Zip Lines and High Winds

The month of March roars in like a lion and out like a lamb. Spring can be windy in Texas, and that can be a dangerous factor on any zip line, or high element challenges. That's why WIRED Zip Line Challenge Course will close during high or extremely gusty winds. If there are wind warnings on area lakes, and flags are standing straight out, we won't be open.

We've got to keep our participants safe, and high winds pose an additional risk on the course. Not only are we looking out for your safety but our own as well. The entire WIRED team wants each person who goes through our course to have a fun, yet safe adventure. Rain, or any risk of lightening will also cause us to close.

Please understand that we won't take any unnecessary risks. Wet zip lines make it nearly impossible to brake effectively, and since we use a hand brake system we'll cancel zip line tours if the line is wet.

Don't be mad, be glad we take your safety seriously. We promise in the event of cancellation due to weather your credit card will not be charged. We will do our best to re book your tour at your earliest convenience. Please reserve tours well in advance and check weather reports the night before your tour.

If you have any doubts about weather related closings

give us a call at 903-567-2681.

As spring turns to summer we'd also like to remind everyone that closed toe shoes must be worn out on the zip line challenge course. Flip flops, and sandals are not allowed on the course. Wearing longer shorts will also keep the harness from rubbing against bare skin.

Tyler Texas hosts the Firefighters Combat Challenge

Here's an event in Tyler, Texas that we're proud to be a small part of. It's the Firefighters Combat Challenge. The challenge is being held September 24-25, 2010 in Tyler, TX at Broadway Square Mall (north-end parking lot next to Loop 323) located at 4601 S. Broadway Ave. Friday from 5:30pm until 11:00pm are the individual competitions. Saturday kicks off at 10:30 with the relays and team competitions. WIRED Zip Line Challenge Course is sponsoring the team from McKinney, Texas.

Our communities depend on these brave men and women to keep us safe. The Firefighter Combat Challenge is a great way for these firefighters to keep themselves in shape and push themselves to their physical limits.

Take a look at the video to see more of what this challenge is all about. Here's more information about the McKinney team from NeighborsGo.

Got Water?

It's summertime in Texas and temperatures are rising into triple digits. Hydration becomes a critical safety issue out on the challenge course. When participants go out on the course we're sending everyone with a bottle of cold water. You can either bring your own or we can provide you one. We'll even clip it to your harness with a carabiner. It's critical to stay hydrated in this heat, especially during physical activity.

Our early morning zip line tours are the most popular right now for obvious reasons. Before heading out on the course we recommend a light meal. Nothing too heavy in this heat. Fresh fruit and melons are water filled and will certainly help you stay hydrated. Be sure to avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol as these rob your body of needed water, and can make you more susceptible to heat exhaustion.

WE ARE CLOSING...

Just for the weekend of June 5-6 we will be closing down the course to the general public. Why you might ask? It’s a special time of year for us. It’s the time we take to re-certify our guides, and certify our newly hired staff on our zip line challenge course. As much as we hate to close for our customers we feel it’s necessary to keep providing quality, certified guides at WIRED Zip Line Challenge Course. A course that does not train on a regular basis is not doing their participants justice. We like to promote safety first, and safety ALWAYS on our course. It’s imperative that our guides know how to do things like mid line rescues, and how to properly belay a participant off a high platform should the need arise. We will have two full days of training provided by ACCT(Association for Challenge Course Technology) accredited trainers. Our guides will be tested both in written form and in practical demonstration of the techniques they have learned. When they pass the test they will receive a level 1 course specific certification. You can see these certificates framed and hanging on the wall in our office. Training and certification should be required on any zip line challenge course, but it’s not. Our industry is largely self governed, and courses that provide this type of training for their staff do so voluntarily. If you are planning a zip line adventure in the future it might be a good idea to ask about guide training and whether or not they have been certified. We value each and every one of our participants, this is just one of the ways we actively demonstrate that fact.

Vancouver Zip Line

Check out the NBC Today Show team doing some urban zip line at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I would love to see more urban zip lines take off across the country. Meredith also did a wonderful job of overcoming her fear and enjoying the exhilaration and adrenaline rush of the zip line. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35017294/vp/35476505/#35476505

2010 Challenge

From now until March 1,2010 WIRED Zip Line Challenge Course is asking you to help us donate $2,010 to the North Texas Food Bank . For every new fan we have join our Facebook page we will donate $1.00 to the North Texas Food Bank up to $2,010. It’s just that simple.

Join our Facebook fan page (just click the link) and help us feed hungry Texans.

So tell your friends and family how easy this challenge is and bombard us with fans. We’ll gladly give to help our neighbors who are in need.

Getting Schooled - Team Building Adventure On A High Ropes Course

Who would have guessed there was so much to learn on a high ropes course? While there is usually an end to a formal education, there should never be an end to learning. Tackling new skills and facing challenges keeps the mind sharp and enriches our lives.

One of the most important features of the WIRED Zip Line Challenge Course is our ground school training. This is where each participant must do a series of practice zips to get a feel for what's ahead, and learn how to brake. Sometimes it takes several practice zips to get the hang of it. Our certified guides will work with each participant until they are completely comfortable with the techniques. It's part of our commitment to safety first, and safety always. You might not earn a diploma after a trip through the challenge course, but you will earn your wings on the zip line.

Not only is a zip line challenge course a fun outdoor adventure, it also offers the added benefits of experiential learning for your group. This is what makes going through the WIRED course such a great activity for team building. Adventure is a shared experience that encourages risk taking and produces a common bond in the group. It's impossible to learn and grow as a person without pushing our limits.

Step out of your comfort zone, take the WIRED challenge, and invite someone else with a gift certificate from WIRED Zip Line Challenge Course this Christmas.