After a bunch of introductions, paperwork checks, exchanges of stories (2 people only found out what they were doing when they arrived!), and late arrivals we headed up to the roof of the 7-story building.

Troy was our main instructor, with 2 people working with him (I know they were Troy’s son and a person on their first day but sadly their names didn’t stick in my overwhelmed brain!), and he delivered our safety instructions as well as some history of rap jumping. I think SAS was mentioned? I do recall that it allowed our armed forces to shoot as they rappelled rather than be vulnerable going down backwards. And it was known around the world as the ‘Aussie Rappell’.

There were white lines painted on the roof, a set of 4ish black wooden steps leading up to the wall on the edge of the roof. A single rope was thrown over the edge of the roof, attached to a frame in the concrete. We were told where we could and could not stand without specific direction (the purpose of the white lines) and then sent over to the row of 9 harnesses.

I hesitated physically for the first time as they showed us how to step into the harness. Once I had it on this would be real. Was I really going to go down from this roof face first attached to a single rope? I decided I was willing to commit to wearing the harness, but must have had that terrified look still as the person helping me tighten the three buckles checked in on how I was feeling. I think my response was ‘sick’. And not in a youthful ‘this is awesome’ way. He warned me that as I came down the wall the harness may press on my stomach so to be aware of that. Luckily the ‘sick’ feeling was more in my head than my belly.

Next we put on out helmets and gloves then lined up parallel to the rope. You would think the mention of how many tonnes the rope could support would reassure me… but it didn’t help much to be honest! At the question ‘who is the most nervous’ I was happy to put up my hand. I doubted anyone else was more scared.

The benefit of being the most nervous was that I was the one who got to test the braking mechanism – hold the rope to brake, let it slide to go – while leaning forward at 45 degrees on the safety of the roof. It held me easily – and even walking forward without it ‘braked’ was an effort.

It was shortly after this that it was time to start. We had a demonstration, it looked easy, but I doubted it was! Walk up the steps, put your left leg over the wall, sit on the wall, put your right leg over, lean forward, walk down the wall. Simple right?

Unlike my willingness to volunteer to be the most nervous, I did not volunteer to be first down the wall! Luckily a few people went before me, but then, by mutual agreement between myself and Troy it was my turn. So up I walked, with shaking knees, to take my turn.

To be continued.