World Champion Tries Banned Water Slide After Spotting 'No Women' Warning

A world champion cliff diver once went viral after she ignored a 'no women' sign at a water park and took on the attraction anyway.

But the rule was not meant as some kind of Yorkie chocolate-style 'not for girls' joke. According to the park, the warning was there because of a real injury risk linked to the slide.

Area 47, an adventure park in Austria, offers several 'extreme' attractions and promises visitors the 'wildest adventures of your life'. But its huge water slide became the center of debate after world champion high diver Rhiannan Iffland decided to try it for herself.

Iffland wanted to see what women were being kept away from when she came across what was described as 'Europe's fastest waterslide'.

Women are not allowed to ride the attraction, which can reach speeds of up to 50mph. Even so, the Australian cliff diver shared a video showing herself giving it a go.

In the clip, Iffland walked toward the entrance of the slide with clear excitement, while explaining to the camera that 'women aren't supposed to use this'.

World champion Iffland said she is 'constantly weighing up danger' Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP via Getty Images

She then pointed to a sign above the slide, which stated: "Due to high risk of injury, women are not allowed to use this slide!"

Even with the warning in front of her, the 34-year-old did not appear too worried about the chance of getting hurt. That changed slightly when she reached the moment where she had to let go of the bars and send herself down the steep vertical drop.

Iffland glanced back at her friend, who was filming the water park moment, with a look that seemed to suggest she had just realized how intense the ride was about to be.

Seconds later, viewers saw her vanish down the male-only slide as she let out a sharp scream, while her friend watched and laughed from above.

When she posted the clip on Instagram, Iffland wrote: "Here for a good time not a long time! Another YOLO moment."

Although the video made plenty of people react, Area 47 has said there is a serious reason behind the controversial 'no women' sign.

Why the video sparked a debate

The clip quickly caught attention because the sign seemed strange at first glance. Many people saw the phrase 'no women' and reacted before learning why the park had placed the warning there.

For some viewers, the rule looked unfair and outdated. For others, the speed of the slide and the safety explanation made it clear that the park was trying to avoid serious injuries.

Iffland's background as an elite high diver also added to the reaction, because she is used to extreme drops, water impact, and risk. Still, the park made clear that the rule was not based on skill level, but on a specific safety concern.

Area 47’s response

A spokesperson for the park explained that Area 47 was built in 2009, and the original plan was never to create a ride meant only for men.

"Initially, this particular slide was open to both women and men," they said. "However, in the second year, we noticed a significant increase in accidents on this slide, which required us to take action."

The Austrian park then spoke with doctors, authorities, and the slide's manufacturer. Those discussions led to what the spokesperson described as a difficult choice: "Either disassemble the water slide or restrict its use to men only, as it stands now."

They continued: "Our highest priority is ensuring the safety and happiness of all our guests, regardless of gender."

"The risks for women using this slide were tragically highlighted a few years ago when a woman was severely injured on a similar slide in the Canary Islands."

The spokesperson also stressed that the destination is 'not misogynistic', saying the restriction was based on safety concerns rather than an attempt to exclude women unfairly.

She went viral for the video Instagram/@rhiannan_iffland

The park says the rule came after injuries

According to the park's explanation, the decision came after accidents increased during the slide's second year of operation.

That put Area 47 in a difficult position. It could either remove the attraction completely or limit who could use it based on the safety advice it had received.

The park said it chose to keep the slide open for men only after consulting medical experts, authorities, and the manufacturer, while still maintaining that guest safety was the main reason behind the rule.

What's the danger?

According to the National Library of Medicine in the US, women can suffer severe injuries when high-pressure water enters the body. There is also a risk of infection because foreign bodies can be present in the water.

In recent years, there have been several reports of women suffering devastating internal injuries after riding high-speed water slides.

After her video went viral, Iffland responded to the backlash and told news.com.au: "It was never my intent to mock the safety regulations of this water slide. A person's safety is paramount and I am constantly weighing up any danger with my job."

"To suggest otherwise, is wrong."

Her response made clear that she did not see the video as a joke at the expense of the rule. Instead, she said safety is something she takes seriously, especially given the risks that come with her work as a professional cliff diver.

The viral moment ended up drawing attention not only to Iffland's bold choice, but also to the unusual safety rules that can exist around extreme attractions when the risk is not obvious at first glance.

A risky stunt with a serious explanation

While many people first saw the video as a daring or funny moment, the reason behind the sign made the story more complicated.

Area 47 said the restriction was introduced only after the park saw a rise in accidents and reviewed the issue with medical and safety experts. That explanation turned the debate from a simple question of fairness into a wider discussion about risk.

Iffland may have treated the ride as another 'YOLO' moment, but the park's response showed why the warning exists and why some attractions carry rules that may seem odd until the danger is explained.