Friday October 30, 2009
A group of international base-jumpers leap off from 80m tower
By ALLISON LAI
MALACCA: It was a spectacular and hair-raising sight for the spectators who gathered to watch a group of international base-jumpers leaping off the 80m Taming Sari Tower here.
Even more significant was that it was the jumpers’ first time performing the daring feat at night as part of the KL Tower International Jump Malaysia 2009 tour. It was also the lowest base-jump platform in the series.
The debut of the extreme sport in the state slowed down traffic in the historical and touristy area as hundreds of people stopped to watch the event.
Eyes on the mark: A base jumper getting ready for his landing on the car park area of Taming Sari Tower. In June, Menara Kuala Lumpur public relations executive Mohd Idros Mohd Yusop had visited the site to evaluate its suitability as a venue for the month-long event that kicked off in Kuantan, Pahang.
The other venues in the tour were Kuala Terengganu, Alor Star and Penang before the tour culminated at Menara Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur.
Base-jumping is a sport using a parachute with the participants jumping from fixed objects such as buildings, bridges and cliffs.
Mohd Idros, an experienced base-jumper himself, said Taming Sari Tower was one of the most challenging platforms as it was only 80m high.
“The whole jump takes about 10 to 12 seconds from the time we take off to the moment we touch the ground. The duration is extremely short, so we must be very careful.
Free fall: Capt (R) Mohd Noorizan Yunus jumping from the 86m Felda Residence hotel during this KL Tower International base Jump Malaysia in Kuala Terengganu. 16 base jumping profesionals from local and foreign take in this event. “In addition, the landing area is located right next to a busy main road in the heart of the city. That makes it doubly challenging as we have a very short period of time to adjust our parachute to land in the designated spot,” he said when met here recently.
He said the sport of base-jumping required a great deal of discipline and commitment.
“One needs to have skydived a minimum 150 times before attempting base-jumping. The preparation before and after a base-jump is crucial and jumpers must double-check their safety equipment,” he added.
The two-day event in Malacca witnessed a total of 20 professional jumpers thrilling the crowd with their stunt.
Among them was Gary Cunnigham from Australia who had been passionate about the extreme sport since he started base-jumping at the age of 16.
No fear: One of the participants jumping off from the Felda Residence Hotel. “When I jump, I feel like my soul is out of my body. I enjoy the thrill every time,” he said, adding that his first night jump in Malacca was “challenging and memorable.”
The 38-year-old engineer also performed a special feat with Mohd Idros as the grand finale for the event’s inaugural night jump. It was a pair jump involving a one-second delay between the two jumpers.
The stunt won thunderous applause from the crowd whose eyes were locked on the duo as they leapt from the tower one after the other in quick succession and landed in the middle of the open-air parking lot.
Besides the exciting main event, there were also games for spectators.
Mark Samuel from Johor Baru, who chanced upon the event, said the extreme sport needed more promotion locally.
“With all safety measures taken into consideration, it is an enjoyable outdoor activity that gives a sense of pride and satisfaction. More efforts should be put in to promote it as it will also attract foreigners to visit Malaysia,” said the 29-year-old.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, 15 base-jumpers including four foreigners took part in the 2009 KL Tower International Jump Malaysia.
Starting at 9am, they jumped from the 19th storey of Felda Residence Hotel in Jalan Hiliran as well as the top of the 18-storey state government administration building, Wisma Darul Iman.
The foreign base-jumpers were from New Zealand, Turkey, Australia and India.
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