OG Bungy on Kawarau Bridge (January 30, 2026)
In 1988 (I was just 16 years old at the time), Hackett and Henry van Asch opened the world's first commercial bungy operation at the Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand, forever popularizing the sport of bungy jumping globally. Today, Violet and I dove from a platform hanging off the exact same bridge. Talk about doing some epic shit!
Thank you, SR high school spring board diving team. I like my form!
In Violet’s words, “This was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Even scarier than skydiving!” (see related post). And yes, I’m here to share both my video and Violet’s so that you can enjoy the vicarious thrill of watching both of us jump 43-meters towards the Kawarau River. Violet hits the water and while I wanted to, I was on the “bigger” bungy and didn’t weigh enough to touch the water … this time around.
I mean. Wow. Right? I love the adrenaline rush standing 141 feet (43 meters) above the Kawarau River on a tiny platform seconds before I know I’m about to dive off. What a rush. There’s nothing like it. Even when skydiving, there’s something about being 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) in the air that makes it feel unreal (or perhaps the better word is surreal). Standing on the platform on the bridge feels VERY real. Given too much time to “think” about it, the brain screams, “What are you, nuts? Go back the SAFE way. Don’t do this!”) But all you hear is the fast count down from the guy behind you, “5-4-3-2-1” and off we go! So here’s Violet’s video:
Talk about a “Father, daughter bonding moment.” Violet couldn’t wait to talk about her experience. And then we watched each of our videos (i.e. the same ones as above) and then flipped through our pictures (below) and all the while grinning like we each just (forever?) conquered our fear of heights. We both felt safe and loved all of it.
Here are my still photos in case you’re interested …
And Violet? You bet. Here you go. Enjoy!
I once listened to an audiobook called “Do Epic Shit” and today felt like that. Today, Violet and I stood on a platform 43 meters above a river and jumped. The free fall was intense, but deciding the jump off the platform and then actually doing it was what I’m most proud of. Free will overcame our natural fears today.
And what now? What shall we do tomorrow?
Some would argue that what we have planned for tomorrow is even more fear-inducing – more than skydiving or bungy jumping. The thing is, Elena is doing it with us tomorrow. I can’t tell you how happy I am that she’s decided to join Violet and me. I can’t wait to share our next adventure in New Zealand.
For now, I’m savoring what we did today. So glad we have a solid record to go back to and remember when we need a boost of encouragement to overcome whatever illogical fear creeps into our consciousness.
As the video says, “Live More. Fear Less.” Amen to that!
