Speed queen Lizzy Yarnold MBE, the World Champion skeleton racer, launched the UK’s first Human Slingshot this week. Scotland’s newest adrenaline-fuelled activity is at at Laggan Outdoor activity centre, near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway. It catapults participants through the air at speeds of up to 70mph.
At the launch, the Slingshot hurled a 6ft haggis – and in doing so broke a new record. Hamish the Haggis, a popular local children’s character, reached new heights during his debut on the world’s largest Human Slingshot after Lizzy took part in his catapult release.
The Human Slingshot is the brainchild of Laggan centre owner Duncan McConchie, and David Yates, a local engineer. The 20m high slingshot launch-pad sits high on a hill on farmland and consists of two vertically erected, thick wooden poles and a 130m long bungee sling.
Daredevils are strapped safely into a harness then pulled between 40m or 80m backwards by a motorised vehicle. Moments later they are catapulted forwards.
Lizzy said: “It has been an awesome day here at Laggan Outdoor Activity Centre and I’m really pleased to be able to launch the UK’s largest Human Slingshot. It’s about as close as you can get to sliding at 90mph down an ice track!
“I’m gutted I couldn’t have a go as I’m in training, but it looked immense, and I hope I can come back sometime and try it for real. Any activity to get the adrenalin flowing gets my vote.”
Duncan said: “The Slingshot is an incredible experience and there is nowhere in the world where you can be flung as far as you can with this, and in such a way that gets the adrenaline really pumping. I’m proud to have created a new activity for the UK.”
Duncan was also behind the introduction of the UK’s longest zip wire (820m) in April 2012. Since then 20, 000 people, from all over the world, including his 96-year-old grandmother have thrown themselves down the zip wire. which reaches a speed of up to 65mph.
Video of UK’s first Human Slingshot