I think it’s safe to assume everyone has been on a swing. Most people have been to a fair and seen those trampolines that have harnesses and you can do flips in.
Mix those two together and add some extreme. You might get a general idea of what the CIMI SkyCoaster is like.
This year, the camp introduced the newest edition of CIMI equipment. The SkyCoaster is essentially, a giant swing. It stands about 30 feet tall (same as a tyrannosaurs rex) and is located behind the rock wall in the eucalyptus grove near campus.
There is a pull crew and a catcher on the ground. The camper straps into a full body harness, climbs a ladder, and is hooked in to a towline; the pull crew wear climbing harnesses with carabiners secured to the towline and pull the camper up 30 feet in the air.
A ripcord is attached to a pulley system and the camper counts to 3, out loud, so the pull crew can brace themselves before the drop jerks the towline. After pulling the cord, the camper falls 3 feet and swings 26 feet out and up into the air.
The swing goes so high that you can see the ocean over the trees. Lasting from 25-45 swings, the ride ends as the catcher grabs at the camper’s feet to slow them down. As the swing comes to a complete stop, the catcher brings the camper back over to the ladder and unhooks them. Then the first person in the pull crew dons the body harness and is hoisted up.
It’s an AWESOME ride. Quite terrifying the first time, and the harness is just excruciating, but totally worth it. The wind sounds SO loud in your ears and that falling sensation, is 20 times better than any roller coaster you’ve ever been on. I could literally feel my eyes drying out and stinging when I flew up because the air was rushing so fast at my face. The ocean looked incredibly blue, a bright flash before it whirled out of view and the smell of eucalyptus is so strong it made me dizzy and laugh out loud.
Click the links below to see videos of the SkyCoaster!
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