Strength Through Struggle is a private event and open to pre-approved suspendees and registered supporters only, with a required donation of $175 to suspend and a sliding-scale donation for attending supporters.
Having weathered the long pandemic pause, we’re now back in action, and with caution in tow.
This isn’t a show of entertainment. It’s not a public performance of pain nor is it a spectacle of sensation. This very special gathering is designed to facilitate safely-guided, visually-visceral hook suspensions in a variety of forms; executed with intention in this immensely important time in history and the world we’re currently facing.
We’re all finding our way through the wake of a triple year running global pandemic; compounded with many other conflicts, struggles & intense recent & ongoing challenges.
In this unprecedented, rapidly-changing social, political & polarized landscape, we have become angry, frustrated, afraid & unsure; stretched thin in the face of an unclear future.
Right now, more than ever before, it’s time that we transcend our differences, turn our backs to the political lies, cancel culture and media smoke screens. Let’s come together and lift both ourselves and each other up off the ground. Let’s show love to ourselves, support each other and fill our cups through ceremonial body suspension: utilizing hooks as tools to empower, grow & heal. To look inward and push boundaries, face ourselves & take on inner demons; united together as the courageous warriors of the modern world.
After a necessary pandemic hiatus, we are pleased to announce the return of the annual Whistler Suspension Camping Retreat; hosted by The RISE Suspension Crew July 8-10 2022 in beautiful Whistler, British Columbia!
This event is focused and geared toward facilitating suspensions in nature with respect, energy and intention directed into each individual suspension experience as a transformational, transcending, healing & ceremonial practice in an intimate group setting with like-minded individuals. Whether or not spirituality is your “thing”, we aim to make your experience what you want it to be. This event is a perfect opportunity to have us tailor your overall suspension experience; implementing any and all specific details you bring to the table in order for us to make your suspension experience all it can be. For thousands of years, in many cultures all over the world, suspensions and similar practices have been used for a variety of purposes. It can be used as a powerful healing tool for healing past traumas or managing chronic pain conditions. To inspire personal growth in various ways, with the ability to help increase self confidence, empower or decrease insecurity. It can be a rite of passage used to close a chapter of life or to symbolize a new beginning. It can even simply be a life bucket list checkbox for fun like skydiving or bungee jumping! Let us help you design and choose your own adventure to make your suspension experience all that it can be!
Is there a cost to attend and/or suspend at this event?
The RISE Suspension Crew facilitates suspensions in a non-profit manner; providing trained, experienced, passionate crew members who donate their time, experience and skills to make all suspensions as safe and fulfilling as possible. Please note that all crew members have suspended in the past prior to training, ensuring that all suspendees are under the care of piercers and riggers who have been through their own suspension experiences. As our crew members humbly volunteer their time, The RISE Suspension Crew relies on the donations of suspendees and event attendees in order to remain sustainable, maintain and upkeep equipment and facilitate future events.
Attendees doing hook suspensions are asked to make a $250 donation to cover their suspension equipment/supplies & event costs. Anyone planning to do multiple or more complex suspensions over the weekend may require an increase in donation amount based on what they want to do. Please make note of your plans in your registration email so that everything is properly planned and prepared for you prior to the event.
Attendees not doing hook suspensions are asked to make a monetary donation; amount chosen at their discretion based on what they feel is reasonable and what they can afford. Communal donations of food, water or camping supplies are always welcome and greatly appreciated!
Suspension Sponsorship
If you are deeply needing to suspend for healing purposes but simply cannot afford it, please send an email to bookings@therisehookdivision.com with the subject line: Suspension Sponsorship and provide a written explanation of your situation and we will try to make it happen for you.
To Volunteer
If you would like to be a volunteer for the event, please let us know in your email and we will make it happen!
Event details to note
-Early attendance/event site setup begins afternoon Thursday July 7 2022. -A limited number of registrants will be carefully chosen to ensure a respectful & intimate group setting for all attendees. -Both first-time and experienced suspendees welcome. -Radically inclusive (gender, race, sexuality, belief systems, etc.). We uphold a zero tolerance stance on hate speech or disrespect to other attendees at our events. -Family and pet friendly. -We will be equipped to rig & facilitate virtually any type of individual & multi-person static/dynamic suspensions; including popular positions, abstract & custom positions, tandem & multi-layer setups, 2 person & 3 person spinning beams, shibari/hook hybrid positions, non-hook shibari positions, etc. -Camping is involved, so everyone must supply their own camping necessities. Extra communal tents, bedding & camping necessities may be provided upon request for any attendees who are unable to supply or bring their own. If borrowing supplies, please take care of them as per the owner’s requests (ie. no smoking in tents). -A large propane camping fire pit and multiple propane tanks will be provided & shared for cooking, ambiance and light. -Attendees must provide their own food and cooking necessities. Shared necessities (pots/pans/utensils) may be provided upon request for those that need them. If using someone else’s items, be sure to thoroughly clean & return them immediately after use. -This is not a sanctioned camping area, so there is no porta potty on site. There is a private area designated for excreta. Attendees should bring or make their own urine funnels or preferred devices for personal use if preferred. -Leave no trace. Nature is our host, so the least we can do is show respect & gratitude by cleaning up & packing out all trash, recycling & personal belongings before, during & at the close of the event. Event attendees & organizers alike must make every effort to maintain & leave the event site in a better and cleaner state than we found it in.
To apply, please email bookings@therisehookdivision.com with your full legal name (specify if you have a preferred name to use instead), current age, experience level/number of times you’ve suspended, description of what suspension(s) you would like to do at the event as well as any relevant details you would like to have noted or discuss. Please provide details if you have a medical condition, prescribed medication(s) or lifestyle specifics which could affect your suspension or attendance. All registrant information provided is kept 100% confidential & only requested for the purpose of safety.
As of March 2021 The RISE Suspension Crew HQ has relocated to Southern Ontario!
Words cannot express the absolute blast we’ve had in Vancouver since our inception in 2004. It’s been our biggest honour to have facilitated literally thousands of safe body suspension experiences for the public (first-timers and experienced suspension enthusiasts alike) as well as putting on countless suspension performances at many local Vancouver venues and conventions.
We have had many members (riggers, piercers or both) come and go from our team roster over the years. The RISE always has and always will operate as a non-profit group, allowing us to offer safe, experienced suspension experiences to the public at the most affordable and attainable cost possible. Due to this aspect of how we function, acting members sometimes lose the ability to volunteer their time as facilitators when life responsibilities get in the way. We fully respect this fact and will forever hold space for past team members to come back into active member status at any time they choose; even if just for one-off guest appearances. All have been an integral part of who we are and have selflessly volunteered their time, skills and experience as a public service allowing us to do what we do. We appreciate youimmensely and wouldn’t be the same without you all!
Moving forward, we are now opening up tonew prospective team members in the Southern Ontario region. The first pre-requisite for membership is that in order to be a practitioner one must not only have experienced a suspension themselves in the past, but also hold a passion for suspension in all of it’s facets and forms. They must be driven to facilitate safe, selfless experience for those that we have the honour of suspending. If you are interested in applying for membership, contact us to let us know!
We will continue to annually host The Whistler Suspension Retreat in BC every summer as well as a new annual event: The Southern Ontario Suspension Retreat. Both events run all weekend, involve camping and are fully inclusive and family-friendly. Suspendees must be at least 18 years of age. Dates will be posted in the near future for registration.
We will also continue to offer suspensions and performances from coast to coast in Canada every spring and fall during Canadian tours. Use the same contact link to book your own suspension experience in a location near you for an upcoming tour in 2022.
If you are in Southern Ontario and would like to suspend, we are now offering private suspensions for individuals who meet Covid-19 criteria for safety. Use the contact link to sign up!
The RISE Suspension Crew Presents: The 5th Annual Whistler Suspension Retreat! Experience 4 days and 3 nights of camping & suspensions in a secluded site near Whistler, BC, Canada Camp out and push your limits in proper West Coast fashion Event is limited capacity, so book in early! Email: bookings@therisehookdivision.com
The People Who Suspend is a visceral, epic and untold journey into the deepest levels of body suspension experiences and intentions from personal and simple to the most death defying.
Filmed in 11 countries, this documentary launches you deep through the experiences, hearts and minds of the people who suspend all over the world.
Please check it out, share and support this amazing film project!
*Below Taken from The People Who Suspend Facebook Page*
Here it is…
The official theatrical trailer is complete, and the film is available for purchase. Visit www.ThePeopleWhoSuspend.com to order your DVD and you’ll get an access code to see the film on Vimeo right away.
The DVD is loaded with bonus features and extended interviews, and all of those are being uploaded to Vimeo now, so you’ll be able to watch them in HD from any device or smart TV.
To win a free signed DVD, share this post publicly. Every 20 shares I’ll randomly select a winner. Share it as many times as you like to increase your chances of winning.
For a full update on the film check out the video I just posted on The People Who Suspend fan page and youtube.
The day has come. The film is now available for streaming. The DVDs will be produced soon, and big things are happening in the coming year. Hope you all can make it out to a film festival screening.
Please leave a review on Vimeo and click like so the algorithm doesn’t think you hated it. Unless you don’t like it, in which case, don’t tell anyone! 😉
After hiking the mountains all day looking for the perfect location to do a couple suspensions, we met a lovely woman named Julie who let us use her property on the mountainside. The view was breathtaking, as was the whole experience.
