One of Scotland’s most iconic industrial structures is to become the second official venue in the country- for bungee jumping! (http://www.titanclydebank.com/) 

The A-Listed Titan Crane on the River Clyde (http://www.clydewaterfront.com/visiting-the-waterfront/river-clyde-glasgow) helped launch some of the most famous ships in the world in its heyday.

Now it is getting ready to launch thrill-seekers from its famous cantilever in an innovative partnership which could net millions for the local economy.

Negotiations have been on-going between Titan Crane Clydebank and award-winning Perthshire adventure company, Highland Fling Bungee, since the turn of the year. (http://bungeejumpscotland.co.uk/bungee/)

The deal was signed this week and the first bungee jumpers will plummet 150ft towards the Clyde in a soft launch in late May before the official opening in June 2012.

Bungee jumpers at the Titan site will hurl themselves from a movable scaffold platform fixed to the end of the cantilever.

Operators Highland Fling Bungee believe the development will reinforce Scotland’s reputation as an adventure sport haven, luring international visitors.

“This is really going to bring people here to the west of Scotland,” said Highland Fling Bungee Managing Director, Murray Trail.

“It is not just people in Clydebank, Glasgow or the west of Scotland; it opens up bungee jumping to huge areas of the population in England, not to mention international visitors as well.”

Director John Mason-Strang added: “It is an iconic site with a tremendous history and the restoration work that has been done here is amazing. The potential is huge and this will only help raise the profile. This project is also an example of partners using joined-up thinking to bring new life to what is a fantastic heritage site.”

Highland Fling Bungee created a benchmark in 2011 when it opened Britain’s first permanent bungee jump site at Killiecrankie, Perthshire, with partners National Trust for Scotland.

Since then, 5500 extreme sport enthusiasts from five continents have taken the plunge, with a £7.5 million spin-off expected for Perthshire’s coffers by May 2013.

In the initial few months of the Titan Crane project, jumps will take place on the first weekend of every month but will be gradually increase through the season.

As well as jumping, participants and their friends will be able to visit the exhibits at the crane summit or use the ground floor café and visitor centre.

Titan Crane Clydebank Operations Manager Claire McGinley says it is win-win for all parties and an exciting adventure for Clydebank.

“It puts Clydebank on the UK map for bungee jumping, an increasingly popular extreme sport.

“It is also great way to showcase what we do here in promoting the town’s great shipbuilding heritage and the people of Clydebank want to see more activity like this on the riverside.

“This will bring people from all walks of life and the view the jumpers will get from the top will be amazing.

“They will see over to Glasgow Airport and the city centre on one side and way off to Dumbarton on the other. It is fantastic for Clydebank, the Greater Glasgow area and for Scotland.”

Today we met a couple, not your average couple. First we met James, who we thought was the bus driver for the Senior Citizens group. Turns out he wasn’t!! Then we met Lorna. Although James did all the talking Lorna was the main topic of conversation.

James and Lorna were here 6 years ago to do the Flying Fox, James thought he would bring Lorna Back to GC to do the Giant Swing together.

Tragically Lorna passed away in March 2011, and James has returned to scatter some of her ashes in the Mokai canyon. Lorna hangs out in a beautiful oak and mango wood urn (made by James). With each panel telling a tale of their amazing love story over the seven years that they were together.

James showed up in a 6 berth campervan that he got a good deal on. After a couple of hours of hanging out James got his go pro on and his bandanaful of Lorna and was ready to swing. There were some very cool shots taken (check them out)! And a few laughs, James came back up laughing with a mouthful of Lorna’s ashes that had blown back in his face!!  James reckoned that Lorna would of loved it.

Lorna’s ashes have been scattered in a waterfall in Thailand, The Blue Mountains in Oz and now At Gravity Canyon in NZ. James has a few more stops to make before his trip is complete.

Thank you James for sharing your beautiful story with the Gravity Canyon Crew and may your last journey together be everything you need it to be.

I decided to call in to Gravity Canyon on my electric bike ride of the north island. The friendly staff let me charge my bike up for the ride back to Taihape. I build electric bikes for people all around New Zealand through my businessEVLAB. The bike I am riding here is a Yuba Cargo bike. It has a large rear carrier for loading with kids or camp gear. The electric motor means I can maintain 25-30km/h even up hills on my journey. I can wear casual clothes as my effort pedalling is relaxed. On this bike I can get about 80km riding per charge. Check out my journey at my EVLAB facebook page. Right, time for a bungy!



Facebook Update* 
I have had an exciting day of pushing myself and equipment to its limits. I set a top speed record down the mangaweka hill of 75km/h, sitting back on the carrier, head down low, arms and legs tucked in. Awesome. 75kg bike, 70kg rider 75km/h. After that i rode bueatiful country road to gravity canyon, hung out with the crew there, transended my fears and jumped off an 80m bridge with a rubber band tied to my feet. Got to taihape late, went to go to town to get some food, plugged the battery in, in the dark, got the pos and neg wrong, and BAM! Blew the plugs to vapor. Worse than that it exploded the on board battery protection system. Hmmm. I used some alligator clips to bypass the system to charge, but will have to go to a garage and solder the main output cable before the protection circuit. That will mean, for the rest of the trip, no battery protection, i will have to be super careful not to over stress the battery. I dont want to have to ride on one battery.
 

04.03.12 …The sky’s had cleared after the “BOMB” had hit.  Driving out to the site that day was nearly like doing a gauntlet run, trees everywhere.  We did make it.

Our monster invasion of brute trucks to cute truck were due in that day and nothing, I mean nothing was going to stop them.  They started the Saturday from Marton via Turakina Valley road (with their chainsaws at the ready) to get to kune for the night.  Then out to us for lunch on Sunday.

With our BBQ all set to go and the adjustments made to the cafe, we get a radio call from the Fox Alan “Megatron had arrived”, don’t think he a transformer fan, cause he meant Optimus.  Ants and I look up and going over the bridge is a convoy of trucks.

So with the BBQ cranked up patties, sausages and the onions smelling awesome.  Needing a break from the BBQ I grab the camera and head to the car park and spy a truck I can climb up on to take some pic’s.  Going up was easy coming back down was a different story…  Anyways when pic’s were put on the screen they loved looking at their trucks J.

FEEDING TIME

All we can say is truckies like their food!!! Not many if any left L awwwe poor crew.  Good thing I had a taste test he he he.

After lunch it was decided that Graeme (the organiser of their trip) was to do a swing.  Don’t think our crew had seen someone run out the front door that fast.  So Chris and Vic stood up to the plate and took one for the team.  We got their trucks up on the bridge to support them as well.  The guys loved it with the awesome facials to boot.

After a few yarns with the crew and some new memories for all, the convoy started up and head on their way home. 

“Dude where’s my red chev”.

It all began with a huge hiss and a roar, strange faces, strange accents, STRANGERS from all over the globe made their way out to Gravity Canyon, willing to throw themselves off a perfectly fine bridge. For the next month and a half the site was chaos, English men, Irish men, Namibians drinking our liquor fridge dry, putting smiles on our faces and keeping us on our toes. It was great to see these people brightening up our country with their rainbow coloured spandex outfits, trying so hard to hold in our giggles while harnessing up customers (it just seems to accentuate part of the male anatomy.)   We have video footage of these people singing there national anthems for discounted swings, some better than others. As all the supporters were strong believers in their country our pride was just as powerful. As the 23^rd of October quickly crept up the day of the final had finally arrived, our lovely customers had made their way up country to Auckland ready for the big day. 9-8 to NEWZEALAND!!! Although the final was such a close game we still had mad respect for our French brothers, so being the kind kiwis that we are we offered all French passport holders a half price bungy. A couple weeks later we are sad to say that everyone had returned home to their own countries, on a brighter side our liquor fridge isn’t so empty anymore J - over and out.

As part of supporting our local community we open up our doors 2 terms a year on Friday’s for a Work experience student to come and spend the day with the crew.  Here is what today’s Work Experience Student had to say about his experience;

Hi my name is Hamuera Kakukaka, today I did careers at Gravity Canyon, and it was the best career I’ve done all term.  I did heaps of awesome things and jobs, I also got to do the flying fox, and it was a massive buzz.

I didn’t know much about Gravity Canyon until today, but I learnt heaps of exciting things and worked with heaps of cool people.

Thanks for your feedback Hamuera !  We enjoyed having you spend the day with us and who knows maybe one day in the future you will be part of our crew? 

On Saturday the 13th of August,  Gravity Canyon ise holding its annual Local’s Day!

All activities are half price all day.

To be a local you must live in the Manawatu, Rangitikei, Wanganui or Ruapehu regions, to receive the discount you must bring proof of your address.

You can ride the World’s most Amazing Flying Fox, Jump of the North Islands highest Bungy Jump or Swing from the North Islands most Extreme Giant Swing.

There will be a charity sausage sizzle as well.

Age and weight restrictions apply so please visit our website or our Facebook page for more info..

First Aid Day 

Twas (imagine an Irish voice speaking) an early start for the crew at MGC (Mokai Gravity Canyon(we like to use brackets)) yesterday,  for the annual first aid refresher course.  The course is standard for a majority of workplaces in the NZ, benefitting the crew professionally and personally. It is a requirement of being employed at Gravity, along with Basic Swift Water Rescue, Bi annual medicals for Jump Masters and annual medicals for the rest of the crew, pre employment and random drug testing. Feeling safe yet???

 Sandra Spier from Medi Train was our tutor and as always did an awesome job, teaching and answering our serious and ridiculous questions.

Check out the photos …

Nine weeks ago 123 girls entered the competition to become Miss Tui, they have now narrowed it down to 8 finalists and the chick representing the Manawatu region is 23 year old Krystal Leigh Shortland. There are two events left in the Miss Tui competition: Tui’s got talent and Tui degrees of separation. For Krystal’s Tui’s got talent event she has decided to come and visit us here at Gravity Canyon Sunday the 8th of May to try out our 80m Bungy Jump. Will she be able to do it??? We will let you know!!!