Sky divers leap from tall building
Posted on 12/29/2002 4:42:57 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
Sky divers leap from tall building
12/29/2002
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Sky divers plunged off the world's tallest buildings Saturday to warm up for a competition held only rarely because the activity is banned in most countries.
The sky divers, who will take part in a tournament scheduled to start Sunday, leaped from a balcony of the 1,483-foot Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Strong wind gusts blew many of the sky divers off course, pushing them away from the target circle on the ground - a situation that would cost them points when the competition starts.
Under the rules of the competition, divers must free-fall for between four and six seconds before opening their parachute. The ride takes about one minute.
The sport of BASE jumping - leaping from cliffs or man-made structures - is forbidden in many countries because property owners fear the cost of liability insurance or lawsuits over the high-risk practice. The acronym BASE stands for buildings, antennas, spans and earth - the fixed objects from which jumps are made.
Malaysia has several times approved extreme sky diving competitions - including a jump from the twin towers on the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31, 1999 - and divers hope the recognition will help legitimize the activity.
Here's what they look like.
Reminds me of an oversized goalpost.
They just need a couple little flags on top so the kicker can judge which way the wind is blowing.
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