Auckland Sky Jump Insanity - What Was I Thinking?

Auckland is truly stunning. Whilst not the capital city of New Zealand, it is home to one third of the country's population. It's landscape is punctuated by over 50 volcanoes (2 of which I have climbed since my arrival a few days ago) and it is surrounded by water. On Saturday, I headed into central Auckland, to have a look around the more urban areas. The harbour views were stunning (they don't call this the 'city of sails' for nothing) and the CBD (Central Business District) was filled with a hustle and bustle of shoppers, workers and tourists. I noticed a party atmosphere in the air as New Zealand were due to play cricket against Australia, their neighbour and greatest sporting rival, later in the day (for those of you who are not cricket fans - Australia and New Zealand are currently co-hosting the Cricket World Cup and this match was taking place in Auckland.)

Anyway, back to my wander around Auckland city. 

As I explored, I noticed that one building dominated the skyline and I knew I needed to go and investigate. The Auckland Sky Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere and the views from the observation deck are legendary. However, in the country which has set the benchmark for extreme sports and adrenaline pumping activities - I figured the Kiwis would have put it to some kind of alternative use. 

I also knew that if I went, there was a chance - however slim, that I may end up doing something silly!

                                   

                                   

                                                                    Tall, isn't it?

                                   

Some people choose to do a 'Skywalk' around the top deck. You can see the tilted glass panels of the observation gallery just below their feet. They are harnessed in and they literally walk on a narrow gangway attached to an aerial track above their heads, circling the structure at a leisurely pace and drinking in the glory of north New Zealand. They see the stunning views, feel the wind blowing against their faces and they get to lean and sit out in their harnesses, defying gravity without a hand rail in sight. Pretty tame for a Kiwi !

       

       

       

                                                     This looks more interesting!

Of course, the New Zealanders have thought of another use for the Auckland Tower. After all, you cannot have the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere simply used as a viewing platform - oh no. You need to utilise it's immense elevation to the full. Why not convert it into the highest fixed line base jump in the world? All you would have to do is stand on the edge, attach a cable and jump right? Easy.

       

    I felt like Anneka Rice in an episode of 'Treasure Hunt' (a real 80's reference there for anyone 

          my age.) Though my bulge was in a different place thanks to an overly tight harness!

       

So let me get this straight. On a beautifully sunny Saturday morning in New Zealand, I have walked into the Auckland Sky Tower, looked at the extortionate price for jumping from the top and still decided that it is a good idea. I have donned yet another tasteful, all-in-one outfit, ridden the elevator to the 53rd floor and stepped out onto a metal skyway 192 metres above the city of Auckland (where one third of New Zealand's population are merrily going about their business or drinking beer and waiting for the cricket to begin.)

Two Kiwi ladies are talking to me, checking my harness, calibrating the system to accommodate a 6'2" bloke who weighs 88 kilos in all the gear - the number written large on my wrist in black marker pen to avoid mistakes - and I am not hearing a word they are saying. I am looking down. "Don't look down. Look out," says the girl who is now leading me to edge of the jump platform. She straps a Go Pro camera to my wrist and says "point this at yourself all the way down - you're the cameraman." I continue to look down.

Before I know it I am stood at the very edge with my toes well over the lip of the metal walkway, staring at the ground far below. At this point I decide that I shall not jump after all. It doesn't matter about the money - they can keep that for the inconvenience I have caused them, I will just quietly step back, get unharnessed, apologise profusely for wasting their time and re-enter the building. The Kiwi girl shouts into my ear "don't look down - look out. I will say three-two-one jump and on the command jump - go - do not hesitate. Go first time." 

I continue to look down. 

My mouth is very dry, though I feel close to being sick. I look out at the view. It is stunning. A friend told me when I discussed bungee jumps and the like with him in a pub months ago, before I left the UK, that the trick was not to think about it - just to do it. I find myself thinking about it - a lot. My brain, which had begun by politely asking my body what it thought it was doing, is now screaming 'what the bloody hell do you think you are playing at - get away from the edge?!' I follow my friends advice and I stop thinking. I stop looking down. I look out. Every muscle in my body is clenched. 

The girl shouts "THREE - TWO - ONE - JUMP!" 

I jump.

     

And I fall. 192 metres in 11 seconds, reaching a speed of 85 km/hr on the way down. The first word out of my lips is a four letter one and it lasts for the three seconds. I continue to swear and yell the whole way down. Some part of my brain is rather pleased that I neither wet myself nor scream hysterically as I fall. Eventually I hit the centre of the bullseye below and I am greeted by laughter and applause from a group of women on a hen do, who are waiting for their bride-to-be to jump next. 

      

      

Just writing this blog has made my palms sweaty and my heart race. When I was unstrapped and stood shakily to my feet I did think that if they immediately offered me a free jump again, I would take it, but as time has gone by - I am no longer sure that I could. When I went inside and climbed out of my jumpsuit I noticed my hands were shaking. They did not stop shaking for more than two hours and made my post jump cup of tea very hard to drink! 

Two people have since asked me why I did it? And I had three answers:-

Partly, it was to do with pride. I wanted to be able to say to others 'Look at me - I jumped from a great height.' I am not very proud of this reason.

Partly, it was to do with my continued re-writing of the 'Paul Burke Rule Book'. I can be spontaneous. I can be reckless. I can do things which I had not planned to do.

But in the main it was to do with seeing whether I would actually jump or not when I was in the position to do so. I did not know if I would be someone who got to the point of jumping and decided not to - or someone who got to the point of jumping and did.

I did, but I really don't think I could do it again!

Paul

        WATCH THE FOLLOWING YOUTUBE VIDEO ! I APOLOGISE FOR MY LANGUAGE !