Bungee jumping

Not to be confused with reverse bungee.

Bungee jumping (/ˈbʌndʒi/), also spelled bungy jumping, is an activity in which a person jumps from a height while attached to an elastic cord. Platforms are usually attached to tall structures such as bridges, cranes, or buildings, or built on natural cliffs. People can also jump from hovering aircraft such as hot air balloons or helicopters.

During a jump, the cord stretches and recoils, pulling the jumper upward for several bounces before stopping. The appeal lies in the experience of rapid falling and rebounding.^[1]

Bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe

Etymology

The word bungee originates from a West Country English dialect meaning "anything thick and squat", recorded by James Jennings in his 1825 book Observations on Some of the Dialects in the West of England. By 1928, the term was also used for a rubber eraser.^[2]

The Oxford English Dictionary records later use of the term in 1938 for launching gliders with elastic cords, and later as "a long nylon-cased rubber band used for securing luggage".^[3]

Equipment

Bungee jumping equipment includes an elastic cord, harness, and fixed or mobile platform. Most operators use factory-made cords that contain many latex strands within a woven outer sheath. The outer layer protects the latex and controls stretch under load. When pre-stressed during production, the cord becomes stiffer and produces a sharper rebound. Versions with exposed latex strands create a slower, softer bounce. Both types return to their original length after use.

The jumper is connected to the cord by a body or ankle harness, usually based on climbing equipment that distributes weight evenly. Operators attach harnesses to secure anchors on bridges, towers, or cranes. Platforms are designed to provide an unobstructed fall path and are inspected regularly.

Modern operators follow safety standards that specify cord inspection intervals, weight limits, and attachment procedures. Each connection must be checked independently before use. ^{[citation needed]}

Variations

SCAD dive system rigged on a crane

Several related activities use similar principles to bungee jumping. The main variations differ by direction of motion or safety equipment.

Catapult (also called reverse bungee or bungee rocket) launches the jumper upward rather than downward. The jumper begins on the ground, is secured to a stretched cord, and released, propelling them upward. The catapult setup typically uses a crane or a permanent frame that allows the cord to be stretched and reset safely.^[4]

Bungee trampoline combines trampolining with elastic cords. The jumper wears a harness connected to cords that attach to poles on either side of the trampoline. As the jumper bounces, the cords stretch and allow higher jumps than on a standard trampoline.

Bungee running uses a cord anchored to a fixed point at one end of a track. The jumper runs forward while attached to the cord and places a marker as far as possible before being pulled back. It is often seen at fairs or team events.

Ramp jumping attaches two cords to a harness at the jumper's waist. The cords run along cables fitted with pulleys. The jumper rides a bicycle, sled, or skis down a ramp before take-off.

SCAD diving (Suspended Catch Air Device) involves a controlled free fall into a cushioned net instead of using a cord. The jumper falls into an air-cushioned net supported by a steel frame. The system was developed in Hamburg, Germany, in 1997 by MONTIC.^[5][6]

Notable and record jumps

Bungee tower on the Verzasca Dam near Locarno, Switzerland

Bungee jumping from the Souleuvre Viaduct in Normandy, France

The bungee jump from the Milad Tower in Tehran, Iran, at 280 metres (919 ft), is among the highest regular platform jumps worldwide.

In August 2005, A. J. Hackett added a SkyJump to the Macau Tower, setting a record for the world's highest jump at 233 metres (764 ft).^[7] The SkyJump did not qualify as a true bungee jump because it used a steel cable and decelerator system rather than an elastic cord. On 17 December 2006, the Macau Tower began operating a full bungee jump, later recognized by Guinness World Records as the highest commercial bungee jump. The jump uses a guide cable system to limit swing near the tower structure without affecting speed.

The Kushma Bungee Jump in Nepal, at 228 metres (748 ft), is the second-highest commercial jump. Located above the Kaligandaki River gorge, it was the first bungee site built in a natural canyon.^[8] Another major site, the 220 metres (722 ft) Verzasca Dam in Switzerland, became famous for its appearance in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye. The 216-metre (709 ft) Bloukrans Bridge Bungy in South Africa and the Verzasca Dam jumps are both free fall bungee systems using single cords.

Guinness World Records recognizes jumps only from fixed structures to ensure consistent measurement. In 1989, John Kockleman completed a 670-metre (2,200 ft) jump from a hot air balloon in California. In 1991, Andrew Salisbury performed a 2,700-metre (9,000 ft) jump from a helicopter over Cancún, Mexico, with the cord stretching to 962 metres (3,157 ft) before he deployed a parachute to land safely.

A higher commercial jump took place at the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, from a platform at 321 metres (1,053 ft). The site opens only for special events such as the Royal Gorge Go Fast Games held in 2005 and 2007. Earlier, in 1992, New Zealander Chris Allum set a record by jumping 251 metres (823 ft) from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia during Bridge Day.^[9]

Risk of injury

Jump at Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge in Queenstown, New Zealand (2007)

Bungee jumping injuries are generally classified as either equipment-related or physiological.

Equipment-related injuries may occur if the harness fails, the cord length is miscalculated,^[10] or the cord is not securely connected to the platform. In 1986, a man died during rehearsals for a BBC television stunt when the cord detached from a clip.^[11]

Injuries despite correct equipment usually result from sudden pressure changes during rebound. Reported complications include retinal haemorrhage, temporary or lasting vision loss, whiplash, and, in rare cases, carotid artery dissection.^[12][13][14] Most eye-related injuries heal within weeks, although isolated cases of long-term vision impairment have been recorded.

In popular culture

The 1995 film GoldenEye opens with James Bond performing a bungee jump from the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland. The same location was later used as a challenge in The Amazing Race 14.

Bungee jumping appears in literature, comics, and video games, including Michael Chabon's novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and the 1993 platform game Aero the Acro-Bat. The activity is also featured in television shows such as Taskmaster New Zealand.

See also

• Rope jumping, a variation using climbing ropes instead of elastic cords