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As with all sports, there are some people who are more suited to bungy jumping than others.  Those who are naturally inclined toward seeking the most extremes of thrills and excitement are those who will most likely be drawn to bungy jumping.  It is certainly not a sport for the timid, the nervous, the faint-hearted!  One of the most basic components of this sport is the extreme nature of it–  the amazing rush of adrenalin you will receive from plummeting downward at high speeds, your life and safety guarded only by elastic bungy cords and, in some cases, a body harness.  It is easy to see why there is virtually no other sport which can compare to the experience of bungy jumping. 

Given the daredevil, death-defying aspect of this sport, it should not be surprising that there are more men than women who go for bungy jumping.  It is also not surprising that younger people choose this sport much more frequently than older people, as older people are generally less inclined to engage in activities which present unnecessary risks.  Some studies have also shown that most women are not impressed with men who base their “macho” image on activities such as bungy jumping, and even consider it to be reckless behavior.  For the women who do have an interest in bungy jumping, however, there is a very clear emphasis on participating in this sport rather than being a spectator. 

Many people place bungy jumping in the category of things they would love to try, but lack the courage.  Others simply consider the risks to be too great.  Obviously those who have preexisting health conditions which would make bungy jumping more risky for them would be wise to steer clear of this sport.  Children who are too young to be fully aware of the risks involved should also not participate in bungy jumping.  Pregnant women should definitely avoid bungy jumping. 

You can safely assume that bungy jumping companies which advertise that this sport is for anyone and everyone are not demonstrating adequate responsibility for the lives and health of their prospective customers.  In addition to these obvious factors, to be basically average in height and weight is also important, as these factors contribute to the safety of the jumping itself, as well as the general body-type size that the bungy jumping equipment has been designed for.  

If both your health and temperament are suited to this sport, and you have decided that it is something you definitely wish to try, it is essential to select a bungy jumping company that is both reputable and responsible.  For all prospective bungy jumpers, but especially beginners, having the knowledge beforehand that the equipment is correctly designed, maintained on a regular basis, and handled properly during its use, will contribute to both your safety and your peace of mind. 

If you meet these basic requirements, and have assessed the potential risks as being worth taking for the experience, you may be one of those who is well suited for the sport of bungy jumping! 

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

Bungee jumping has taken the extreme sports world by storm.  Over the last few decades, millions of people have completed successful jumps.  So now, it is your turn.  You are getting ready to jump and you are excited.  But where do you jump from?  What are your options when it comes to the location?  In real estate, it is always said that the most important thing is ‘location, location, location’.  Is this true about bungee jumping as well?  Let’s take a look at some of the options for where to bungee jump, and how the jumps are completed in these environments.  This will help you to make an informed decision when you get ready to take the big dive.

Probably the most common place to bungee jump from is the crane.  In this scenario, a crane is used with a cage on the end.  The cage is lowered to the ground, and the jumper is prepared, rigged up, and attached to the bungee cord.  The bungee cord is then attached to the cage.  The jumper is then raised up to the jump height using the crane.  Often times the jump master will hold the coiled cords to prevent them from tangling up during the jump.  Once the cage reaches the jump height, the jumper jumps from the cage, bouncing at the end of the jump.  Upon completion of the jump, once the jumper is no longer bouncing, the cage is slowly lowered to the ground.  The ground crew is prepared to catch the jumper as he is lowered and safely remove him from his harness.  Once the jumper has cleared the platform, the bungee cords are recoiled and everything is inspected and prepared for the next jump participant.

So where else can you bungee jump?  Another prime location for a bungee jump is from a bridge.  Many successful jumps have been done from a variety of bridge types as well.  When jumping from a bridge, the jump team usually assembles a platform for the jumper to jump from.  The jumper is then harnessed up, and attached to the bungee cords.  The cords are then anchored to the bridge.  Once everything is ready, the jumper jumps off the platform.  A variation of this allows the jumper to jump from the rail of the bridge as well.  The jumper will bounce around 2-4 times before coming to a stop.  At this point the jump crew will usually lower down a secondary static line.  When the jumper clips this line to their harness, it is then used to pull the jumper back onto the bridge.  This is the safest recovery method used to get the jumper from the bottom jump position.  Another method that is sometimes used is to pull the bungee cord up enough to un-hook it from the bridge, and then use the cord to lower the jumper to the ground.

In addition to these tried and true places for bungee jumping, there is no end to the quest for where to bungee jump.  In the progression of this modern extreme sport, bungee jumping is taking place from buildings, towers, cable cars, hot air balloons, and even cable cars.  There is no end in sight to the locations that will be explored in the bungee jumping adventure.

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

If you would like to try the sport of bungy jumping, you can select from a number of trip packages that are sure to give you the experience of a lifetime.  You may have a preference in destinations and other available activities;  you can find a bungy jumping trip which will suit your own personal tastes and interests. 

If you are one of the most extreme thrill-seekers, you may like the idea of bungy jumping to the top of an active volcano.  Located in Pucon, Chile, you can bungy jump from a helicopter to within seven hundred feet from the molten lava.  You will, of course, be accompanied in the helicopter by both a trained bungy jumping professional and a photographer.  To add to the excitement, this trip includes traveling thirty-five miles to the volcano at high speed and high altitude while on the outside of the helicopter.  This would certainly be an unforgettable initiation into the sport of bungy jumping. 

Perhaps your preference leans more toward a great bungy jumping experience without the death-defying risks,  if so,  you might like to try the sport in California’s Angeles National Forest.  In thirteen years of business, Bungee America’s jumpers have  not had any injuries, and has an excellent safety record.  This bungy jumping is done from a ten-stories-high bridge.  You will be able to do front-flips, back-flips, back dive, front dive, or the elevator drop;  and you can choose between one and five jumps. 

Located in Northern California, Icarus Bungee also has a perfect safety record.  The bridges which they use for bungy jumping are all a minimum of one hundred twenty feet in height, and some are considerably higher.  All of the bridges they use for bungy jumping are in beautiful locations, which is a wonderful addition to the enjoyment of the bungy jumping trip. 

You can also find some great bungy jumping spots in Canada.  One of these is nestled amongst the breathtaking scenic beauty of Vancouver Island.  WildPlay at the Bungy Zone offers the very best of the basics.  If you’re looking for a bungy jumping trip with a no-frills emphasis on the sport at reasonable prices, WildPlay at the Bungy Zone could be the trip you are looking for.  But do not confuse “no-frills” with boring;  for you will certainly have all of the excitement bungy jumping can afford, with the details focused on the sport itself.  Not fancy, just great, would be the best way to describe it!  If you select Vancouver Island for your bungy jumping trip, you can do single jumps or tandem jumps with a friend.  If you are especially adventurous, WildPlay at the Bungy Zone has an annual gathering of jumpers where clothing is optional. 

Bungy jumping in Mexico is considerably less expensive, but you will not need to sacrifice any of the excitement.  There are bungy jumping companies in Mazatlan, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Puerto Vallarta, all of which provide the much sought-after thrills of this sport. 

Whatever type of bungy jumping trip you would like, it is available for you!

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

There are many ways to bungee jump.  While this extreme sport has one main method, there are many varieties that have come to life in the past decade of this international sport.  As the old adage goes, ‘variety is the spice of life’.  This is true even in the already spicy endeavor of bungee jumping.

The variety in bungee jumping usually comes from the position in which you perform the jump, how you are tethered, and any ‘tricks’ you may attempt to perform during the jump or the rebound.  First, let’s take a look at the different methods of being tethered, and see what impact that has on your jump.

The most common attachment method is the use of a body harness.  The body harness attaches to your body near the center of gravity, or your belly button.  One effect of this type of tethering is that it makes it easier to perform flips and spins.  Leg harness or ankle harnesses are another way of attaching to the bungee cord.  This type of tethering allows for more of the free fall feeling that is traditional with bungee jumping.  It is strictly based on the example of the land divers in the South Pacific.  Just these two different ways to bungee jump have a vast impact on the performance of the jump and the sensations afforded the jumper.  The other variations basically depend on your position when you jump.  We will examine a few of these ways to bungee jump in greater detail here.

The position that comes highly recommended is called the Swallow Dive.  Just as it sounds, your flight downward will resemble the dive of the bird.  Initiated by taking a ‘flying leap’ away from the platform, the body forms the shape of a bird with the arms outstretched like a bird’s wings.

Another way to bungee jump is called the Bat Drop.  In this position, you are held in place upside down.  This is achieved either with the help of the jump crew, or by suspending by your toes off the platform.  The effect is less wind resistance, and you drop like a rock on this one.

The most common way to bungee jump when jumping off of a bridge is to do the Rail Jump.  This is very basic, and consists of balancing on the rail of the bridge prior to jumping.  Again, some of the jump crew will usually assist in helping you balance on the rail.  This seems to actually be easier than climbing over the rail in order to jump.

Another way to bungee jump that is gaining in popularity today is the tandem jump.  In this variation, two jumpers take the plunge together.  It is somewhat dangerous, as bumping heads at the bottom can be unpleasant, to say the least.  The jumpers are actually tethered together, so they are both committed to the jump.

Keep in mind, however, that this is by no means a complete list.  There are many more ways to bungee jump that what are mentioned here.  As the future of this sport appeals to more people with advanced safety methods, there are sure to be more ways to bungee jump developed.

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

There are five major types of bungee jumping.  Everyone knows the first type of bungee jumping.  This is the plain old bungee jump (if there ever was such a thing).  Based on the natives from Pentecost Island in the South Pacific, this is where you jump off from a platform or other tall object.  Attached either through a let harness or body harness to a bungee cord or cords, you propel toward the earth.  Once the cord(s) reach their maximum elasticity, you would rebound a few times.  Typical jumpers experience about 2 to 4 rebounds, giving them the feeling of weightlessness.

The second type of bungee jumping is called ‘the catapult’, ‘reverse bungee’, or ‘bungee rocket’.  In this version of the bungee jump, you start on the ground and propel upwards.  You are actually attached to the ground using a variety of methods.  Once the bungee cord is stretched and ready, you are released.  This has the effect of shooting the jumper upwards into the air.  There is some danger in this method of jumping however.  The bungee cord has a tendancy to pull the jumper towards the object it is anchored to.  In the case of the ‘catapult’ jump, it is usually a lift crane.  The danger is that you could hit the crane on the initial pull upwards.  Of course, after the initial rocket upwards, the jump is much like the normal bungee jump.

The third type of bungee jumping is called the ‘twin towers’.  This type of bungee jump has solved the collision issue created with the ‘catapult’.  In this version of the bungee jump, there are two towers or cranes with bungee cords attached to the jumper.  These are set some distance apart, with the jumper in the middle.  This has the effect of shooting the jumper straight up, since they are pulling simultaneously.  This eliminates the issue for potentially hitting the platform or crane.  Some commercial outfits use a metal cage with this type of operation.  However, this does require a bit more calculations, as the added weight of the cage will increase the need for more bungee cords.

The fourth type of bungee jumping is called the ‘bungee run’.  However, as the name implies, it really doesn’t involve any jumping at all.  This type of bungee activity usually takes place down an inflatable runway.  The object is for the runner to get as far as possible before the bungee cord pulls them back toward the anchor point.  Competitions are actually held in this variation of the bungee sport.

The fifth type of bungee jumping is called the ‘bungee trampoline’.  This variation involves the use of a trampoline, in conjunction with poles and bungee cords.  The jumper starts jumping on the trampoline, in a body harness, attached to bungee cords.  The cords are attached to poles on the sides of the trampoline.  As the jumper gets up higher and higher, the cords are tightened.  Using this method, the jumper is able to go higher than they normally would with just the trampoline alone.

As you can see there are many types of bungee jumping in the modern bungee jumping movement.  These are but a few of the more well-known examples.  The future is sure to bring about even more variations of this extreme sport.

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

Three decades before bungy jumping began to come into the public eye as a new sport, the well-known broadcaster Sir David Attenborough encountered people on the Pentecost Island who demonstrated their courage by tying vines around their ankles and diving from tall platforms.  Shortly after, Chris Baker of England devised an elastic rope for attempting a similar feat.  In 1979, members of the Oxford England’s  Dangerous Sports Club jumped from the 250-foot Clifton Suspension Bridge, marking the first attempts at bungy jumping as it is known today.  Bungy jumping was slowly but surely gaining the public’s interest as a potential sport. 

In 1986, A. J. Hackett of New Zealand did his own first jump.  To promote widespread interest, he bungy jumped from numerous structures, including the Eiffel Tower in France, going on to start up one of the world’s largest bungy jumping companies.  The A. J. Hackett Bungy company has expanded to locations in Macau, Mexico, Indonesia, Germany, the United States, Australia, and France, in addition to his original New Zealand location. 

Not only was A. J. Hackett successful in spreading the word about bungy jumping, in creating his company he began to make this new sport much more widely accessible to those who wished to try it.  While the Macau location boasts the highest commercial bungy jumping in the world, all of the other branches provide a nearly-equal degree of excitement for all who elect to participate in this sport. 

The basic bungy jumping equipment consists of latex strands which are made into shock cords.  Some companies and customers prefer to use plain ankle attachments, but in the interest of the jumpers’ safety body harnesses are often used also.  Although sites vary in their means of retrieval, the most common method is with the use of a mobile crane which can quickly and accurately lower the jumper to the ground.  The variations of retrieval methods generally depend on the types of jumping platforms that are used. 

In addition to the basic form of bungy jumping, there are some variations to this sport.  In a Decelerator Descent, the jumper is able to slow down to a safer and more comfortable landing speed;  the Macau Tower site provides for this style of bungy jumping, and is the world’s highest facility for this style. 

The Catapult version is actually bungy jumping in reverse, as the jumper begins on the ground and, with the aid of a crane, shoots up into the air.  The Twin Tower variation is similar, but the jumper uses two cords. 

The two other most popular variations are quite different from the usual type of bungy jumping.  In Bungy Running, the person races along a track to see how far he can go before he is pulled back by the bungy cord.  On a much more tame scale than regular bungy jumping, the person wears bungy cords while using a trampoline, thus giving him the ability to jump much higher than with normal trampoline jumps. 

The popularity of bungy jumping has been increasing.  Whichever form of this sport you develop an interest in, you will be able to find exactly the one you’re looking for. 

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

Thusfar, there have been a half-dozen deaths and nearly as many critical injuries attributed to bungy jumping.  As bungy jumping is a relatively new sport, this is a significant number, and should make clear for anyone considering bungy jumping that it is quite risky indeed.  While how well the bunjy jumping equipment is maintained and overseen for its safety factors plays a large role in preventing deaths, there are a number of health risks associated with the sport itself.

Deaths and critical injuries generally occur as a result of improperly maintained equipment or miscalculations of cord length. A  death from massive cranial trauma occurred in 1997, for example, from improperly handled cords.  The victim was a female member of a professional bungy jumping team. 

However, even with the most stringent safety precautions, it is not possible to eliminate risks of injury, especially those which are actually associated with the sport of bungy jumping.  One of the most significant risks particular to women is that of uterine prolapse.  It is said that the speed and pressure of the bungy jumping can cause the uterus to not only tip but, in some cases, slide out of its normal location and even out of the body itself.  This, naturally, is very dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

Eye trauma is another very serious health risk from bungy jumping.  One of the most dangerous types of eye trauma associated with this sport is retinal hemorrhage;  this presents a very real possibility of losing one’s eyesight. Bungy jumping also presents the possibility of orbital emphysema, which can also result in permanent loss of vision.  On a slightly-lesser scale, but still noteworthy, are basic injuries to the eyes and their surrounding tissues.

Other health risks vary in their severity.  While such injuries as bruises and rope burn may be thought to be rather minor, dislocations and back injuries can range from moderate to disabling.  One must decide if all of these potential risks are worth engaging in the sport of bungy jumping, especially since there is no sure way of calculating the individual’s chance of these results occurring.  Even being in good general health beforehand is not a guarantee that the act of bungy jumping will not lead to any or all of these results. 

If you have assessed your own personal health concerns and have decided to try bungy jumping anyway, it is essential that you do your bungy jumping on equipment which is frequently checked for and maintained for the optimum degree of safety.  Next, you should ensure that those who handle the equipment before and during bungy jumping are adequately trained to do so properly.  In addition, you should consider the factor that some bungy jumping groups allow newcomers to the sport to bungy jump alone, while others take the extra safety precaution of having a newcomer be accompanied by a trained jumper.

As with any adventurous sport, bungy jumping comes with many risks.  It is impossible to eliminate all of these risks, regardless of how professional those in charge may be or how cautious the jumper may be.  If you plan to become involved with bungy jumping, it is essential that you become aware of these risks. 

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

The history of bungee jumping goes back many hundreds, if not thousands of years.  Coming from another culture in a land that time seems to have forgotten, we find an ancient ritual called ‘naghol’ or land diving.  It is an intriguing story with some elements of mystery, religion, and adventure.  Let’s take a closer look at the history of bungee jumping.

Examining the history of bungee jumping takes us to a small island in the South Pacific named Pentecost Island, one of 83 islands that make up the country of Vanuatu.  Pentecost Island was discovered in 1768 by French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville during his voyage to circumnavigate the globe.  It was not named, however, until sighted by the infamous Captain Cook in 1774.  The name came as a result of the day on which Cook spotted the island, which was the Christian holy day of Pentecost.  During the history of bungee jumping, many Christian missionaries have attempted to change the culture of the inhabitants of Pentecost Island.  However, even though most of the inhabitants of the island profess Christianity today, their ancient culture and rituals remain strong.  Bungee jumping is one such ritual.

The history of bungee jumping goes back to ancient times and beliefs about pleasing the gods in order to get good crops.  The yam harvest is the principle event around which the naghol, the ancient predecessor of bungee jumping, takes place.  The natives believed that if your jump was acceptable that the gods would grant you a good harvest.  It is also a ceremony which marks the right of passage from a boy’s youth to manhood.  They believed that the males who jump (it was only males, by the way), should not have sex the evening before their jump, and should wear no ‘good luck charms’.  Either of these was said to produce a bad jump.  On an island without a hospital of any kind, any injury can become life threatening.  Indeed, the history of bungee jumping has some very strange roots.

While examining the history of bungee jumping, it is intriguing to see how these ancient people practice this religious ceremony.  Prior to the jump day, a wooden tower is built that is some seventy feet in height.  Latched together with vines and no modern construction methods, it appears to be far from stable.  To reduce the swaying of the tower from the wind, vines are used like guy wires.  Groups of 20 or so men participate in the land diving ceremony.  As the young men would jump, their mothers would toss an object from their childhood to the earth, symbolizing their transition from a child to a man.

While the ancient history of bungee jumping is still shrouded in some mystery, we do know where the modern activity originated.  It is a wonder that this practice remained isolated to the South Pacific after the discovery from the European explorers.  Only in the 20th century has this ancient ritual been promoted to the world as a new sport.  The history of bungee jumping will never be the same.

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

Located in Southeast Asia, Macau offers the highest bungy jumping in the world.  There, you can have the opportunity to throw yourself off of the Macau Tower, a height which is approximately 764 feet (233m).  This is an experience which you will most likely never forget–  and it must be experienced first-hand in order to be fully appreciated. 

If you are seeking the very best in true thrills and excitement, the Macau Tower is surely the place to go for your bungy jumping!  In addition to being the highest jump, this particular experience has the added factor of allowing the jumper to fall very close to the concrete tower itself during your descent downward.  This factor has the dual purpose of both assessing your speed and creating an increased adrenalin flow. Your plummeting speed will reach approximately 200km/hr;  and at the end of your ride on a fifty-meter cord, you will be thirty meters from the ground.  There is probably nothing else that you will ever do in your entire lifetime that can ever compare to the adrenalin rush you will get from bungy jumping off the Macau Tower.  Their word for this experience–  “extreme”–  is undoubtedly a very accurate description.   

The A.J. Hackett Macau Tower was opened to the public in December, 2006. Launched and overseen by A.J. Hackett, who first invented the sport of bungy jumping more than two decades ago, the Macau Tower bungy jump experience does contain a number of very important safety precautions. His group has developed a special cord system which ensures, among other things, the even distribution of weight during the jumping. Jumpers also wear a safety harness with dual attachment points for their protection. 

In addition, prospective jumpers must meet height, weight, and basic health requirements, as well as being properly informed in advance as to the potential risks of the bungy jumping. For the sake of their own safety, pregnant women, and children under thirteen years of age, are not allowed to participate in this activity.  The prospective jumper is required to sign a waiver stating that he or she is aware of these risks before being allowed to jump. 

To commemorate your amazing experience, you will be provided with a membership card, photos, a DVD, and a special Jumpers Edition t-shirt.  If you sign up for your bungy jumping experience with the A. J. Hackett Group, you will also receive a ten-percent discount at many of Macau’s local restaurants, fifty-percent off your second and third jumps, and your fourth jump will be free.  Membership will also entitle you to a twenty-percent discount at all of A. J. Hackett’s worldwide adventure locations. 

If all of this interests you, you should go to the adventure capital of Southeast Asia for the most  unforgettable bungy jumping experience of a lifetime.  You can request more information or book your trip through the A.J. Hackett Group.  After you arrive in Hong Kong, you will take a one-hour ferry ride to Macau–  and be prepared for an extreme experience!

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)

The discovery of bungee jumping may have taken place back in the 1700s by European explorers, but it was not until the 20th century that bungee jumping really made waves around the world.  The current public awareness and concept of bungee jumping stems from a BBC documentary that aired during the 1950s on the topic of the land divers from Pentecost Island in the South Pacific.  This documentary really brought the subject to public masses for the first time since the discovery of bungee jumping several hundred years ago.

It was Sir David Attenborough (one of the BBC’s best known broadcasters and writers) and his crew that recorded the first film footage of the land divers, or bungee jumpers from the island of Penetecost in the 1950s.  The discovery of bungee jumping was so intriguing and original, that it sparked quite an interest in the modern western world.  Most people had never seen anything quite like it, much less ever attempted such a feat.  Seeing the young natives jump from seventy foot stick towers and hurl themselves at the ground was shocking.  The fact that they were tethered to the tower with a jungle vine was almost unbelievable.

Because of the impressive nature of this primitive form of bungee jumping, the American show ‘That’s Incredible!’ (which ran on the American Broadcasting Network from 1980-84) actually sponsored a jump from the Royal Gorge bridge.  They filmed the event and aired it on their television show, which could be considered one of the original ‘reality TV’ shows of our times.  In addition, an extreme sports group based on Oxford and London called ‘The Dangerous Sports Club’ began to practice the new sport of bungee jumping.  Inspired by the BBC documentary, this group is credited with the first modern bungee jump.  The jump took place in Bristol, England, from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in April of 1979.  These events catapulted the discovery of bungee jumping into the full attention of the mainstream media and the public’s eye.

Within a few short years, the world would see an onslaught of bungee jumping enthusiasts and clubs to cater to the excitement of this new and dangerous sport.  Modern commercial bungee jumping operators perform and provide jumping services from a variety of mobile cranes, hot air balloons, bridges and other types of structures.  Commercial operators utilize the most advanced techniques and equipment to ensure safety of their patrons.  Despite the intrinsic danger involved, insurance companies now provide liability coverage for such endeavors, as there have been few fatalities overall. 

Since the modern discovery of bungee jumping, millions of people world-wide have taken the plunge into this extreme sport.  There have been many safety standards and strict guidelines set up to protect the public from injury as much as possible.  Many permanent bungee jumping sites have even been set up.  The first such site was set up at the Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand.  It can truly be said that the discovery of bungee jumping has brought an ancient religious ritual into the forefront of the extreme sports culture of the 21st century, and surely beyond.

Author : Zul Affandy of (http://www.vikmall.com)