George News

George News: Your Extreme Team!

Beatrice Esterhuysen

The team from George News went exploring to bring you some exciting news. We have to admit that we had to put our phobias in our back-pockets to bring this one to you. We went and visit Wild Thing Adventures at the Gourits River Bridge, where we observed – and experienced – the adrenaline pumping world of Bridge Swinging.

This is where it all starts…

Now here I have to admit that I am a bit scared of heights (actually, a bit much!) Standing on the bridge, trying to calm my nerves, I started chatting to a lady, Maleen Hoekstra, standing next to me. Suddenly she shrieks, “there goes my friend!” and with a loud 3…2…1…JUMPING! I see this guy soaring off the bridge. To prevent myself getting seasick on dry land, I start up the conversation again. Waiting for the return of her friend, she tells me that she’s visiting from Cape Town. Her friend (the jumper) is named Sasha Belyak and he is from Vladivostok in Russia. They met in Antarctica and this is the 5th continent they’ve visited together in two years. Funny, I think to myself, these are very friendly and seemingly very normal people. Just then Sasha walks towards us on shaky legs. Needing to know, I ask him what it was like, he replies with a single syllable: “Wow!”

Maleen Hoekstra (right) with Sasha Belyak,
who was speechless after taking the leap.

Jandrie starts the process with the necessary paperwork
and is also systems manager on the bridge

You’ve been warned!

Leaving the nice couple, I turn my attention to the George News team further up on the bridge – just in time to see our crazy teammate, Bianca, being strapped up. Now this girl doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything and with a smile and a wave dived head-first into the unknown. While we were standing at the rails, still trying to figure out if this was indeed a good idea, she had the audacity to turn around to indulge us with a huge grin and thumbs up sign – all while still swinging from a rope! We were standing waiting for her return, twittering like nervous birds to the bridge instructors on how safe it actually is to take the leap and being literally shown the ropes, when one of the crew, Niven Keen, ‘entertained’ us with a stunt that they call a ‘back-summersault Superman’. Now I mean really, the name says it all! Though I still doubt the sanity of this adrenaline junky, I have to admit – it was spectacular to watch!

Crazy, but safe…
Bridge Master Neels Pietersen straps Bianca up

And now for the safety check and countdown.

Taking the dive – and grinning to us on her way down!

“Aweh”, enjoy your jump!
An inspiring message in the sand from the crew of
Wild Thing Adventures to all the jumpers, in true South African style

Elation! Bianca throws her hands up in a
victory sign after conquering the bridge.

With this visit, we have established a few things:
First, you don’t need to be crazy or suicidal to jump off a bridge (people actually do this for fun!)
Second, we should send some of our team (and I’m not naming anyone) for psychological evaluation.
Third, all the fun and excitement you’ll ever need are right here in our area.
And last but not least, there really is nothing we won’t do for our readers!

Werner Morkel-Brink caught Bianca at the
bottom and brought her safely back to us.

Neels gives Niven a safety check before his jump.

Up, up and away! Niven Keen gives us a smile before
doing a dazzling back-summersault Superman jump.

So take the leap! I really do hope you go out there and experience this for yourself – if you need an adrenaline rush, this is the place to get it! As for me, this is one writer who prefers her feet safely on mother earth, thank you very much!