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MONA, Juab County — A well-known rope swing in Mona provided some end-of-the-summer fun for a group of teenagers Monday.
The Burraston Ponds are mainly used by fishermen, but locals say the rope swings have been there as long as they can remember. The ponds were even mentioned during the Escalante Expedition in 1776 in history books.
Several of the trees along the bank of the pond have ropes tied to branches with varying heights and platforms. The group of friends said the ropes give them a chance to show off.
"I have to get up there and do something cool — show off a little bit," said Herriman resident Braden Crook. "I see other people up there doing backflips, and it's a pride thing."
"This is actually my first time coming," said Canyon Hansen. "You're kind of battling people around you to see if you can outdo the other guy."
The teens said that when the girls show up, the flips and tricks off the swing become even more daring.
"You got to keep flexing," Crook said. "Rip off that shirt and show off a little bit. Make sure you're looking good doing it."
The girls in the group said they did notice, and that the feats are harder than they look.
"I can see where they're coming from," said Alexandra McGavin. "I want to do backflips in front of boys, but when you're up there, it's not as easy as it sounds."
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"I was shaking, yeah, and I'm not usually scared of stuff like that," said South Jordan Jordyn Bailey. "But, you get used to it."
The rope lengths and platforms vary from seven feet, 15 feet, and 30 feet high. The group said that most people don't dare to jump into the pond from the 30 foot swing.
"There is another level," Hansen said. "There is another level. I don't know if I would try it, because that's a little crazy up there."
However, Hansen's friend, Kyle Moffat made the jump from 30 feet and everyone stopped to watch.
Moffat said the feat earned him "bragging rights" for the day.
The Mona Rope Swing or "Burriston Ponds Rope Swing" is located in Mona, about 45 minutes South of Provo on I-15.
