Base jumping requires serious preparation
It seems there will always be people on this earth who constantly seek an adrenaline rush. The most energetic boys and girls grow up continually searching for new adventures, and dissatisfied by what seems to them a too-mundane rhythm of life, they try to quench their “adrenaline hunger” by mastering the most extreme recreational activities and sports on land, water, and in the air.
Jumping
Standing on the very edge of a solid platform and staring into the void ahead of you, casting away all fears and taking the leap! To experience, if only for a few seconds, the indescribable feeling of free fall, relying solely on the reliability of your gear and equipment! Isn’t that self-conquest, the pinnacle of adrenaline release into the blood?
This is exactly what characterizes several extreme sports and activities, all of which share the common root in their name – jumping (from the English word jump – to leap). These include bungee jumping, rope jumping, and base jumping.
Interestingly, a type of these extreme activities was very popular and widespread in the past. In the 1930s, Soviet youth were engulfed in what could be called a “parachute mania.” Parachute towers of OSOAVIAKHIM (the precursor to DOSAAF) became indispensable features of recreational parks in cities. Long lines would form on weekends as people eagerly awaited their turn to make their first jump, which often opened the door for many to further achievements in the skies. The enthusiasm was so overwhelming that at park dances later on, boys without a parachutist badge were often not considered proper suitors by the girls.
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Bungee Jumping
Bungee Jumping
This type of extreme sport and recreation is currently one of the most accessible and is often used as an amusement ride. In Russian, it is often referred to as “Tarzan swing,” although this slightly distorts the essence of the activity. It involves jumping headfirst from a great height with an elastic rope attached to the legs. The rope gently slows the free fall before bouncing the daredevil upwards – and so it continues until the motion ceases entirely.
This exotic pastime emerged relatively recently – in the late 1980s in England. Initially, due to its unusual nature, it was met with significant resistance from the authorities. Only the persistence of “pioneers” eventually led to official recognition, and now such attractions can be found in many countries.
High bridges are particularly popular – probably because it feels easier for a person to jump toward water than toward rocks or solid ground. However, the most daring jumpers will leap from anywhere – from the Eiffel Tower, suspension bridges over Alpine gorges, and even waterfalls.
The popularity of this extreme activity has grown to such an extent that even specialized bungee towers are being built to attract enthusiasts from around the world. The most advanced athletes, using special harness systems, manage to perform entire series of acrobatic stunts mid-flight.
As with any sport, bungee jumping comes with its records. The most extreme jump was made by Australian A.J. Hackett from the Macau Tower in China, with a height of 233 meters! Before that, the long-standing record was held at 220 meters – the high alpine dam Verzasca in the Swiss Alps.
Rope Jumping
Rope Jumping
According to a peculiar legend, this type of extreme sport appeared quite accidentally. In 1989, during an ascent of a mountain peak, the famous American climber Dan Osman fell but survived thanks to a good belay. However, the unique sensation of free fall brought him so much positive emotion that he conducted a whole series of artificial “falls,” which led to the emergence of a new thrill-seeking activity.
The essence of rope jumping lies in the fact that an athlete jumps from a height while wearing mountaineering equipment. After the free-fall phase, a sophisticated system of safety mechanisms and shock absorption dissipates the energy of the jump, leaving the jumper hanging upside down, at a safe distance from any obstacles.
Typically, rope jumping communities consist of entire teams with their own engineers and technicians, scouts, and event organizers. It is clear that such an extreme form of jumping demands excellent personnel qualifications and the highest quality equipment. Every component of the basic or dynamic part of the entire setup for rope jumping has a significant safety margin, is always backed up (and in some cases, there are multiple levels of safeguards).
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Rope jumping boasts its own line of records:
The highest rope jump performed in the former Soviet Union was accomplished by the St. Petersburg team RAPT in Crimea, on Mount Shaan-Kaya. The departure point of the athlete was at a height of 230 meters, with a free-fall segment of 150 meters.
For over 12 years, the world record was held by Dan Osman, the founder of this extreme sport. In 1998, in Yosemite National Park, he successfully completed a jump from a height of 304.8 meters. Tragically, later that year, during an attempt to break his own record, he lost his life.
The current world record belongs to the Russian team RAPT and Ukrainian team ROCK’N’ROPE (Zaporizhzhia). On July 14, 2010, these athletes performed jumps from a height of 355 meters off the mountain peak Kjerag in Norway. The free-fall phase measured 280 meters. According to the athletes themselves, they could have exceeded this number but deliberately left some room for future achievements.
BASE Jumping
Base Jumping
This is arguably the “ultimate level” in the range of extreme jumping sports. Jumps from tall, stationary objects using a special parachute demand the highest level of psychological and physical preparedness from the participant.
Interestingly, the first documented BASE jump dates back to the late 18th century—French physicist and engineer Louis-Sebastien Lenormand demonstrated the potential of his “umbrella” by jumping from the observatory tower in the city of Montpellier in 1783. His intentions were entirely humanitarian—he viewed this as one possible way to help rescue people trapped in burning high-rise buildings.
This activity only began to develop actively in the last century. In 1912, there was a jump from the Statue of Liberty, and over time, BASE jumpers gradually explored many famous tall structures or natural peaks.
The term “BASE jumping” itself only emerged in 1978, coined by one of this sport’s “founding fathers” and ideologues, Carl Boenish.
Despite its apparent similarity to classical parachuting, BASE jumping stands apart due to its unique characteristics:
Jumps are made from low altitudes, requiring the athlete to be highly focused and masterful in controlling their body. There’s no time to correct mistakes.
Athletes have no safety measures. Unlike regular parachutists, BASE jumpers do not carry a reserve parachute—using one at such low altitudes is simply impossible. Their lives depend entirely on their single, carefully selected and meticulously packed parachute.
To become a BASE jumper, one probably needs a certain kind of obsession. It’s hard to imagine that for a few moments of free flight, some athletes spend hours climbing the world’s tallest industrial chimney in Ekibastuz (420 meters) or summiting a mountain peak! The level of physical fitness required for this is immense. Moreover, this sport is not welcomed in all countries, and in some places is outright prohibited, meaning the search for suitable tall objects often comes with additional challenges.
Nonetheless, the number of BASE jumpers grows every year, and the “peaks” they conquer multiply. In Russia, an organized association has even been established—the “Russian Extreme Project” team, which is rightfully considered the most skilled and well-prepared in the world.
