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Videos: Going For A Ride On The U.S. Bank Tower's Skyslide
"It's terrible. It's a stupid idea."
This is how Guillermo Rodriguez, Jimmy Kimmel's on-screen sidekick, felt about the US Bank Tower "Skyslide" before he got on it. And it's easy to sympathize with him; the slide is on the 70th floor of (what is currently) the tallest building in the western U.S. That's 1,000 feet up. It's also worth nothing that the slide hangs on the side of the building, and that the all-glass structure allows you to see everything—even the streets right beneath you, on which you might fall and disintegrate.
On June 20 we reported that at least one brave soul had decided to test it out. Now, we're seeing more videos of people going down the Skyslide. Associated Press reporter Amanda Myers took a first-person shot of the experience ("This is the most terrifying thing."), so now you can see first-hand what it'll be like. Our first impression is that it's not that long of a ride (you're only going down one floor) so maybe we can handle it.
Guillermo was less optimistic:
"For sure there are two things that are going to happen. One, I'm going to close my eyes. Second, I'm going to s___ my pants," he lamented.
But he mustered up the courage and did it. It wasn't pretty, however, as he sort of tilted to one side and ended up sliding down sideways. It's something we also saw in last week's video; the slider's alignment was out of whack. So be forewarned: if you're going down the Skyslide, don't lean to one side or the other, or else you'll end up on your x-axis.
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When Kimmel asked what Guillermo thought of the slide afterward. Guillermo said, "It was OK." Here's Guillermo, and some reporters, having a blast on the Skyslide:
The Skyslide, as well as the OUE Skyspace observation deck, will officially open on June 25. You will have to purchase a ticket for admittance.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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