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Bungee Jumping

By Mr. Adventure

What Is Bungee Jumping?

Bungee jumping is an extreme sport that involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to an elastic cord. The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge, or crane. It is also possible to jump from a movable object such as a helicopter or hot-air-balloon that is hovering above the ground. At the bottom of the bungee-jump fall, a person rebounds upward, being yanked back by the elastic cord.

My First Bungee Jump

I experienced my first bungee jump in Queenstown, New Zealand, which is home to the first commercial bungee jump. In the 1980s, A. J. Hackett opened the world's first permanent commercial bungee site at the Kawarau Bridge.

I'm usually not afraid of heights. I've been to the top of tall buildings and on high ski lifts without any trepidation. But standing on the top of that bridge with the find blowing, looking down at the river hundreds of feet below, my heart raced and my palms began to sweat. I had to overcome a natural impulse to turn around and walk off of the platform. The jump was a thrill of a lifetime. And I survived.