Peachland June 24, 2011 Peachland, BC Volume 07 | Number 25
ZipZone fun!
In the event of a strike by Canada Post, please find a list of Peachland View pick-up locations on page 15.
Melody Hebein takes her first zip line ride across “Hang Tme” at ZipZone Adventure Park.
The ZipZone girls -- all harnessed up and ready to go zipping! Pictured from left to right, are: Brianne Flexhaug (with glasses), Melody Hebein, Britney Pearce (blue shirt, behind Melody), Meghan McLaren, me, Cindy Fortin, with The View, and our guide Jessica, on the right. Photo by Josh Sears
By Cindy Fortin It’s a wild ride, with an amazing view! The new ZipZone Adventure Park, located six kilometres up Princeton Avenue, above Peachland, officially opened on June 8th, with six highline zip lines crossing back and forth high above Deep Creek. With so much positive news about the new attraction, it seemed appropriate that this reporter test it out first-hand. ZipZone Adventure Park is the brainchild of entrepreneur Kevin Bennett, of Peachland, who was struck with the idea while vacationing with his wife in Mexico, just 16 months ago. Bennett had retired thee and a half years ago after selling his Kelowna manufacturing com-
pany, and was looking for something to keep him busy -- something that wasn’t a 365 days a year obligation. “I had some parameters. I just wanted a seasonal business. Then my wife and I went on a zip line while on holiday in Mexico, and I was quite literally halfway across the first zip line and my mind’s gone from zero to 100 miles an hour, and I’m thinking, ‘I have got to build one of these!’” When I first arrived at the site, I was greeted by Josh Sears, the operational manager and co-owner of the enterprise, as well as four other adventurous women, about to experience the zip line, and our guides “Jessica” and “Gray”. We were led to a tall Native-style teepee on the property where, inside, we were given instructions
on how to slip into our harnesses, and fasten them. The harnesses are made by French manufacturer “Petzl”, Bennett later explained. “They are professional, full protection harnesses, the same harnesses worn by people working on high towers, such as the CN Tower, communication towers, and those sorts of things. They have double anchor points, which means that a guest always has a redundant back up. It is expensive gear, but safety is paramount, and they are very comfortable to wear.” After we were harnessed up we had a test ride on a short training zip line on flat ground, then headed to
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