Located in the center of Austria’s Tirol, Area 47 is an adventure park that greets adventure enthusiasts with a line-up of thrilling attractions, one of which is advertised as one of Europe’s fastest water slides.
Famous for reaching speeds of up to 50 mph, this slide is a heart-stopping experience for anyone bold enough to overcome its sheer plunge.
At the door, a particular sign serves as a warning to women, warning them not to participate—a prohibition that recently caught the attention of a bold visitor: Rhiannan Iffland.
Rhiannan, a high diver and seven-time Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion, is not new to taking on outrageous challenges.
When the 33-year-old saw the ‘no women’ sign, she was intrigued immediately and was driven to know what was being kept behind the door.
In a second video uploaded onto Instagram, Rhiannan is at the top of the slide, peeking over the edge, contemplating as she declares, “Apparently women are not supposed to do this slide.”
Disregarding advice, Rhiannan speeds down the water slide, her screams ringing out with excitement and the rush of speed.
She subsequently captioned her viral video on Instagram with a funny caption that stated, “Here for a good time not a long time! Another YOLO moment.”
The clip soon gained widespread popularity on the internet, drawing viewers who responded with a combination of reactions to her cheeky escapade.
The majority of viewers commended her adventurous spirit, praising her courage, while others questioned the sense of the park in limiting the entry of females to the slide.
Among the comments, several women recounted their own harrowing experiences on water slides, emphasizing the importance of exercising caution.
One of the followers playfully conceded, “I got the worst enema on that slide… you are brave, girl.”
Another shared an even more vivid memory: “Peed out half the swimming pool in the toilet from my butt. I literally couldn’t stand upright after it happened.”
As much as the viral video ignited heated debates throughout the web, Area 47 chose to clarify the reasoning behind their safety policy and respond to the s**ism accusations.
The park’s spokesperson explained that the ban was not a reflection on women’s capabilities, but a precautionary measure.
“Initially, this particular slide was open to both women and men,” they added, explaining that a sharp rise in injuries to female visitors prompted the park to re-evaluate safety measures.
The spokesperson continued to reveal that after consulting with the doctors, authorities, and the producers of the slide, the team ultimately limited access to male visitors rather than entirely eliminating the iconic slide.
The park strongly made it clear that its action was solely on the basis of female visitors’ safety, as suggested by health professionals on the risks involved in having such high-speed slides.
“Our highest priority is ensuring the safety and happiness of all our guests, regardless of gender,” they said, adding that Area 47 is an open arena, with almost half of all its staff and over half of its management being female.
In a reflection on having gone down the slide despite the warning advice, Rhiannan subsequently told news.com.au that she had not meant to disobey the safety rules.
“It was never my intent to mock the safety regulations of this water slide,” she said, emphasizing that part of a professional diver’s job is to constantly assess risks.
“A person’s safety is paramount, and I am constantly weighing up any danger with my job. To suggest otherwise is wrong,” she added.
To Rhiannan, the journey down Austria’s notorious slide was more than an adrenaline rush, it was also the catalyst for an even bigger conversation about risk, curiosity, and where we draw the line.
