The Skyline at Canada Olympic Park

I had lived in Calgary, Canada for 17 years of my life before moving down South to the US and on a recent visit back there was introduced to a great new feature at Canada Olympic Park (the park was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics). It's called The Skyline and is a zip line that travels from the top of the 90 meter ski jump to the ground.

The ride costs $49 Canadian and is worth every single penny. The attraction begins at guest services where you have to sign a rather too detailed waiver which goes into all the ways you could possibly be killed, maimed, or injured on the ride. I know they have to cover themselves from liability but it does very little to calm the nerves that you already have from the prospect of the ride you are going on. That is followed by a trip to the base of the ride where guides explain all the harness and other safety equipment to you, again going into graphic detail of how badly you can be injured if you don't follow all their guidelines (everything from broken wrists to splitting your head open, to biting through your tongue). All very useful and informative and another great addition to the butterflies in your belly.

You then strap on your harness and helmet and are given a metal bar contraption that you have to carry with you for the duration of your visit (this contaption is strapped over the line and is what propels you down the line and what you cling to for dear life). Then it's off to the training line where you are shown the correct way to sit when on the line and the position you have to get into when coming to the end of the ride (this is very important to remember as I will explain later). One by one you all go down the very gentle training line and the guide at the bottom tell you how your ride and finishing position looked and ways that you may improve them for a better experience.

From there it's off to a minibus that takes you and the other riders up the twisting, turning road to the top of the ski jump area. It's when you get up there and get in the elevator to the top of the launching area that the real jitters set in. You realize at tht point how high up you really are and how windy it is. You step out onto the area where the ski jumpers take off from and have to follow about 10 steps down (the steps are metal and drilled with holes so that you can see the 200 foot straight drop below your feet all too clearly) to the launching area of the Skyline. I opted to go second from our group as my fear of heights was getting to the point that I was thinking of backing out.

The guide there helps you get comfortable in your harness, attaches your bar and again explains the need to get into the proper braking position to void injury. The position involves getting as horizontal as possible with knees bent and tucked, head tucked into your chest, and arm stretched straight whilst holding on to the bar. The reason for doing this is to brace against the impact at the bottom. You basically go from 120-140 km/hr to 0 and the impact was compared to being hit by 2, 300lb linebackers at the same time. You barely have time to acknowledge that before you are off. At that point the nerves turn to excitement and adrenaline and the next 15-20 seconds is an absolute blast. I was able to exeute my braking position pretty well and came off unscathed. You than have another mild zipline ride which takes you back to the base where you explain how horrible and terrifying the whole ordeal was to the people who are waiting their turn....a cruel bit of revenge for what you just went through.

It really is a great, fun little adventure and I would highly recommend it. The only other thing I'd like to have seen would have been the ability to photograph or videotape the whole ride but that they be something they do in the future. Still worth the money though and the only advice I'd give is to reserve a spot in advance or get there early as it is a very popular attraction.