Some call bungee jumping an extreme sport, while others use it as an excuse to break out of the fear mentality. If you’ve decided to make like Wile E. Coyote and jump off a bridge-with bungee cord in tow, of course-the entire experience is sure to be an adrenaline rush to remember. Whatever your excuse might be to take the plunge and enjoy the rebound ride, there are a few things to review before you climb up that ladder.
It’s important to know, for example, that there are a few different maneuvers you can initiate while you descend. Also, you have a choice in the harness; not all bungee cords wrap themselves around your waist; you can choose a leg harness instead that will give you a much better chance of enjoying that flying feeling.
Bungee Jumping Harnesses
Beginning with your choice of jumps, you can pick from three basic types: the most common is the body harness; other options are a leg harness or arm harness. The body harness gives you the most freedom go move around and flail those arms for that picture-perfect shot of you free-falling. The body harness is attached near your belly so that you can spin, flip, and turn around as you please. The leg harness is actually positioned on both legs, although experienced bungee jumpers might choose just one. The leg harness will make you really feel like you’re falling without restraint, and is best suited for the seasoned jumper who can brave the shock factor. The arm harness is not recommended for most jumpers, since it’s fairly easy to dislocate your shoulders from the weight. Still, some people choose this as an alternative to the leg harness.
Dives are part of your free-falling experience in bungee jumping, and the more often you jump, the better you’ll get at each one. The Swallow Dive is the most common type, and is probably the best overall experience. This is the one you’ve probably seen on extreme sports channels where the bungee jumper spreads out their arms in a wing style. A Back Dive is a little harder to pull off, but this is where you simply throw yourself off backwards and lean back as far as you can. Most people simply twist back to a face-down position before completing this one. A Bat Drop and Dive is a maneuver that requires a helping hand; your partner needs to hold you upside down and just let you drop straight down. Your arms need to stay close to yoru body during the descent with feet point up the whole way. The Elevator Dive is a variation of the Bat Drop; this one is performed where you keep your feet pointing down.
Bungee Jumping Variations
When jumping off a bridge becomes more natural to you, you can start to explore some bungee jumping variations. A Tandem Bungee Jump is where two jumpers are jumping at the same time; the risk here is obviously a headbutt of epic proportions, but it can be done if the timing’s right. A Water Touchdown is another roption; this is where you’ll be heading straight to a deep water pool or ocean, possibly taking a dip and then coming back up just in time. This is very dangerous if the water isn’t deep enough , so be sure to pick a suitable spot for your drop. Another option is the Catapult; think of this as the reverse bungee jump, where your cord is stretched to maximum capacity while you’re still on the ground. During the release, you’ll be shot up into the air towards the bungee cage; the risk here, of course, is hitting that cage.
Bungee jumping first appeared in the early late 1970s when members of the Dangerous Sports Club jumped from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. Bungee jumping first became popular in the U.S. in the early 1980s, and has since become an attractive extreme sport and hobby of the average adrenaline junkie. If you’re interested in the thrill of the jump, tie on that harness and make the most of your experience with all the options available!
