'Butt slide' to amplify thrill for adrenaline-seekers

Sydney, June 25 (ANI): The world's highest cliff-jump operator has developed a unique new jump style that offers adrenaline-seekers another dimension and a whole new level of scariness.

In what is believed to be a world first, Shotover Canyon Swing's jumpmasters are "'stoked'" over the company's newest jump style, the Slide.

The Queenstown-based thrill ride is already renowned as an "undie-staining", high-speed adrenaline activity that involves throwing caution to the wind by launching off a platform at the top of a very high cliff edge.

And now customers can literally slide off that cliff edge from a height of 109 metres.

"We're lucky to have very dedicated staff who are committed to finding innovative jumpstyles, and very willing customers happy to enjoy something they can't do anywhere else in the world!" the Sydney Morning Herald quoted General Manager Matt Hollyer as saying.

"'The slide evolved out of the efforts of our new ideas and testing team, who put in a mammoth effort in our stunning outdoors laboratory, perfecting the ultimate jump style, while keeping professionalism and safety always top of mind.'After a lot of testing on our in-house lab rats, otherwise known as the sales and marketing team, we're pretty sure by the scream decibel level that this is the best way to jump we've found yet," Hollyer said.

Customers get great speed acceleration from the top of a relatively short aluminium slide. When they reach the end of the slide, they accelerate faster into free fall, before transitioning into a high-speed giant swing over the Shotover River.

"'When we tried it out, we knew we had a winner," he said.

"It's a real sensory experience, especially if you go for the ultimate slide, the Abattoir, as you slide off lying head-first on your back like a piece of meat at the freezing works.

"'Other variations on offer for keen swingers include the 'slide and fly', where you go forwards lying down on your stomach, and the 'butt slide', where you slide off forwards sitting on your bottom.

"We're happy to report that the new slide jump has been rated a 5 on the scale of scariness. That means it's very, very scary," Hollyer said.

While the 'butt slide' and the 'slide and fly' are already on the jump menu, 'the abattoir' will be coming soon.

The company's more than 70 standard jump styles offer adrenaline-seekers a solo or tandem experience, in which they can reach speeds of 150kmh as the rocky cliff-face rushes past them in a 60-metre vertical freefall, before the ropes smoothly pendulum them into a giant 200m swing in a picturesque location above the Shotover River.

Swingers are secure in a chest and seat harness and swing on two independent ropes, each with a breaking strain of 2.8 tonnes, enough to lift four cars. (ANI)