It’s hard to explain the emotions I was going through as I began my ascent to the top of the Auckland Bridge in Auckland, New Zealand. It was only 3 weeks before this that I jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet. Why would jumping off a bridge from just 130 feet up scare me?
We’ll, all I can say is that jumping off a bridge was far more terrifying to me than jumping out of a plane. My heart was pounding and my palms were sweaty. As the instructor told me what I needed to do, I felt almost paralyzed. My main hope was to make it back up to the bridge.
As my name was called, I remember that feeling in my chest. Not just butterflies but thousands of angry ones fluttering around in my stomach. I could imagine my body wondering why I would put it through something like this.
I had the bungy strapped to my ankles like ankle cuffs which made it hard to walk out to the ledge. I felt like I was a prisoner being walked out to the plank by pirates waiting to throw me to the bottom of the sea.
There I was, finally reaching the ledge of the platform, standing more than 130 feet above the ocean. The instructor told me to smile for the camera which I tried nervously to do while all my muscles were concentrating on the fall I was about to experience. My knees were trembling out of control and I felt like I wouldn’t have the energy or the ability to jump if I wanted to.
I remember that the instructor told me to jump as soon as they said 3 because:
A. If I hesitated, I may never jump; and
B. They monitor all the sailboats passing underneath and wouldn’t want me jumping into one.
and with that, they began the count.
3…2…1….AHHH
Down I go as gravity yanks me aggressively towards the ocean. The air speeding past my face while the ocean became closer and closer. I’ve never felt freedom like this before. Nothing whatsoever was on my mind. Complete bliss.
It was only about 3 seconds (or so it felt) until the cord stretched and I got dunked into the ocean. Man! It doesn’t get much more exhilarating than seeing the ocean coming towards you and then getting dunked into it.
I flung back up into the air realizing I had just jumped off a bridge and lived. I bounced twice before pulling this little amazing lever in my ankle cuff which allowed me to swing upright in the harness. I was now hovering over Auckland harbour watching all the great sailboats sail around me.
I felt alive.
Like I had just accomplished one of the scariest things I would ever do in life.
The only thing I could think of when they pulled me to the top was to do it again! But this time backwards!
Once again, I was given the speech and this time backed out onto the platform while the guide held me over the edge. He counted to 5 but tricked me by letting me go at 2. Bastard. 🙂 It was amazing being able to watch myself leave the bridge and fall backwards into the ocean as the bridge became smaller and smaller. Everything happens so quickly. I did another dunk and felt I could do this for the rest of my life.
Next time I will need to go higher. Maybe Macau where the highest jump in the world stands about 1000 feet above downtown. Mmmm maybe.
Enough about my jump though. I want others to experience this thrilling adventure and feel this immense form of freedom by making themselves leap off a bridge.
So it seems no better a time than in Portland, Oregon during the World Domination Summit hosted by Chris Guillebeau.
There are already some amazing adventures being planned including jumping out of a plane (which I might do for the second time as well) and hiking up a mountain with Tyler Tervooren.
I did some research and found a bungy jump just 45 minutes from Portland. It’s the highest jump site in the U.S. and is situated 200 feet above a majestic river in the middle of a beautiful emerald green forest. If we get a big enough group, they can arrange transportation.
It costs $107 (including tax) for one jump or $140 for 2 jumps.
The only difference with this jump is its not by the ankle. The harness is attached to your waist and torso making it supposedly more comfortable. I’m not sure which is better.
This is your chance to not only attend an inspiring World Domination Summit with 500 amazing people but to also jump off a bridge and fall 200 feet of awesomeness. If your not going to be at the summit but will be in Portland, feel free to come!
It’s life changing, It’s epic, and it’s a prime time to make the leap with other amazing people who are attending the World Domination Summit.
I’d like to organize it on a different day than the skydiving trip so that people have the opportunity to do both, including me.
If your interested in going, fill out this form as soon as you can so I can get an idea of the amount of people wanting to come as well as try organizing it to be the monday or tuesday after the Summit or possibly even before the summit if enough people are around. Hopefully we can get this to work out at some point around the conference.
PS: Wanna see a video of me jumping off a bridge? Check back in a few days. I’m having some issues converting the video right now but will have it up soon. You can check out my youtube page in the meantime and watch me jump out of a plane.
Nick Laborde says
I already agreed to jump out a plane at #wds so who knows, maybe I’ll join you too.
Matt says
hahah both are awesome! I might do the skydive again to…. Its awesome!
Joel says
Might be interested on Monday. Plane Jumping is probably happening Friday.
Matt says
Nice! Got lots of people going? Man – It’s so exhilarating!
TomVein says
I’ve done that exact same jump only 2 hours after landing. It was amazing. I loved walking underneath the bridge.
Matt says
haha awesome! Walking underneath the bridge? after the jump? I haven’t done one that wasn’t by the ankles. It’s still good considering it’s around the waist?
Nicky Hajal says
This somehow scares me much more than skydiving (which I’ll be doing for the second time on Friday of WDS). I’ve always wondered if I’d have the balls to bungee – so, I’m tentatively signed up but slightly shaking in my boots. 🙂
-Nicky
Matt says
haha I know what you mean Nicky. I went skydiving in New Zealand and was okay with it. When I went bungy jumping 3 weeks later, my legs were trembling so bad I could barely walk out to the ledge. Much scarier for some reason. I’ll be joining you for both at WDS!