Many first time participants or hosts have questions about Over The Edge rappelling events, and we're here to answer them!
COMMON QUESTIONS EVERYONE HAS:
Are your events safe?
- Yes! For over two decades, we have had amazing rope technicians with backgrounds in fire rescue and relative fields trained to operate our rappels. We also carry comprehensive liability insurance for each event and will be with you through every step of your rappel journey. Our events are set up as industrial worksites, so all safety regulations and cautions that go into that industry apply to our events. All of our technicians are SPRAT or IRATA certified.
What happens if weather prevents an event from taking place?
- Should we deem the weather to be a safety concern or a significant event hindrance for the balance of the day, we will work with you to re-schedule your big day.
How accessible are events?
- Rope technicians are trained to guide guests with any accessibility needs to be able to experience the thrill of rappelling! You will be prompted before signing up to participate in an event to let us know if you have durable medical equipment such as a wheelchair, or any other accessibility concerns, before coming onsite. We will then coordinate with rope technicians to ensure you have the time of your life! Tourism Nova Scotia even features us as a recommended attraction for accessibility tourists!
What are the weight limits to rappel?
- Participants must be between 100 pounds and 300 pounds, or between 45KG and 136KG.
Can children rappel, as long as they meet the weight requirements?
- Yes! Legal guardians must be on site at the event to sign a liability waiver for the child, but we love helping young adventure seekers rappel!
Where do you host these rappel events?
- Over The Edge has hosted over 1000 events in all major cities across North America, and we have proudly operated international events. OTE has worked with over 599 building partners to host our events including major hotel chains and commercial properties. Let us know where you'd like to host an event, and we'll work hard to make it happen!
Is there an age limit to participate?
- No! Our oldest rappeler George is a legend! At 104 years young, he shows us that anything is possible, and that age is just a number We also had Joe rappel with us when he was 91 years young. If they can do it, so can you!
To get this fundraising idea approved, I need to know if there is there liability insurance. How do we know these events are safe?
- Every event we run is covered by our own comprehensive insurance, and built as an industrial work site that meets all industry standards for safety. We've run over 1000 events, and both our insurance company and the rope access regulatory bodies (SPRAT and IRATA) love us. We are happy to share our insurance loss run history with you to prove it. Over The Edge carries a comprehensive $10 million insurance policy that covers all aspects of the event should any injury or building damage occur. This policy indemnifies all key stakeholders including your non-profit, charity and the building where the event is being held.
How many people actually want to rappel? How will this help us raise money?
- Our average event raises over $100k with an average of only 65 participants. The majority of participants are first-time rappel participants: they’re regular people, young and old, and from all walks of life, who are pushing themselves out of their comfort zone for a cause they care deeply about. Plus, we will utilize our resources to bring publicity and social media attention to this event to further amplify your cause.
Wouldn't a traditional fundraiser probably be easier?
- Not only are our events turnkey and an attention getter, but they will help distinguish you as a trailblazer in the nonprofit field. "We should just stick with our traditional events." Nonprofits are having to deal with an emerging trend of declining event participant numbers. Participants are looking for a significant challenge to be part of to share on their social media feeds, and traditional events just don't provide that any more. Over The Edge events do!
How does my non-profit or charity get paid?
- Participants register online to fundraise for your organization. They then reach out to their friends, family, colleagues, and social media followers to obtain peer-to-peer sponsorships. The dollars raised by these individuals from Over The Edge's Signature events then go directly to your organization!
How do you determine if our building is safe to use?
- There are three safety checks before event day to determine if your building is a safe option for an Over The Edge event:
1) We vet the building with satellite photos.
2) We review more detailed photos to create a comprehensive Site Inspection Safety Plan.
3) A member of our technical team will do a physical site visit to confirm your property can safely host an event.
What is the impact on our current tenants or hotel/resort guests?
- The impact on current tenants and guests is minimal. An average event will see between 64 and 92 people on-site over an 8 hour time period. Meaning, only 8-12 people are arriving every sixty minutes. While we do make our best effort to use areas out of the way from existing tenants, many are usually curious and excited to take a peek at the action!
What is expected of building hosts? How much of a time commitment will this be for staff?
- Over The Edge will take care of the event execution on the actual day. Whether it is a one time nonprofit fundraising event or you become one of our Altitude Zone hosts, our events are turnkey. As a building host, we kindly ask that you accept shipment of Over The Edge gear, and provide an area for participants to register and put on their gear - usually a mechanical room. We also ask that you attend a safety meeting on event day, or regular safety briefings. Long story short - staff involvement will be minimal, and you'll be able to monetize unused space!
Other than the previously answered questions on this page about safety and liability insurance, does my property need to take out any extra insurance or measures to host an Over The Edge rappel event?
- There should be no reason to take out additional insurance as we carry 10 million dollars in insurance for this event. Our insurance is primary and non-contributory, and you will be named as additionally insured on our certificate. We are happy to share our insurance loss run history with you to prove it. Over The Edge carries a comprehensive $10 million insurance policy that covers all aspects of the event should any injury or building damage occur. This policy indemnifies all key stakeholders including your non-profit, charity and the building where the event is being held.
“No one will want to do this.”