Pirates ‘hoist sails’ at the ropes course

Students who participated in the ropes course were treated to a “pirate theme.” Participants had the option to dress up and played a variety of pirate games on the ropes course, treating the tower

 

Students gathered for a pirate-themed date night Friday at the university’s ropes course. 

Where last year this event hosted more than 20 students, Friday’s turnout was a mere two couples. However, the smaller crowd provided a controlled and individual experience for those who participated in the course which is located on Seventh South.

The climbing tower was the evening’s central prop, also known as the “ship.”

The first activity was a game called “Bull Ring,” where participants worked together to transfer a “cannonball” to its “cannon” without dropping it. Once this mission was complete, the cannonball was heaved toward the ship.

Task two was to swing and land upon the taken ship. This meant it was time for the giant swing, where each participant was pulled high above the ground, then let go for a thrilling drop and ride until they were slow enough to stop swinging.

Participants were loose on the climbing tower to pillage after the victory. 

The twist to this activity was a game called Whack-a-Cracker, where each individual tied a saltine cracker to the back of his or her harness. Equipped with Pool Noodles, representing swords, participants had to whack and break the others’ crackers.

Taron Ratliff, a junior studying recreation management, works at the ropes course and was one of the three employees that facilitated the course. 

“The climbing tower kind of looks like a pirate ship, so I guess that was our inspiration. We just got together and brainstormed to come up with the games,” Ratliff said.

Hyrum Mosley, a freshman studying  general studies, attended the event with his friend Jamie Long, a senior studying psychology. The two shared a favorite element of the night: the giant swing. 

“I loved being able to scream as loud as I wanted to,” Mosley said. “As I was climbing, the thought in my head was, ‘Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t think, just go.’”

For some, this outing was not their first time climbing. 

“I’ve been climbing since I was ten, so it wasn’t much of a challenge. But it was definitely fun. I think this place would be really fun for a ward or FHE activity,” said Long said. 

 

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