Thrill seekers: Participants abseiling down a waterfall slope using special safety equipment in Dabong, Kelantan. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Once mainly popular among extreme sports enthusiasts, water abseiling or rappelling is now gaining traction among young men and women eager to challenge themselves with new experiences.
This demanding activity requires participants to descend a slippery rock cliff while being “showered” by a rapid waterfall at a height of over 80m and at a 90-degree angle.
Some would even flip upside down mid-air, Spider-Man-style, while hanging on to a single rope – just to capture the extraordinary moment.
The popularity of this activity is also being fuelled by social media where photos and videos of exotic locations are beckoning netizens to try out rappelling.
This was the case for 40-year-old Suzana Hassan, who never imagined she would push herself to try it after watching a short video on TikTok.
“When I watched the video, it looked fun and stylish, and since it’s rarely done by locals, I felt like trying it, even though I’m actually afraid of heights.
“When the time came, as I was going down, I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ I even wanted to turn back. But I pushed on. When I reached the bottom, I felt so proud. It was satisfying to know I managed to challenge myself,” the mother of two told Bernama.
For Nur Zahirah Ainaa Mohd Zamri, who has long been a fan of extreme sports, the water abseiling experience was more of a personal mission.
She described the activity as something everyone should try at least once in their lifetime, especially while still young and energetic.
“Of course, I love keeping nice photos as memories, but for me, it’s more about inspiring others. If I can do it (abseiling), anyone else can too,” said Nur Zahirah, 22.
Abseiling operator in Dabong, Kelantan, Wan Zonnum Al Masri Wan Ab Aziz said demand had increased more than six-fold since June.
“I started offering this activity in 2019. Back then, even once a month was enough. But since one viral video from Indonesia, I’ve had participants coming almost every week,” said Wan Zonnum, who operates around the Gunung Stong State Park.
He said the surge in interest in abseiling has also created job opportunities for the local community, including photographers and videographers.
