Club Med Insider

Overcoming The Fear of Heights… Impossible right!?

As a publicist for Club Med, I have had the luxury of traveling to properties around the world with extraordinary journalists to check out newly renovated properties. On press trips I’m always eager to join in the variety of activities offered onsite. Waterskiing? – yay! Sailing? – yes! Aerobics classes? – count me in! Snorkeling? – of course! Flying Trapeze – NO! ARE YOU CRAZY!?!? This is about how every trip went until one glorious day in June of 2007. Club Med Opio in the French Provence had just reopened after a fabulous renovation, and I found myself onsite with a number of fearless journalists.

I was enthusiastically supportive of their adventure-seeking souls – cheering them on from the sidelines as they swung from Club Med’s iconic flying trapeze. Then, the tables suddenly turned and they were cheering me on to give it a try. I felt like a 5th grader, all the cool kids were doing it, my stomach was in knots and my palms were sweaty (and I was still on the ground at this point). You see – I was absolutely (beyond) terrified of heights…

But before I knew it, a no nonsense G.O. (that’s Club Med for all the staff members that take good care of you) took me under his wing, and before I could protest, I was strapped in a nice, tight, secure harness and asking the G.O. how many steps there were on that daunting 30-foot ladder leading up to the trapeze.

So with my eyes shut and my body hugging the ladder (as tightly as humanly possible without breaking any bones) I climbed and climbed. When I was sure I was almost to the top I yelled down to my fan club below – “How many more steps? I need to count the rest of the way.”

“Well, Morgan, you’ve done nine so far…” At that point there was no turning back though; I kept going. What felt like centuries later I felt a hand on my shoulder and cheering below. I had made it to the top!!!

I made the leap of faith from the ladder to the platform and put all of my trust in the hands of the skilled G.O., grabbed the bar, leaned forward and into the air I went!

Woooo hooooo! I dropped down to the net (all limbs intact), gave my supporters a two thumbs up with a huge grin and asked if I could do it again.

The second time around was a breeze.

Beyond helping me overcome my fear of heights, that never-ending ladder gave me a “StairMaster” workout, the swinging left my abs severely sore and holding on for dear life had my arms burning the next day.

Ohhhh the joys of the flying trapeze.