Riders’ star slam dunks the Leap of Faith!

Leicester Riders and British Basketball League player, Conner Washington and Hot Shot the mascot visited Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre for some basketball fun to support our Fitcation campaign.

We invited Conner, who is one of the most decorated players in the game with 15 pieces of silverware, to climb the Leap of Faith challenge at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre with his basketball. The Leap is a 30-foot platform with a jump into the abyss to catch a hanging trapeze bar and although Conner wears the number 13 shirt for the Riders, it wasn’t unlucky for him as he made a successful leap from the top of the pole!

We’re showcasing all of the ways in which you can keep active with family and friends, and as one of our local sporting heroes, Conner was only too keen to try his hand at something new. With the summer holidays just around the corner, our Fitcation campaign shines a light on loads of exciting, physical and action-packed adventures throughout Leicester and Leicestershire.

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Conner said: “I loved the whole experience, and the best bit was definitely the Leap of Faith as I managed the maximum distance. Looking up from the ground it looks much further than it looked at the top!  As a professional sportsman I thrive on pushing myself and I certainly have done that here. I would encourage everyone to take on an active challenge or sport. The pride you get in achieving goals, and team spirt when playing a sport with others who enjoy the same things as you, are hard to beat.

“Staying active is important to let off steam or keep you mentally and physically engaged in something positive. I would like to bring my whole team here for some teambuilding – it’s been great fun. I brought the Riders mascot, Hot Shot, along and he had a go at the power fan drop. Seeing a horse descend with a rope was quite a sight! That definitely proves Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre is for everyone.“

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Chris Murnin, Deputy Manager at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre added: “It was great to see Conner take on the Leap of Faith. This inspired him to try more of the high ropes course including the climbing wall and power fan drop. We are all about inspiring active fun and confidence in a safe environment for our visitors, so being part of the Fitcation campaign is perfect for us. We’re open all year round and offer after school clubs, summer holiday activities, family activities, ladies only nights during the week and we also offer a paddle to the pub trip along the river.”

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Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a partner in the Fitcation campaign and offer over 26 fun activities.  From bell boating to crate stacking and raft building to abseiling, you can take to the water for a kayak adventure, get a great view on the aerial high ropes or have fun on dry land with bushcraft.

With a range of 49 bookable activities and challenges to experience through the Fitcation campaign, you can book a wide range of thrill-seeking challenges and activities, learn a new sport, find some active family fun or simply enjoy a gentle adventure in the Leicestershire countryside.

There’s loads of inspiration for having fun together, whatever the weather. Challenge your friends to a quad bike safari, take up open water swimming, try your hand at archery or axe throwing. Families can enjoy roller discos, bouncing around at trampoline parks, taking on the Ninja Warrior Adventure course or enjoying the outdoors with alpaca and donkey walks or exploring a huge outdoor maze.

Fitcation is all about gentle adventures and active fun to stay healthy, energised and happy. Trying a new sport, setting a personal challenge to get a buzz of achievement or just taking a walk in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside will create a sense of wellbeing that helps us cope better with our daily lives. To find out what your next active fun could be, go to www.visitleicester.info/fitcation