BASE jumping, an acronym that represents “Buildings, Aerials, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs), is a wildly popular activity among extreme sport enthusiasts, wherein the BASE jumper leaps from virtually any tall structure, with nothing more than a single parachute as a contingency plan.
It is illegal in most urban areas, as the variables of metropolitan areas make the stunt dangerous both for the jumper and innocent passersby.
BASE jumping was popularized following the release of footage of BASE jumping in 1978, but in fact, the sport has been around since the early 1900s.
Because the heights from which a BASE jumper jumps are nowhere near as high as those of skydivers, the BASE jumper will rarely achieve terminal velocity, lending a sense of security to BASE jumping over skydiving. However, this presents a significant risk to the jumper, who must be trained on the precise moments for opening their parachutes and landing.
Although BASE jumping is not a sport for the weak-willed, watching a BASE jump merely requires curiosity. Check out this video of National Geographic’s 2009 Adventurer of the Year Dean Potter, who exhibits none of the fear that strikes this writer’s heart even thinking of trying a BASE jump!
Image via hakonthingstad
