Group rappels down building at 122 S. Buffalo
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Dynamik Adventures came to Warsaw Sunday offering the opportunity for people to rappel down the building at 122 S. Buffalo St. or ascend it.
By the end of the day, five people took the class and four others rappelled without the class.
The building is about four stories high, or approximately 65 feet.
Brant Upchurch and Eric Bishop, partners in Dynamik Adventures, began the day with a class on rappelling down and ascending a building. Ultimately, Bishop said, each person is responsible for their own safety. When learning the skills necessary for rappelling, a person should never feel dumb about asking a question.
"It's your life," said Upchurch.
"In rappelling," said Bishop, "there are numerous ways to get down a rope safely."
There are at least four types of descenders that help control the rate at which a person goes down, including Figure 8's, automatic tension controls, bars and mechanical clamps.
As for the ropes, he said, "I've never had a rope break. I don't think I'll ever have a rope break because of the way I control my ropes."
Bishop has been rappelling and ascending in different ways since 1979, when he did his first rappel in the military.
All the ropes used Sunday were less than two years old. Bishop said they retire a rope after five years or 600 uses.
"That's just what's recommended," he said.
The ropes are tied in knots that can not come undone. Bishop said the ropes shouldn't be stepped on and a person shouldn't use a knife around their rope. All good weight-bearing rope has a sheath and a core. "The core is your strength," he said, but the sheath and the core have to work in unison.
Carabiners also are another piece of equipment used in rappelling. There are three different types.
When beginning the descent, Bishop said a person shouldn't bend their knees anymore than the natural position. Always wear gloves.
The class also learned how to belay. Belaying is making a rope secure at the bottom. Participants Sunday learned how to hold the rope in place while others rappelled down.
Of rappelling down, participant Jason Slone said, "It's unbelievable. You get past the first step and it's a nice enjoyable ride."
Mike Thurston also took part in the class. He said three or four of the participants Sunday were in training for Adventure Races.
"I just like to do stuff outside," he said.
Slone compared rappelling to the Demon Drop at Cedar Point.
On a roller coaster, Thurston said he feels out of control. But, "here, I feel like I have more control."
The youngest person in the class Sunday was Warsaw Community High School student Phillip Swarts.
"Ascending (today) is the first time I did that and I like that you can just hang there and look around," said Swarts. "And rappelling was fun too because it was like a controlled fall. It was really fun. It really helps you conquer your fear of heights."
The building used is co-owned by Syracuse Town Manager and former Warsaw City Planner Jeff Noffsinger. He had gone down to Attica previously to learn rappelling. He thought it would be perfect to bring it to Warsaw so he asked Dynamik Adventures to come and offer the opportunity.
"I was glad to be able to offer this site in town," Noffsinger said, "... and offer the community something out of the norm."
Thurston said Upchurch and Bishop made the class comfortable and very laid back and have a "good teaching technique." Bishop's background made him feel more comfortable with it.
With ascending, the purpose of the drill is to get one comfortable with their harness. A person is attached to their rope at three points. Essentially a person ascends by "frog hopping" up, according to Bishop.
Slone said, "Ascending is a scenic way to go up a building."
At the end of the day, Upchurch was asked how everyone did.
"I think everyone is doing very well. You can see a big difference from the start to now," he said.
Bishop said, "I guess you would have to say (everyone did) superb. I think everyone accomplished what they came here to accomplish and did more than they thought they could do."
Everyone expanded their selves through the activities. "That's just got to be good no matter what."
Both Bishop and Upchurch said they'd be more than happy to come back for more. For more information about Dynamik Adventures, visit online at www.dynamikadventures.com; e-mail [email protected] or call 765-412-6092. [[In-content Ad]]
Dynamik Adventures came to Warsaw Sunday offering the opportunity for people to rappel down the building at 122 S. Buffalo St. or ascend it.
By the end of the day, five people took the class and four others rappelled without the class.
The building is about four stories high, or approximately 65 feet.
Brant Upchurch and Eric Bishop, partners in Dynamik Adventures, began the day with a class on rappelling down and ascending a building. Ultimately, Bishop said, each person is responsible for their own safety. When learning the skills necessary for rappelling, a person should never feel dumb about asking a question.
"It's your life," said Upchurch.
"In rappelling," said Bishop, "there are numerous ways to get down a rope safely."
There are at least four types of descenders that help control the rate at which a person goes down, including Figure 8's, automatic tension controls, bars and mechanical clamps.
As for the ropes, he said, "I've never had a rope break. I don't think I'll ever have a rope break because of the way I control my ropes."
Bishop has been rappelling and ascending in different ways since 1979, when he did his first rappel in the military.
All the ropes used Sunday were less than two years old. Bishop said they retire a rope after five years or 600 uses.
"That's just what's recommended," he said.
The ropes are tied in knots that can not come undone. Bishop said the ropes shouldn't be stepped on and a person shouldn't use a knife around their rope. All good weight-bearing rope has a sheath and a core. "The core is your strength," he said, but the sheath and the core have to work in unison.
Carabiners also are another piece of equipment used in rappelling. There are three different types.
When beginning the descent, Bishop said a person shouldn't bend their knees anymore than the natural position. Always wear gloves.
The class also learned how to belay. Belaying is making a rope secure at the bottom. Participants Sunday learned how to hold the rope in place while others rappelled down.
Of rappelling down, participant Jason Slone said, "It's unbelievable. You get past the first step and it's a nice enjoyable ride."
Mike Thurston also took part in the class. He said three or four of the participants Sunday were in training for Adventure Races.
"I just like to do stuff outside," he said.
Slone compared rappelling to the Demon Drop at Cedar Point.
On a roller coaster, Thurston said he feels out of control. But, "here, I feel like I have more control."
The youngest person in the class Sunday was Warsaw Community High School student Phillip Swarts.
"Ascending (today) is the first time I did that and I like that you can just hang there and look around," said Swarts. "And rappelling was fun too because it was like a controlled fall. It was really fun. It really helps you conquer your fear of heights."
The building used is co-owned by Syracuse Town Manager and former Warsaw City Planner Jeff Noffsinger. He had gone down to Attica previously to learn rappelling. He thought it would be perfect to bring it to Warsaw so he asked Dynamik Adventures to come and offer the opportunity.
"I was glad to be able to offer this site in town," Noffsinger said, "... and offer the community something out of the norm."
Thurston said Upchurch and Bishop made the class comfortable and very laid back and have a "good teaching technique." Bishop's background made him feel more comfortable with it.
With ascending, the purpose of the drill is to get one comfortable with their harness. A person is attached to their rope at three points. Essentially a person ascends by "frog hopping" up, according to Bishop.
Slone said, "Ascending is a scenic way to go up a building."
At the end of the day, Upchurch was asked how everyone did.
"I think everyone is doing very well. You can see a big difference from the start to now," he said.
Bishop said, "I guess you would have to say (everyone did) superb. I think everyone accomplished what they came here to accomplish and did more than they thought they could do."
Everyone expanded their selves through the activities. "That's just got to be good no matter what."
Both Bishop and Upchurch said they'd be more than happy to come back for more. For more information about Dynamik Adventures, visit online at www.dynamikadventures.com; e-mail [email protected] or call 765-412-6092. [[In-content Ad]]