Go Bare in the Air: Naked Ziplining For Breast Cancer

June 20^th will see ladies from all over the Okanagan trading their clothes for the exhilarating experience of ziplining naked. In 2011, ZipZone Adventure Park put together an event to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and it has become an annual event for the Peachland business.

“It actually started three years ago now when the ladies of the SS Rodeo roller derby team phoned me,” park owner Kevin Bennett explained, “A little cheeky young girl said to me, ‘We’ve heard that if we zip naked we can go free?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, you can do that – but you have to do it for charity.’”

The SS Rodeo team selected breast cancer research as the beneficiary of their skinny-zipping, and according to Kevin “it was a great success… so last year we decided to step it up a notch, and we had 84 participants.”

This year, the Adventure Park is doubling the amount of ladies in participation, and hoping to double the amount that they raise as a result. Last year, they were able to donate $16,000 to CBCF, so $30,000 is the goal this time around. The whole breast cancer survivors’ Dragonboat team is set to participate this year and as a fun group of women who have proudly proclaimed their status as “33 ladies with 10 breasts between us,” ZipZone anticipates they will reach their goal.

“ZipZone Adventure Park was one of the highest individual donors to the Foundation of all of last year,” Kevin told me, “And this year we’re actually getting much more engaged with the Breast Cancer Foundation. They’re supporting us on their website.”

Regarding how participation in the playful event typically unfolds, he said, “The ladies zip however they feel comfortable. I’d say about 20% go naked, 60% go topless, and the other 20% wear pasties or something else.”

Bennet assures that the equipment is, “very comfortable. It’s professional full-protection equipment – the best that you can buy. It’s designed to be worn 8 – 10 hours a day, and the straps don’t go anywhere they shouldn’t go.”

There is said to be a real sense of jollity about this event. Kevin told me that last year’s participants reported feeling “the sense of exhilaration and freedom of skinny dipping” as they zipped.

ZipZone is closed to the public while the naked ziplining takes place. No spectators are allowed, and the only males on site are two managers. The staff themselves that have contact with the guests are all female.

ZipZone’s press release also stated that “This year we have applied for and received agreement from Guinness to set a world Record for Highest number of naked zippers!”

Ladies of all kinds have supported the Breast Cancer Foundation with ZipZone over the past two years, and if you’re interested in taking part you can visit Zipzone's website to find out more. It’s free to participate, but each lady must commit to raise at least $250 for CBCF.

Are you a lady who’s thinking of joining in on the fun? Have you ever doffed your clothes for charity before? Feel free to discuss this exciting and sensational event below!