Summer's underway!

Launching into summer and heading fast towards the Shotover River as he celebrates his 14th birthday, Queenstowner Solomon Drader smiles at the camera as Shotover Canyon Swing jumpmasters Rob Genet (L) and Logan Devine gently help him off the platform.

The world’s highest cliff, Shotover Canyon Swing is 109m above the Shotover River. The harnessing configuration means arms and legs are free throughout the canyon rush that starts with 60 metres freefall before swinging across the canyon at speeds of up to 150 per hour.

A student at Wakatipu High School and well used to the town’s adventure activities, Solomon reckoned the Canyon Swing was his scariest adventure yet.

“The first part was really, really, really scary, then it was awesome fun swinging over the river.”