Zipline at ZipOrlando!
Driving out to Kissimmee to go ziplining at ZipOrlando, I stopped to think. I’ve been to the top of many structures – mountains, volcanoes, WTC, Empire State building, etc. I love the views, and have never been concerned with the height. I do, however, have this crazy thing with my feet not leaving the ground! It terrifies me! With this in mind, was I absolutely crazy to think I could go ziplining?
You see, a friend had gone ziplining on vacation and it looked like fun. So with an open mind, not considering my little quirk, I decided to bring it up to my family and was genuinely excited when I realized we had reservations at ZipOrlando! After we got there, I was just as excited! With the added bonus of guides that were really spirited and high energy, I knew this was a great idea, and this place was the perfect choice!!
Before we went on our adventure, Carl and Dave gave us the run down. We were going on Florida’s longest, fastest, and highest zipline. It is also the longest tour, and double layered, as well. The overall course has 8 ziplines ranging from 225 – 950 feet long, upwards of 65 feet off the ground; dual racing zips; double layered zips; and three suspension bridges totaling more than 300 feet. In total, we were looking at almost a mile of zipping cables and the tour would be about three hours long. That’s right, a three hour tour!! (yea! Where have I heard that before?!)
Locked in my harness, I climbed the first tower and watched as my family members leaped off (including my 11 year old niece)! Then it was my turn. Without trepidation I stepped up. Then it happened. Was it fear? It didn’t feel like fear. It was a comfortable feeling, yet still uneasy. I hadn’t really thought about it…seriously though, jumping off a platform? Isn’t that what we spend our lives avoiding? Isn’t this where Wile E. Coyote looks helplessly into the camera?
As I listened to all the kind and coaxing words around me, I tried to respond but was engaged in my own thoughts. I thought back to my psych class and I was exhibiting all the signs. This was fight or flight!! There was the initial adrenaline rush, in the event I needed strength and speed against whatever threatened me. Then the cortisol – I could feel the rise in my blood sugar (extra fuel), my heart was racing (giving extra oxygen to my muscles), and I started to sweat (to avoid overheating). The rest of my brain acutely tuned in to my perceived threat, I started to relax as my nerves released endorphins. Ten minutes (it felt like an hour) later, my body started to absorb it all. I was calming down and taking slow, measured breaths. My frontal lobe was coming out of the fog and I could now be rational…at least more rational. I could hear those encouraging voices again. I no longer felt threatened, and decided to jump.
Long story short…I went ziplining on Christmas Eve and it rocked**!! That first asterisk denotes the warm and supportive comfort level that was provided by my family (thanx P–you have NO idea)!! The second asterisk is the level of patience shown by Carl and Dave (again, no small feat!). These guys were fun, funny, confident, and put me at ease. They stopped being guides and were friends by the end of the night! I could have walked away, not having had one of the most exciting days of my life, but I didn’t. Thanx to my touring party, I had a chance to rappel off a platform, and soar through the air! The view from the towers were incredible. Seeing the sun set from 75 feet in the air is an experience everyone should have! While it’s still a little scary, it’s totally worth the anxiety.
If you want to experience ziplining, and need the kind of encouragement and support I got, see my friends at ZipOrlando: www.zipOrlando.com, they’ll help you reach heights you didn’t think possible!!!
