My Guinea Pig Journalism experience of Rapids!
Ever since I was four years old I have had issues with large quantities of water. I don’t mean that drinking a glass of water means that I am rendered with the shakes but after nearly being accidently drowned I was left with a mild fear of being underwater.
I have recently taken a trip to Center Parcs to unravel what the big deal is surrounding all in one holiday’s.
Accompanying me were four friends and my other half who dragged me to the swimming pool three out of five days of the holiday. Through their persistence and my willingness to get over my irrational fear I followed like a sheep. After the first day I was feeling more confident in water and was getting used to the waves machine and was also able to go under water for three seconds, a goal I set myself for numerous years now.
However there was one obstacle I was both fearful and intrigued by and that was the Rapids. I had been on log flumes in my life and they led to screaming and terrorising moments for me so I try with all my might to avoid those…purely because it mixes my water fear with that of heights and I am more fearful of heights than anything.
Anyway, back on topic, I was talked into going down the rapids. There was a steep ramp you had to literally throw your legs over otherwise you go down on your front and I was apprehensive enough without going backwards! So there I was clinging onto my friend who was trying her best to keep me calm and I was doing alright, bobbing along in about five inches of water down a slide. The buoyancy was a bit of an issue because it kept trying to tip me backwards but I stayed upright. Luckily there was a half-way point where I could catch my breath and calm my nerves.After I stopped shaking I got back on my feet and headed to the next section. After a few slides, the water started to get a little bit deeper which did not help my nerves, I nearly tipped backwards and got dragged down the next and final part which was nowhere near as calming as the first part. There were jets pushing the water and anything/anyone at a fast whirlwind speed down the final part of the slide in a matter of seconds and lands them in a 0.9 metre pool…something I forgot about until I went under water and started panicking.
Luckily a friend was there to grab me and help me up but it was a big step for me.
After that I was ready to pack it in but no, I was told to keep going until I felt more confident but after four more attempts, the only part that worried me was the plunge at the end and I had two people ready and waiting to stop me from going under so by that point, I was safe!
By the end of the holiday I was going down the slide on my own! At one point I got turned around and was going backwards which really freaked me out but I managed to pull it back around! The only part I was assisted in was the landing but I was a lot more confident after the whole experience!
I was proud too because I overcame a massive fear and did a guinea pig article on my experience…and you’re reading it! A step-by-step account of what happened.
I hope I have inspired you to overcome a small personal goal in your lives.
Victoria V L Walker
