Common Questions About The Drop Zone
As you might think, we get a lot of questions about The Drop Zone. To save you some time, we’ve answered some of the most common ones below. If you don’t find the answer to your question here, please contact your local Drop Zone Event Manager.
- I assume this is legal, but I should probably ask…is it?
- Of course! The Easter Seals Drop Zone event is 100% legal. All appropriate permissions have been granted and all necessary permits have been secured. Don’t worry, you won’t get arrested!
- How old do I have to be to participate?
- On the day of the event, you must be at least the age of majority in your province. No exceptions! If you are 70 years of age or older, you must notify your local Drop Zone Event Manager after you register.
- How safe is this?
- It’s incredibly safe! Our technical crew are highly trained, highly skilled, fully certified and extremely experienced. Their primary function is to ensure your safety at all times. Did we mention that this is really safe? You are required to wear a full body harness, helmet and leather gloves. All the ropes used for your rappel are rated to support over 9,000 lbs and are meticulously inspected after each rappeller – the rope will not snap! We mentioned this is super safe, right? The device you use to control your descent is designed to eliminate user error. If you pull too hard, the device will lock. If you let go of the device, it will lock. If you start to rappel too quickly, the device will lock. If you let go of the rope, the device will lock. If you get tired and want to rest, the device will lock until you reset it and resume your descent. Like we said, it’s extremely safe!
- How much does it cost?
- Registration fees and fundraising minimums differ from city to city. Please check out your local Drop Zone event page.
- I’m not exactly an all-star athlete, can I still do this?
- Definitely! It doesn’t matter if you’re an average Joe couch potato, a weekend warrior, or a seasoned rappelling expert, the Drop Zone is for you. If you weigh more than 275 lbs, please inform your local Drop Zone Event Manager.
- I have a physical disability, can I still do this?
- Absolutely! Contact your local Drop Zone Event Manager to discuss your specific abilities. If required, one of our trained experts will rappel with you to provide assistance.
- I’ve never done this before – will I receive any training?
- Yes. All participants are required to attend at least one mandatory training session. Most training session take place at an indoor rock climbing gym and you will use the exact same gear in your training that you will use on event day. In most cases, you’re welcome to attend multiple training sessions if you’re feeling unsure or just want the extra practice. By the time you get to event day, you’ll be a pro!
- What happens if it’s raining, or it’s really windy?
- If our technical crew determines that conditions are unsafe for rappelling, they will either delay the event until it’s safe to go ahead, or they will postpone the event. Every Drop Zone event has a scheduled “rain date”.
- How long does it take to rappel?
- Depending on your comfort level and the height of the building from which you are rappelling, it can take anywhere from about 5 to 15 minutes from top to bottom.
- So I notice that Drop Zone participants are referred to as ‘superheroes’ – does this mean I can wear a superhero costume?
- You bet! In fact, we encourage it. While we want you to get creative with your costume, safety does come first. If you’re unsure about your costume, cape or superhero accessories, feel free to bring these items to your training session and our technical crew will determine if there are any safety concerns. Certain costume pieces or accessories may still need to be removed on the day of the event, depending on the conditions. The rooftop technical crew will make the final call. Rubber soled shoes/boots are also recommended.
