The idea of jumping from a tall structure while connected to a parachute and a wingsuit frighten me already. I am sure most of you would not consider it as a normal sport. I will never have the balls to attempt such a dangerous activity, even when I’m drunk! Life is too short for me to take such risk. But there are some brave people out there who have the guts for this kind of sport.

The videos below show some ‘brave souls’ performing BASE jumps, which grew from skydiving. According to definition from Wikipedia BASE jumping involves the use of a parachute or the sequenced use of a wingsuit and parachute to jump from fixed objects (with the parachute unopened at the jump!). ‘BASE’ is an acronym for the four categories of fixed objects: Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth. BASE jumping differ from skydiving in that it’s much lower in altitudes than skydives and it takes place in close proximity to the object. BASE jumpers have less aerodynamic control and are more likely to tumble because they are falling at lower speeds.

BASE jumping was first attempted back in the 1783 by a gentleman named Louis-Sebatien Lenormand. Louis made the first parachute jump from the tower of Montpellier observatory with a balloon preceding the jump. BASE jumping is quite popular in action movies, but of course with special effects added. You will find examples of BASE jumps in the 2002 Vin Diesel film xXx where Diesel’s character jump off a bridge in an open-topped car, and in several James Bond movies (1985’s View to a Kill from the Eiffel Tower, 1987’s The Living Daylights from Rock of Gibraltar, and 2002’s Die Another Day from a melting iceberg).

BASE jumping is viewed by many as a stunt or daredevil rather than a sport. Due to the high fatality rate, approximately 123 deaths between 1981 and 2008, the so called ‘extreme’ sport is not widely accepted. Carl Boenish’s was the first man to be listed on The Guinness World Records for the highest BASE jump, but unfortunately he died two days later with a jump at the same site. Currently the record is being held by Glenn Singleman and Heather Swan with a jump from Meru Peak in northern India at an elevation of 6,604 meters (21,667 feet).

Now sit back, relax and enjoy the BASE jump experience from your computer screen. Not quite the same feeling as in reality but it will give you a feel for it… Enjoy! 8)