Look Out Below - Bungee Jumper Heading Down!
December 4th, 2008

It may seem, to the casual observer, that bungee jumping is a relatively new sport, but it actually goes back to an ancient tradition of vine jumping, originated around 1500 years ago and still practiced (mostly as a tourist attraction) on the Pacific Ocean island of Pentecost (an island in the Vanuatus group, formerly New Hebrides). Originally performed as a coming of age ritual, the islanders would erect towers and then select the strongest vines to use as their equivalent of the modern bungee cord. There are no statistics related to the survival rate or the number of injuries, but apparently the Vanuatus still have a population.

The modern version of bungee jumping, using the rubberized cords now known as bungee cords, took its first plunge in 1979 when four members of Oxford University's 'Dangerous Sports Society' took a simultaneous jump from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England. From that day to today, an estimated two million daredevils have jumped from every imaginable structure -- some few to their death, but the majority come out of the experience with no more than minor headaches and dislocations.

As you can imagine, there is much more to this sport than just grabbing a bungee cord, tying off and jumping. Physics and math are required to 'design' the jump so that the jumper's head comes within a foot or so of terra firma, while at the same time, the bungee cord has reached it's maximum extension and starts to pull the jumper back up. Beyond the physics and math, it is highly recommended that the jumper be in great physical shape and either be an expert at setting up the jump or be closely supervised by an expert.

Initial indications are that bungee jumping is a relatively safe sport. Of the over two million people who have taken the plunge, there have only been 4 or 5 deaths and not too many serious or permanent injuries. In cases where death or injury resulted, it was either because of a poorly designed or poorly executed (amateurish) jump or because the jumper had some pre-existing medical problems they might or might not have known about. The most common complaints from first-time jumpers are dizziness, blurred vision (from the sudden shift of the fluid in the eyes at the nadir of the jump) and various aches and pains in joints and muscles. However, almost all of these symptoms seem to pass in a matter of a few days. However, it is important to note that the majority of those who bungee jump with any regularity are relatively young (mid-20s) and have, therefore, not been doing it for that long. There is an as yet un-quantified (and logical) possibility that over the long-term the regular bungee jumper might have a painful old age.

The beauty of bungee jumping and its advantage over sports like parachute jumping or even competitive sports like pole vaulting is there is no real impact. The elasticity of the bungee cord slows the descent and absorbs the gravitational forces that the jumper is subjected to during the free fall (before the bungee cord is fully uncoiled and able to slow the descent). So powerful is the experience that the adrenalin rush that accompanies the jump is said to stick around for several days.

Now that you are ready to run right out and find a place to try bungee jumping for the first time, it is only fair to warn you that you might not find a place too close to home -- the sport is constantly growing, but is still not big enough to support an abundance of locations. When you do find a location, you will be carefully weighed and the bungee cord will be adjusted for your exact weigh -- this is a vital step because the more you weigh, the more you will stretch the bungee cord. Remember that the people who operate the bungee jumping locations are experts and know exactly what they are doing, so there is no need to be too nervous but an "xtreme" need to follow their directions.



There are different types of harnesses used (the harness attaches you to the bungee cord). The most common, and the type that holds the least risk for dislocated joints, is the body harness. With the body harness and the bungee cord attached to it you will soar like a bird and will be able to do aerial acrobatics that would make an eagle jealous. You are almost guaranteed to have the 'time of your life

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