“Heights are not my thing, which makes being at this adrenaline-junky heaven a conundrum. It all stems from an accusation that our family never does anything exciting and couldn’t we, for once, do something different? Asked what they would liek to do, our five-year-old twins Nathalie and Gabriel said "climb tress”. Searching for something ‘different’ we found Aerial Extreme!
Now that we’re here receiving a safety briefing, it’s no consolation that we’re doing the easier three-metre high "Budding Extremist" course because of the age and height of our children. Walking across a rope even three metres up still looks terrifying.
Smelling fear (well, mine at least), instructor Neil quickly reassures us. "Don’t worry, you’re attached to the safety wire at all times." The kids are off before we can chest-beat "aaaah-eee-ahhh-eee-ahhhhhh" – Gabriel first, followed by his sister, with grown-up slagging behind. Their initial caution gives way to carefree abandon, hot-footing over stepping stones and scrambling across high mesh climbing frames. Even falling fails to dampen Nathalie’s spirits. Cycling, legs mid-air, waiting for assistance she squeals with glee, "I love dangling!”
The muscles in my left arm ache from clutching the safety rope for dear life but i tell my husband Marc: "I’m actually starting to enjoy this!" Course completed with nothing broken and filled with a sense of satisfaction at having done something "different”, it should have been enough. But then Neil points to a 45ft high tower called the "Fan Descender”. "Who wants to do that?" he asks. "Me," the twins squeal. My husband’s no fool, claiming that the car metre needs topping up. I, too, want to wimp out, protesting that the twins are too young, but apparently there’s no age restriction.
That’s how a vertigo sufferer ends up toes perched at the edge of a high platform as Neil counts down "one, two, three, JUMP." That’s how time freezes, chidlren expectant and mother reluctant, but against all odds lift-off happens. Not only that, the white-knuckle descent gives such a buzz that even a thud landing fails to bring me back down to earth.
We all had a ball (yep, the twins fan descended too) and Aerial Extreme plans to open more centres next year. With three out of their courses open all seasons, dress up warm as it’s a great outdoor winter activity. According to Neil, a course made slippery from rain or sleet can be even more exciting! It is a great venue for older children too as they also have a challenging 10m high "Extremist" course. So would we come back? You bet. Would I go "extreme”? Not sure. Would I jump from the 90ft fan descender coming next year? Hmmm…..”
