The resident duo ziplined at Christchurch Adventure Park recently, with Claire being unafraid of heights and Jean being the complete opposite.

While neither of them had attempted anything as physically adventurous before, it had crossed their minds. “I’ve thought about it a lot, but no one has really wanted to do it with me before,” Claire shares.

The two women got to know each other on the residents’ committee of their Arvida Park Lane retirement community and found they shared the same background of psychology, counselling, and social work. Jean notes, “When you meet someone who’s done similar work to you, there is a bit of a spark.”

Both women believe in giving things a go, even if it’s a little scary. “In my younger days, this would’ve been an expensive thing to do. When you’re raising children, you tend to put these kinds of things to the side. But I think it’ll be marvellous and I’m glad some other residents are going because that makes it more fun. Pushing the boundaries,” Claire adds.

Jean did take a while to process the idea of hurtling down a wire but was determined. “My feelings on this go from one extreme to the other, but I want to do it, and that’s all there is about it. Feel the fear and do it anyway,” she said.

Sunshine with no wind made for perfect zipline conditions for Claire and Jean as they wore their full flying gear and carried their own trolleys (weighing about 5kgs), after being briefed on safety procedures. They watched fellow zipliners ‘waddle’ from one zipline to another – with everyone looking like ‘a family of ducks’.

“I thought it was exhilarating, magical, and exciting. I didn’t want to stop flying, it was beyond amazing,” explains Claire.

Zipping through four different ziplines with spectacular views, they both made it up and down and roundabout the hills with smiles on their faces.

“After the apprehension and palpitations of the first zip, I couldn’t wait for the next, and then the next and the next! It was a great experience combined with a sense of satisfaction that I had made it,” Jean says proudly.

Claire says ultimately it’s about seizing the day. “You don’t know how much time you’ve got left, so I’ve gotten a bit bolder, and I take a few risks.” Jean agrees and adds that having a zest for life helps, “What you come to realise as you get older is that unless you push the boundaries, no one will push them for you.”