Local Um?

Sign of the times I guess. Today YJDKIY was bopping around the USNWC website looking at activities available for Spring and Summer adventures. My one experience with this place a couple years ago, flat water kayaking, my first attempt!, was quite enjoyable. We had the river to ourselves and even saw an otter. My overall impression was "great facility, so poorly underused I have no idea how it will stay afloat" (pun intended, because YJDKIY is like that).

They have this one that I've always thought would be cool to play with, since it is included in the AllSport and CoolSport passes (I think that's a pretty good deal for $30 or $50 bucks of day fun). However, when reading about the MegaZip, I was greeted with the following, quite disappointing, statement:


The Mega Zip at the USNWC is currently under annual maintenance.  In order to expand the weight limitations we have decided to upgrade to a new system that will accommodate more guests. We expect to have the new and improved experience available shortly. Thank you for your patience.

Disappointing you ask? The weight max is already 230lb. Perhaps this is related to a few facts I read this morning:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1971 and 2000 American women increased the number of calories they consumed by 22 percent (from 1,542 to 1,877 per day), while men increased their intake by 7 percent (from 2,450 to 2,618 calories).
• Serving sizes at national restaurant chains have become two to five times larger than they were in the 1970s. 
• During the thirty-year period covered by the study, obesity rates doubled, and two-thirds of Americans are now considered overweight.
• In 1978, fast-food sales totaled $9 billion—a figure that rose to $106 billion in 1998.