screaming, threw themselves of a crane. Spectacular to watch, but that was all. Unfortunately my budget didn’t allow me to try it also. But as always: my time will come…

That crane watching experience and the exciting tales I heard here in “down under” went through my head for the rest of my trip in Australia. Afterwards, I already knew that if there would be an opportunity to jump, I would grab it with both hands. The only downside was that all the people who spoke about it, actually jumped. Childish maybe but, it makes it less exclusive. But, then again, what is exclusive nowadays :-( O.K. big deal, the exclusiveness is gone but it’s still a thrill. So, I will be one of many.

After several months of traveling in Australia I flew to the land of the Kiwi’s. The first thing I found out was that kiwi’s are not those hairy pieces of vitamin C fruit, but some strange bird. You never actually see the bird anywhere natural .You see them in the many souvenir shops.

The first time I saw a pub in New Zealand made my head spin. Not from the locally brewed beer, on the contrary, from all those wild and exciting stories that people told me about the things you can do in this country. And I have to say, it’s spectacular. They advised me to go to Queenstown if I want to Bungee Jump. I usually don’t let people recommend anything to me, because it usually leads to touristy places, but I took the advice anyway. Even if it was only because it had cost me 6 beers and one hour of listening in the pub. A true investment, right? From there on, I had to get to Queenstown. This appeared to be very easy because you literally stumbled over all the companies that offered you transportation to Queenstown. So, it is a case of finding the cheapest company.

So, an hour and a half later I sat in a rickety bus with sheep fleece covered seats, on my way to Queenstown. The bus consisted out of a rich variation of locals and budget travelers. People that I usually feel comfortable with. About two hundred kilometers from our final destination we experienced a minor setback. The roads and bridges to Queenstown had been completely swept away by the heavy rain fall of the previous weeks. From local people we heard that it will take at least two weeks before the road will be repaired. The colorful bus group decided to take on another route, which implied that the bus had to make a detour of 1600 kilometers. We just did 900… I tried to find another solution for me, to make a detour of 1600 kilometers was a bit too much. The group didn’t seem to have a problem with it, neither did the locals.

After a lot of asking around and phone calls I found a pilot prepared to fly me with his low-powered aircraft to Lake Wanaka. Approximately two hours from Queenstown. It was a six-person plane; therefore I need to find five other passengers to share the costs. Me, being me, I found four other people within two hours. So, I flew with 4 paying passengers in a six-person plane over the broken roads to Lake Wanaka. A real experience in itself. The pilot, who realized the fun of it all, flew low over the glacier tops, 007-like. On to Queenstown!!!

Queenstown was a bit disappointing for me. I had way too little money for all the fun thrills that you can find there. Bummer, always the same problem. I felt like a small child in a candy store. There was only one thing to do, drink away my problems in the pub. (Yes, as if the problem gets any better from that). Just before I stumbled out of the pub, I bumped into a t-shirt that said BUNGEE CREW. My organizational instinct started to work in full mode. A lot of stories and alcohol later, I was dropped off at my hostel. With, an invitation to Bungee Jump in my pocket.

The following morning, with a hammer pounding in the back of my head, I met the t-shirt according to plan. He hardly recognized me, but all of a sudden it hit him. They are working on a project that aims to make Bungee Jumping from a helicopter into something commercial. Oops, this is just what I want. To jump from a helicopter, from three hundred meters above the ground, with only one rubber band tied to my ankles. I never met anyone, not even in the pub, that could tell that they did that. My adrenalin rushed, just from thinking about it. It will be the first permitted and commercial jump for the organization. In the past, there have been a number of people that have jumped, but for security reasons the government declared a prohibition (a year after my jump the civil Aviation Authority officials of New Zealand decided that helicopter Bungee Jumping is definitively prohibited). It is allowed if you sign a declaration in which you state that the jump is taken at your own risk. I signed several declarations of this type before, so no problem. This type of declaration is usually equivalent to something nice. And a jump of three hundred meters, that is higher than that tower in Paris!

After a lot of organizing it finally happened. The jump or my life!!! The place where it took place is just outside of Queenstown. At that same moment there is a motor show with 5000 visitors nearby. I was therefore some sort of an attraction. The helicopter was being stripped of it doors, since I was to be hanging outside the helicopter with half of my body. The bungee cord was tied to my ankles and I experienced a frightening moment when I realized that the binding is connected to my ankles with Velcro only. The helicopter pilot started the engines. As soon as we were in the air for a couple of meters I noticed how heavy the bungee cord is. The cord is so heavy (70 kilos) that if I hadn’t tied myself with a hook to the helicopter seat I would have been lying on the bottom again. When the Bungee Jumping cord was entirely lifted off the ground I could settle myself better and we increased to an altitude of three hundred meters. From up there it seamed much higher than I thought… To throw yourselves 300 meters down is very much against human nature. Take it from me. You could not have measure my adrenalin level at that moment. Suddenly there was some doubt slipping in my mind. Shit, why now!!!
Once we made it to an altitude of more than 300 meters, we checked the radio that I had on me, (in case of an emergency I can at least tell them what went wrong: -)) The person next to me started the countdown…One, …I started to tremble, two….the tremors in my body increased, three…. shit, that doubt came up again, four…. oh, what the hell, I am going for it, five…… BUNGEE!!!

courtesy of ParaScubaSailor

The charm of paragliding is the simplicity. Although the performances of wings become better each year and the time in which equipment weighed less than 10kg is definitively behind us, one is still able to carry the complete equipment in a single backpack. In the early stages of paragliding, to glide meant to take a sliding flight from the top of a mountain into the valley, and a flight never lasted more than a few minutes. With the current equipment, flights of many hours are more the standard than the exception for experienced pilots, and there are record distances of more than 300 km (measured in a straight line from start to finish) flown in a single flight. The gear still improves and the end of these developments is not yet in sight. Each experienced pilot has its own opinion as to what complete equipment should include. There are several ways to practice this sport; if you climb on foot to a top of 2000 meters above the valley, you need different stuff than when you go up with a ski lift. Nevertheless, we can describe standard equipment:

A. the parapente (paraglider’s - wing):
This wing gives us the capacity to continue to glide. On the ground not more than a piece of cloth, but in the air it becomes device that filled with air generates enough power to keep us from falling to the ground for a while.

B. the harness:
In the early stages this looked mostly like a climbing harness, now it has became a comfortable seat with extra pockets to store the back pack in which we take everything with us. A modern harness is provided with back protection and a spot for a spare parachute.

C. the spare parachute:
For the extreme case in which the paraglider no longer flies we take a spare parachute with us. This can be opened in a few seconds and ensures that we still reach the ground alive.

D. instruments:
An altitude meter is generally obligatory, and in fact always desirable. A radio during training is indispensable, but also after training a radio is used for contact with other pilots and people on the ground.

E. helmet and gloves.

With the described equipment it is possible to go up in the air. Some pilots also have a special flying outfit, extra equipment (GPS, vario meters, speed indicators), provision, first aid kit, etc. One person likes to stick to the basics, whereas the other person takes a whole survival kit. Fortunately you still have the freedom to choose in which way you do this sport.

Who can practice this fantastic sport?
Almost everyone can learn to fly with a paraglider. The minimum age is usually 16 years. Minimum body weight is usually 45 kilograms. Good health is important considering the physical effort and the (risk) nature of the sport and must be determined by means of a medical declaration. Of course a good sense of responsibility is also a requirement. Although guys still account for the biggest number in this sport, there are also a growing number of active women. Young people generally learn the sport more easily, but also people above 50 without experience can still glide successfully.

As paragliding evolves so does its equipment. One had many factors to consider before renting or even buying there own paragliding wing. The wing is after all the center of this sport. We have tried to put together a summery of how it is best to purchase and maintain your wing, and also a few other related topics. Enjoy your flight! Wing choices
First you need to decide which DHV rating you want to practice and then make a list of all the wing manufacturers and their newest products that fit in your desired DHV rating. Calculate the worst DHV rating related to your speed system and your weight. If you don’t want to buy a new harness, then exclude wings without certification for your harness. (GX, GH). Look at the well known wing manufacturers. Restrict your list to wings that are less than a year in production, so that you buy the most recent technique. You should have about 5-6 wings on your list. Don’t look at prices because they are very similar. Exclude wings that are not assessed in well-known magazines. Find the one that appears to have the best achievements is comfortable to control and is easy to set up. Don’t give too much attention to a demonstration flight, because even a competition wing can behave nicely under calm circumstances and collapse in windy weather, this doesn’t make it a bad wing. Some colors can stand UV better than others. Buy at a reliable dealer, have faith in your choice and pleasure with flying, but don’t send an e-mail all over the world in an attempt to persuade others that you have bought the best wing.

How to determine which wing is suitable for you
If you fly less than 50 hours per year, you shouldn’t fly a higher classified wing than AFNOR "Standard" (equivalent to DHV 1-2, up to 2). This applies also if you already have a 10 years flying record.  If you fly less than 200 hours per year, you shouldn’t fly a DHV 3 wing (AFNOR "Competition"). This applies also if you had one in the past.

Adjust chest strap
By adjusting your strap to a loose hold you achieve the following advantages: More return of roll movement of your wing to your harness and easier steering with weight shifting. If you tighten the chest strap you will have the following effects: Less roll movement in your harness (apparent stability), a bigger risk of turned risers after your wing folded in asymmetrically or a negative spiral. Modifying these adjustments has a hinge effect on the two wing halves. 38 centimeters heart on heart between the lower side of the risers is a good adjustment for 90% of the wings. Otherwise follow the indications of the manufacturer. This adjustment and those of the harness are the 2 factors which make the difference between a landing with a smile or a green face after a turbulent flight.

Wing degradation due to humidity
If there is still moisture on your wing when you store it, mildew will set in and this will accelerate the deterioration process of your wing strongly. This is one of the worst things that can happen to your wing. Wings may become wet in flight, but always store them dry. Never fly in order to dry your wing. It also bad to store your wing compressed. (By imposing something heavy on it or by rolling it tightly).
A large, well folded thrash bag doesn’t need a lot of space and helps you keep your wing dry when it rains.

A tear
Oh no! You have made a small tear in your wing. But you think that it is so small, that repairing is not necessary. My engineering background reminds me that even a small hole can reduce the strength of the material by a factor of 3. And at the end of a tear the stress on the material can increase even by a factor of 10. It is better if you use that special self-adhesive tape (made for paraglide pilots) that comes in a repair set with your wing to repair damage as soon as you discover it. When the tear is longer than 5 cm, it is better to have it professionally repaired. Pay attention that you don’t use ordinary tape such as duct tape because this will damage your wing.

Sunlight
There is a consensus amongst paragliding professionals that a wing is good for 300 hours of direct sunlight exposure. Therefore if you want to enjoy your wing longer you must protect it when you don’t use it. You can use a small tarp if you don’t want to fold it up. But at least bunch it up, and hide the top surface close to the leading edge (the most important wing part for its performances), by exposing the bottom side instead.

Clean your wing
You have a dirty stain on your wing, and you cannot clean it with water only? Leave the stain. Never try to clean your wing with chemicals that can damage the sustainability of the material in the long run. To remove dirt from your wing you can hang the trailing edge of your wing on a washing line, using clothes pins, so that the leading edge is above the ground. Start cleaning from the middle by cleaning your cells. Now remove the dirt that gathered in the cup of the leading edge. At the tips, remove the dirt through the cross vents.

Keep lines in place
If your lines are loose around the quick links of your risers, you can easily solve this for a little money with rubber O-rings from a hardware store.

Adjust brake lines
The ideal length of a brake line is achieved when the brake lines are deflected by about 30cm (1 foot) at the center of their length, while your brakes are released and you have fully activated your accelerator. See to it that the back of your wing goes up if your accelerator is activated, so don’t adjust your brake lines if your accelerator is not activated.

Leading edge hits the ground
This can happen during a landing or on the ground. Did you hear someone shout "whack"? If the front of your wing falls hard and straight on the ground, the pressure in your wing can exceed borders of the design limit and cause damage in its cell walls, seams, and diagonal ribs. If you experienced such a landing then check your wing or let it be checked.

Salt water damage
 If you have fallen in salt water, you must clean all your equipment with sweet water. Many components will otherwise deteriorate, because salt crystals remain after salt water disappeared and these crystals are harder than the Kevlar fibers in your lines that will wear by abrasion. To clean your lines with sweet water may be insufficient to remove all salt crystals. It might be necessary to replace all lines. Electronic equipment that is immersed has to be cleaned with distilled water as soon as possible. Let it dry before you use your equipment again. If you frequently fly above salty water you can place the electric equipment in impermeable bags.

Flies
If you fly in places with many mosquitoes and you use repellant oil, remember that some of these products can damage your wing material. Always wipe your hands clean before you touch your wing.

Don’t break lines
Don’t walk on your lines, especially not on rocky ground. The fibers in the line can break and you will not see it, because of the protective layer. Don’t pinch lines. A small knot might reduce line strength.

Folding your wings
Don’t always fold your wing symmetrically to the middle cell, because this can cause constant stress on the center cell (center cell always to the outside). Protect the rigidification in the leading edge by superposing it during span-wise folding and making it part of the same fold during chord-wise folding.

Back protection
If you have a harness with a rigid Kevlar back protection, contemplate replacing it with a softer material. Kevlar back protectors were popular between 1992 and 1997, but medical tests have shown that they concentrate more load.

Emergency kit
Things that belong in your kit:
A role of 300 yards (approximately 270 meters) dental floss. It is strong, takes little space, and you can use it to pick up rescue resources from people on the ground when you hang in a tree. A charged-up radio, set to a common frequency. A whistle to call for aid. A small tool to be able to loosen your riser links to the lines. It may also help you to obtain your wing from a tree. A flexible "rope" saw, if you fly over hard wood trees (you need two hands to operate). For cutting into trees with resin (such as pine), a saw with a folding rigid blade is better (can be used with one hand). Industrial strong pain killers. If you crash away from a road, it can be your last chance to prevent shock and to keep you clear-headed.

During rock climbing you ascend/descend steep rock formations. Climbers usually use gear and safety equipment especially designed for this purpose. Endurance, strength, and mental control are needed to cope with tough, dangerous physical challenges. The knowledge of climbing techniques and the use of essential safety gear are crucial. Abseiling
Abseiling (rappel) is a technique where you descend very fast along a rope using an eight, a grigri, or another lowering device. It is a technique which is also used by firefighters and the army. You let yourself be lowered down backwards from the top part of the rock. When you achieve a good angle from the rock you push yourself off by folding the knees and stretching them again, after that you let the rope pay out. You block the rope again when you touch the rock with your feet again. Then you bend your knees (to absorb the shock) and you push yourself off again to get further down.
 
The use of the eight
The most used (and probably one of the oldest) descend- and security device is the eight. It is used both to descend (on a single or double rope) and to protect. It is a multifunctional device on which many variations have been made, and it is an old survivor in the ever developing climbing world. Its use for descending is rather simple. Even so, you have to pay attention, because a small mistake can have severe consequences. Here is the technique for right handed people. You take the rope; on the left-hand side on which the (other) climber is hanging, or the rope that is hanging on to the wall. On the right-hand side is the free end of the rope. You make a loop and insert it, from the bottom to the top, through the biggest opening of the eight. Then you lay the loop around the bottom opening of the eight. After this you put a karabiner through the bottom opening of the eight, so that the rope can no longer slip away.

Top-roping
Top-roping is securing method. It is the most used method for indoor climbing. In this method the climber hangs on a rope with their harness. This rope runs entirely to the top and there it runs through a fraction point (generally a pulley). Below you will find the safety person who blocks the rope with an eight, a grigri, or another safety device. As the climber progresses up on the rock wall, the safety person releases more rope, if the climber falls the safety person pulls the rope through the blocking mechanism so that the climber continues to hang in the air, loosing little height.

Rock climbing using sets
This is another way to secure rock climbers: climbing using sets. A climber starts on the ground with a number of sets. The number of sets depends on the distance. Roughly speaking you can use a set per three to four meters, always take some spare sets. The climber hangs on a rope together with the safety person. When the climber gets higher, the safety person gradually lets the rope pay out. After approximately three to four meters the climber comes to its first fraction point. A fraction point generally exists in the form of a pin that is attached in the wall. When these are not available, the climber can attach one himself by placing a "nut" or a "friend" in the rock wall. A set will come through this fraction point and the climber will put the rope through the other side of the set. Now he climbs further to a next fraction point where he applies the same technique. When the climber falls, the rope is blocked by the safety person below with the climber suspended from the sets. The last set where the rope passes through is a sort of pulley, where the rope can slide through.