6 Things to Know Before Bungee Jumping

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to check off a major item on my bucket list - BUNGEE JUMPING!! My fiancé and I jumped with Whistler Bungee on a gorgeous summer day and had an incredible time.

If bungee jumping is something you have on your bucket list, but you might be a little bit nervous to try, here are six things to know before you jump.

1. Book your jump in advance.

If it's available, I definitely recommend booking in advance. Not only does it get you a designated time to jump but, for me, it helped to make sure I didn't chicken out! I am definitely a financially motivated person so knowing that I had already put money down to reserve our spots was a great motivator not to chicken out (which I definitely considered).

2. Don't think too much when you're there.

With Whistler Bungee, there wasn't a lot of time between arriving at the jump site and actually getting suited up to jump. Our pre-jump instruction was minimal, which was actually a good thing - you didn't have to sit through a run down of all the things that could go wrong and get a chance to chicken out.

When it was your time to jump, two instructors got you fitted in your harness, let you know what to expect and then -- that was it! You were at the platform! I made it a point not to look down or really think about what was about to happen and would 100% recommend it. You have to trust your instructors and your decision to be there. Just be ready to enjoy the moment.

3. Don't expect to have picture-perfect form.

I was all ready to have this gorgeous belly flop form when I jumped like the instructors told me to do. But guys, let me tell you, when you're jumping off a bridge, your body has a mind of it's own. No biggie at all - just enjoy the adrenaline rush.

4. Don't worry about the first bounce.

The thing I was most worried about before jumping was getting whiplash or something after the initial bounce. While I did jerk around with the first bounce, it was not painful and I immediately started laughing at how insanely beautiful my view was. Whatever discomfort I had from the initial bounce was immediately taken away by the beauty of my surroundings. Later that night I didn't have any discomfort in my neck and only a little bit of soreness the next day.

*Forget the awkwardness of bouncing around -- those VIEWS!!*

5. Be ready for the adrenaline high to last a while.

My fiancé will tell you that the day of the jump, I wasn't the nicest person to be around - apparently I'm a little cranky when I'm nervous. However after the jump, I was the happiest and chattiest I've been in a while and would have bungee jumped immediately again if given the opportunity. The whole rest of the day (and week and month, really) I kept relishing how brave we had been!

*Biggest smile ever after completing the jump!*

6. Buy the pictures!

To be honest, I didn't realize what a truly insane thing I had just done until I really looked at the pictures afterward. Having them has been a really amazing way to remember the jump. (Bonus points to Whistler Bungee for transmitting the photos via AirDrop - solid use of technology!)