Thrill-seekers around the world have always found out newer ways to get their dose of adrenaline. Roller-coasters, wind surfing, bike racing and the like are now pass� and no more exciting than a walk in the park. The quest for the ultimate 'rush' has prodded them to engage their imagination overtime, to come out with more innovative alternatives. Thanks to the media, people everywhere are now becoming aware of these whole new breed of adventure sports. And as technology is employed to reduce, if not eliminate, the inherent risks and dangers involved, more and more are now ready to try them out.
OK, now, enough of beating around the bush. Lets talk business. Bungee jumping was something that I always wanted to do after I first saw it on Prime Sports a couple of years back. After a wait of four long years, I finally got the opportunity, during my stay in Santa Monica, CA. The route to the jump site, a bridge located somewhere in the middle of Angeles National Forest - Azusa, had been washed out several years ago. It was meant to be a full day affair which included, not only Bungee Jumping, but also four hours and eight miles of hard-core trekking. A group of 22 enthusiastic jumpers set out on their mission - to boldly go where quite a few men (and women) had already gone before. We reached our destination at noon. After a 15 minute session on equipment basics, safety and proper technique we were ready for the big jump.
Bungee is a bunch of about ten long elastic cords, each capable of handling 1000 pounds of force. The forces that the cords experience is only a fraction of their true potential. One end of the bungee is attached to the bridge and the other to the jumper's waist or ankles. For the jump, you stand up on the bridge either facing away from the bridge (for the Swan Dive) or towards it (for the Backwards Plunge). Every jumper is expected to jump in the direction of the flag placed on the rocks directly in front. As the bridge is shaped like an arch, taking off at an angle which is too wide can cause the rebound to knock you against the pillars of the bridge. The immediate reaction when you are falling is to grab on to anything that you can lay your hands on (the bungee in this case) but the challenge is avoid it. As a normal practice, the bungee is replaced after every 200 jumps. Sooner than I had expected, it was my turn to get up on the tiny platform, over the side of the bridge and take the plunge. When you are on top of the bridge looking down at the rocks and water a hundred feet below, a million questions run through your mind all at once. All the assurance and safety facts that have been jammed down your throat suddenly vaporize in thin air.
Then the countdown begins, with everyone joining in:
5...(What if the chord is not strong enough? Am I the 201st jumper?)
4...(What if the bridge collapses? Do I really have to do this?)
3...(What the does the phrase - jumping to 'conclusions' - really mean?)
2...(What if I crash into the bridge on the rebound?)
1...(If I don't make it, what will happen to my project ;-) ? )
Bungeeeeeeee...(No turning back now)
You take a deep breath as everyone watches your feet leaving the bridge. The rocks in front of you start appearing closer and closer. Your life flashes before your eyes and you desperately want someone to press the 'Pause' button on the remote control. But, tough luck. Just when you have given up all hope and when you are about 7 feet from the rocks below, you start slowing down. And with a jerk you are catapulted back towards the bridge. This process goes on for some time and when you finally stop feeling like a ball at the end of a rubber band, you are pulled up back onto the bridge. 'Wow! I am still alive and yes, I did not grab on to the bungee during the fall'. I also tried the 'backwards plunge' which is much more frightening. When you are jumping forward you know that the worst thing that could happen is that you'll crash into the rocks. With the backward drop, you are not sure of even that. But anyway no one was hurt and we all had a wonderful time. Little did I know that this experience would just be a warm-up session for more exciting things to follow. Don't miss the article on Sky Diving.