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Would you pay $10 to jump off a platform five storeys high and land in a pit of gravel?

British businessman Alexander Blyth, 47, thinks plenty of people would. The former British army officer has set up the $2-million MegaZip Adventure Park in Sentosa, which officially opens next month.

Get set for the flight of your life. The park has four adventure stations, including the 15m ParaJump, as it is called – although no parachute is involved – and which is a simulated “free fall” leap into the air, with you attached to a safety rope.

At $10, the ParaJump is cheap thrill. The other rides include a 450m flying fox ride called the MegaZip, costing $29, and an aerial obstacle course, at $39 for two rounds.

The last is called ClimbMax, and participants are hooked up to a wire so as to safely swing around and over various obstacles located among eucalyptus trees, at least 3.5m above the ground.

Climbers can also get their thrills on NorthFace, a 16m-high climbing wall, one of the highest in Singapore. It is only open for group bookings.

But it is the MegaZip flying fox that really takes fun to new heights. The spectacular ride takes you above the jungle canopy and flying above Siloso Beach, before ending on an islet off the beach.

"We want people to turn away from malls and find a place where they can have entertainment and challenges,” says Mr Blyth. “Plus the courses help build character and teamwork."

This is his first project in Singapore and he is already hoping to expand it to the region.

The park quietly opened to groups about three weeks ago and, so far, about 1,000 people, mostly corporate clients, have had a swing around the attractions.

Mr Blyth, who hopes to attract 60,000 visitors in its first year, feels Singapore is the right location for such a park. "There are tourists coming here all year round and good weather throughout the year."

He adds that adventure courses are common in Europe, but rarer in Asia. He was passing through Singapore en route to Australia four years ago when he hit on the idea of setting up an adventure park here.

The MegaZip Adventure Park took 18 months to build.

All participants are securely fastened from start to finish in a custom-fitted body harness.

This harness is attached to a safety wire which follows a continuous path around the course. The wire ensures that even if a participant falls, the drop is minimal, and in any case, he is still in his harness.

Thrillseekers who do both the ClimbMax and the MegaZip pay only $59 instead of $68. Throw in the ParaJump, and then the ParaJump will be free, till the end of next month.

Mr Blyth believes the park will be popular with families and friends, who will "challenge one another on the courses".

The ClimbMax can be tiring to complete and it takes a lot of confidence to do the ParaJump and MegaZip, but he says: "We want to encourage people to do things that they normally won't do."

Housewife Serene Ho, 31, who did the ParaJump on Wednesday, says: "I'm afraid of heights but it was great fun doing the jump."

She plans to return to do a more difficult course on the ClimbMax.

taysc@sph.com.sg

The MegaZip Adventure Park opens officially on Sept 5, but it is now taking bookings. Call 6884-5602 for details.

ClimbMax: A Balancing Act

What: An aerial obstacle course through several 15m-tall eucalyptus trees. There are three levels, from about 3.5m to 12m above ground. The highest level is the most challenging, as the obstacles are wider apart. Participants make their way through the course, which involves climbing along a cargo net, balancing on beams and crossing bridges.

Who: You must be at least 1.2m tall and weigh not more than 120kg. Children, who must be accompanied by adults, are restricted to the lower course.

Cost: $39 for two levels; add $10 for extra level

Thrill level: 3/5

Difficulty level: 3/5

Time taken: From 15 to 45 minutes, depending on fitness and ability

I choose the mid-level course – 7.5m above ground. One end of my harness is hooked onto a wire that connects all the obstacles.

The first obstacle, a cargo net I have to climb across, is easy. I take my time. It gets challenging when the net wobbles but I find my balance.

The next few obstacles require crossing bridges – these I do fairly quickly.

The next obstacle is tricky: It requires jumping across two beams with a 50cm gap between them. Sounds simple, but I fear jumping across drains. This isn’t a drain but the gap looks very wide.

I panic. Maybe I should have tried the first- level course instead. I think about going back to the start. Then I notice the first level has the same obstacle, too. There is no escaping it.

Miss Tay jumping across the beams on the climbmax.

I tell myself, 'What the heck', grab onto my rope, run a few steps and leap over (above). I let out a sigh of relief. It isn’t so hard after all.

The next few obstacles are less worrisome. They tend to twist around when I’m on them but I just pull at the ropes to keep my balance.

But I stumble again: The next station requires crossing a series of small, suspended planks. I step onto one and it begins twisting beneath my feet. I try to reach for the next, barely making it. Perspiration runs down my face, from exertion and nerves.

I need a break. I sit in mid-air in my harness, without even wondering if it is safe to do so.

I decide to cheat. Instead of doing this standing up, I pull myself to the end of the wire. Even that is a challenge – the exercise requires a lot of upper body strength. I’m barely making any progress.

A crew member shouts out words of encouragement but doesn’t come to help, so it is up to me to get myself out of this. I pull myself across very slowly and I reach the end of the obstacle. Phew!

The course ends with a short flying fox ride. My hair is wet with perspiration and my palms hurt, but I feel a great sense of achievement.

Tip: You need to be fairly fit. Don’t under-estimate the course or over-estimate your fitness level. Start with a lower course first. There are stops in between the obstacles to catch your breath and to enjoy the view of the jungle and sea.

MegaZip: Exhilarating ride

What: A 450m-long flying fox ride that starts from the jungle canopy of Imbiah Hill and ends on an islet off Siloso Beach. Participants are connected to a wire before taking the ride down.

Who: You must be at least 1.2m tall and weigh not more than 120kg. Children under eight and/or under 30kg will have to travel in tandem with an adult.

Cost: $29

Thrill level: 5/5

Difficulty level: 1/5

Time taken: About 40 seconds

This is the easiest course in the park. Standing on top of the 15m-high tower at Imbiah Hill, I have unblocked views of the lush greenery below. I can see the white sands at Siloso Beach and ships in the South China Sea.

I also see my ending point – an islet off the beach, which looks very far away.

There is a sudden drop when I step off the platform, before I zip down the line, 75m above ground. My legs dangle above the canopy, the wind is in my hair and I get an adrenaline rush.

There are three wires at MegaZip, so you and your friends
can jump off at the same time and race one another down the lines.

Although I am sitting in a harness, and know it is perfectly safe, I unconsciously cling tightly to my rope – it makes me feel safer.

The ride hits its maximum speed of 50kmh. It feels fast but is still slow enough for me to make out people on the beach, who look tiny.

The ride is smooth and before I know it, I can see the end.

There’s no need to worry about how to stop the darn thing. A built-in braking system ensures a soft landing into a net. I land on my bottom and take a minute to recover. A crew member then unhooks me from the wire.

Tip: As the ending point is away from the main site on Imbiah Hill, do this ride last. Take along a camera so you can snap away at the sun, sand and sea.

ParaJump

What: A simulated parachute jump from a 15m-high platform. Jumpers are attached to a safety rope that slows them down on landing. Unlike a bungee jump, where you get bounced up and down, ParaJump is one way down.

Who: Adults only

Cost: $10

Thrill level: 4/5

Difficulty level: Varies

Time taken: Three seconds to reach the ground; anything from one to 10 minutes to get ready

How difficult can this be? Just jump off the platform to the ground below.

The difficult bit is taking that first step. At 15m above ground, or above five storeys up, it is high. So high, it makes my legs turn jelly.

I'm told to stand on the edge of the platform and jump. But I can't move.

Parajump is a simulated parachute jump from a 15m-high platform.

A crew member helps me count down, but when I reach "zero", there I am, still on the platform. At one point, I end up sitting on the platform to calm myself down.

It is now or never. I clutch my harness and step off.

I let out a scream and my heart feels like it will fly out of my mouth.

I feel myself slowing down and land on my feet. It is over in three seconds.

It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be, but I am not sure if I would be brave enough to do it again.

Tip: Take your time to jump. You can back out but where’s the fun in that?

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.

Wheeee... I did it!

By Tay Suan Chiang, The Straits Times | Mon, Aug 24 2009

Conquer a 7.5m-high obstacle course and fly above a jungle canopy? An adventure park in Sentosa offers them and more.

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