I don’t normally go for extreme activities myself, but I’m always open to new things and experiences. So when my friend asked me if I wanted to rope jump off the Pedestrian Bridge in Kyiv, I wasn’t completely averse to the idea.
But as the day of the jump drew closer, I got more-and-more nervous, and I started having doubts.
“Am I out of my mind?” I thought, but my sense of commitment wouldn’t let me back out. Another factor was that all my fellow jumpers were men, so I was kind of representing womanhood. To bow out, however gracefully, was not an option. So I got to the big day without chickening out.
Before the jump, I had to wait for my turn for about half an hour. The jump involved getting strapped into a harness, attaching a rope, climbing onto a pedestal and leaping into space. The rope is fixed to an anchor point off to the side, so that when you near the end of the fall the slack of the rope is taken up, the rope’s weight rapidly slows you down, and you start to swing under the bridge, rather than just come to an abrupt halt.
Watching the others go first and waiting my turn actually worked well for me, because my emotions had time to develop from fear to uncertainty, then to calmness, and even to slight impatience. By the time it was my turn, I just wanted to get it over and done with. If I had been the first to jump, I wouldn’t have had time to get through this array of emotions and would have been terrified.
After the staff put the harness on me and fastened the rope, I climbed on the pedestal, crossed myself, and jumped. It was a 26-meter freefall to the River Dnipro.
As I started to swing under the bridge after the fall, I felt quite proud of myself. But the experience wasn’t over yet. I soon heard shouting, and after a few seconds realized it was directed at me.
“Flip over!!!”
“What?!!” I shouted back, or, rather, up.
Much to the amusement of passers-by, the rope had become entangled between my legs in such a way that left me swinging, bottom skyward, with my limbs dangling down like a broken marionette. After I finally forced my body into the proper position, the rope jumping team dragged me back up to the bridge.
Despite my experience, I still think rope jumping is definitely something worth trying. Curiously enough though, the highlight of the day was not the jump itself, but my newly found celebrity status, as I gathered a fair crowd of spectators thanks to practically mooning everyone on Pedestrian Bridge as I swung below it.
If you think I’m exaggerating just watch the video – you will hear the laughter. You can also contemplate my quiet embarrassment.
Compensation came in the form of a compliment from one of the guys from the staff.
“I knew you were special from the moment you tried to put on your helmet the wrong way round,” he said.
I jumped from the Pedestrian Bridge back in May 2015, but the Bez Mezh (Without Borders) rope jumping team is still there, so anyone can try the free fall this spring.
Not only did I manage to have an unforgettable experience on the day, but I entertained the others too. (Maria Romanenko)
Company name: Bez Mezh
Location: The spot is close to the centre and very easy to find. To get there, go to the Poshtova Ploshcha metro station, cross the road to the Kyiv River Port, and walk some 600 meters to the Pedestrian Bridge.
Price: Hr 200
Dress code: Sport or just comfortable clothes, preferably a top with long sleeves
Open hours: April 8-9 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Bez Mezh team posts information about the schedule on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pg/BezMezhTeam/
Conditions: 170 kg max. People under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to jump.
