Shotover Canyon Swing brings American couple back for more

Posted by on 9 July 2010

They came, they swung and now they’ve been at it again -- an American couple who ‘swung’ 17 times with Queenstown’s Shotover Canyon Swing during a visit last year came back for more.

And this time physician Marc Helzer (40) and his wife Christina Maniaci (34) from Michigan took to the swing tandem – strung upside down then freefalling ‘eyeballs down’ in a new tandem jump known as ‘The Tandem Gimp Boy Goes To Hollywood’.

They also did one more solo swing each – bringing their grand total as a couple to 20 jumps.

“It was great fun; a real thrill,” said a delighted Christina after their jump. “I knew what I was in for with the guys out there as I'd swung before, they're hilarious. I just wasn’t too sure about jumping with Marc, but I really enjoyed it.”

Marc was also delighted with another new Shotover Canyon Swing development since their last visit. A new video camera captures footage from a unique angle, really showing customers how close they are to the cliff face when they freefall, from the moment they jump off or are released right the way through to when they are swinging through the canyon.

“At the end of the freefall, you're dangling down there, swinging together in the canyon, and the new video footage they’re capturing down there is brilliant,” said Marc.

Shotover Canyon Swing general manager Matt Hollyer said the professional couple – who love Queenstown so much they now refuse to take holidays anywhere else in the world – had remained good friends with the Shotover Canyon Swing team since their first life-changing visit last year.

“They’ve been following us on Facebook and sending us emails throughout the year, so we were absolutely delighted to see them back again,” he said. “Not only do they love us, but they’re fantastic advocates for the Queenstown region and love to do something different each and every time they come here.

“We launched Tandem Jumpstyle options in March, and the tandem ‘Gimp Boy’ swing is the latest addition released just a few weeks ago, so they were very keen to give it a go.

“It’s already one of our more popular solo jump styles so doing it tandem adds a whole new dimension. Because you’re upside down and ‘eyeballs down’ when you’re released, the whole freefall and swing is faster and more intense.

“Our new video camera with a microphone on it captures the moment when ‘swingers’ are released and freefall right past the cliff face.

“Even for our ‘swingers’ when they’re watching that back again, it gives them a completely different perspective on their experience – and they realise just what came out of their mouths in the first few seconds!”

Mr Hollyer said Marc and Christina would have to qualify as two of Shotover Canyon Swing’s biggest fans, even after seven-and-a-half years of operation.

“We did have a London postman who notched up 14 solo jumps in the first year but Marc and Christina have already said they’ll be back for more to make sure they make the grade for our ‘Challenges Hall of Fame’.

“We’ve got more than 70 different jump styles available so it would be interesting to see if there’s anyone out there, or another couple, who think they’d like to do more.

“Each of our jumps has an ‘undies rating for scariness’ and The Tandem Gimp Boy Goes To Hollywood is rated five out of five, so it’s not a challenge for the faint-hearted!”

Footage of Marc and Christina’s tandem swing is available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shotover-Canyon-Swing/47078212798.