Bungee jumping has become an extreme pastime all over the world, with aficionados searching for their next thrill. Bungee jumping can be a scary, but exhilarating, hobby for an avid thrill junkie, or a first-timer looking for the ride of a lifetime.

Definition

Bungee jumping is the act of securing yourself to a foot or body harness, which is connected to a long elastic bungee cord, which is secured to a sturdy support, then free falling from a predetermined height. Once the cord reaches its stretching capacity, it pulls the jumper back up.

Origin

Vine jumpers from the Pentecost Island in Vanuatu located in the Pacific Ocean, inspired the first bungee jumps on April 1, 1979, when four jumpers leaped off the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England. Vine jumping is a rite of passage into manhood, and a fertility rite the natives performed to ensure a good yam harvest on Pentecost.

Leaps of Faith

Bungee jumps usually occur off of cranes equipped with a cage or platform, or from bridges, but jumps have occurred off buildings, towers, hot air balloons, helicopters and cable cars.

Hot Spots

Well-known jumping locals include the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Los Angeles, California, where jumpers leap from 150 feet over a shallow river, and the 764-foot Macau Tower in Macau, China. In Pucon, Chile, the most die-hard daredevils can bungee jump from a helicopter into an active volcano.

Clubs and Information

Bungee jumping clubs, like the British Elastic Rope Sports Association (BERSA) and the Dangerous Sports Club in Britain, search worldwide for hot jump spots, and raise funds for trips. See the link in Resources for information about how you can become a member.

Source:

BERSA

Volcano Bungee

Where to Bungee Jump?

Resource:

Bungee.com

Bungeezone.com