Author: Gregg Hall

Bungee jumping is quite a dangerous sport and quite the adrenaline rush as well. You can jump from all kinds of places you just need to learn how to jump before you make your move. To make your jumps even more insane you can jump from moving bases like a helicopter, hot air balloon or something like that.  There are no limits really when it comes to bungee jumping.
 

Last update: 18-05-2008 12:29

old school bungee! click here

Last update: 03-09-2008 00:25

The rising skyscrapers in Dubai may prompt many extreme sport enthusiasts to start BASE Jumps in United Arab Emirates. According to the published news last May this year, a British national did BASE jumping from the Burj Dubai and broken the world record for the highest base jump from a building, but will face charges in a Dubai court for failing to have official permission.

Unlike skydiving there are no legal tour companies or organizations in the UAE that promote this kind of sport. In other countries, the legal issues that a BASE jumper must consider is permissions to use the object from which the jump is initiated and the area used for landing. However, it may be different in the UAE.

BASE Jumping is significantly a dangerous sport. It is currently regarded by many as a fringe extreme sport or stunt. BASE jumping is a sport involving the use of a parachute or the sequenced use of a wing-suit and parachute to jump from fixed objects--with the parachute unopened at the jump."BASE" is an acronym that stands for the four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: Building, Antenna, Span & Earth.

The reasons why BASE Jumps is dangerous – the jump generally made from much lower altitudes, it takes place in close proximity to the object serving as the jump platform. It also generally entails slower airspeeds than typical skydives (due to the limited altitude). A BASE Jumper rarely achieves terminal velocity (that speed achieved after twelve seconds of acceleration) because higher airspeeds enable jumpers more aerodynamic control of their bodies, as well as more positive and quick parachute openings – the Base Jumpers do not have these options therefore cannot mostly control their landings.

Another risk is that most BASE jumping venues have very small areas in which to land. A beginner skydiver, after parachute deployment, may have a three minute or more parachute ride to the ground. A BASE jump from 500 feet (152 meters) will have a parachute ride of only 10 to 15 seconds.

However, as mentioned, the skyscrapers in Dubai can lure the BASE Jumping enthusiasts all over the globe and they might start a new trend of BASE Jumping in United Arab Emirates soon.

Last update: 10-08-2008 09:47

BASE jumping is not a sport for the faint of heart. Athletes who practice this extreme sport climb to the top of tall buildings, canyons, or other structures; jump off; enjoy a period of free falling; then open a parachute and coast to the ground.

The acronym BASE stands for building, antennae, span, and earth; which make up a comprehensive list of what kinds of fixed objects BASE jumpers plummet from. Span is a term that includes all sorts of bridges, or any other structures that span over a valley or chasm. Earth means anything from cliffs to mountains to canyons.

BASE jumping is very dangerous for a variety of reasons, but the most common causes of injury and death have to do with failure to maintain a clear area around the athlete during the jump and/or the landing. If the wind is against them or if they make a mistake during the launch of their jump, athletes sometimes collide with the object that they have jumped from. Because BASE jumping areas are usually not designated for this guerilla-style sport, the makeshift landing targets that jumpers aim for are rarely large enough to allow for a safe jump. As a result many BASE enthusiasts meet with serious and sometimes fatal injuries because they haven't been able to steer themselves to the landing area in time.

Many people compare BASE jumping to bungee jumping without a bungee cord, but it is actually much closer to skydiving without an airplane. Jumpers practice many of the same techniques that divers use to maintain stability and altitude awareness while they are in the air. Before becoming a BASE jumper, an athlete must complete a full course of skydiver training. Once they have their full skydiving certification, the next step for anyone interested in BASE is to find a mentor in the jumping community who can teach them how to take on these ambitious freefalls. Only experienced divers can even contemplate a BASE jump because this kind of unguided and somewhat unpredictable activity requires razor sharp awareness of altitude, along with stellar free fall technique.

BASE jumping is one of the most dangerous sports practiced today. Every year, BASE jumping leads to several fatalities, and most major BASE societies and clubs have seen at least one member perish in pursuit of the sport that he or she loved. Because no two jumps are alike, it is very difficult to predict what will happen once you start plummeting towards the ground. This means that to survive a BASE jump you need to have a very level head, an ability to react to surprises without panicking, and lightning speed reflexes that will allow you to make instantaneous adjustments in your position or your trajectory. However, no amount of experience can guarantee that you will complete your jump without mishap, so even very accomplished jumpers are taking serious risks every time they prepare to hurl themselves off of a building, antennae, span, or natural cliff.

Last update: 17-04-2008 16:48

About a year ago, a spectacular air race, the Red Bull Air Race was held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates. It is a competition in which the world’s most talented pilots are up against each other in a race based on skill, speed, and precision using smaller aircrafts. The air racing in Abu Dhabi, by Red Bull not only excites the spectators but entertained them to the maximum.

Air racing is considered to be the fastest motor sport in the world, with pilots reaching speeds above 400km per hour. The pilots usually face an enormous pressure several times their body weight. Besides the pressure there are certain rules that the pilots must adhere, for example, if they fly too low, miss the gates, perform wrong manoeuvres, fly to high or too close to the crowd – they will face time penalties and event disqualification.

Flying individually against the clock, the pilots have to execute tight turns through a slalom course consisting of specially designed pylons, known as ‘Air Gates’. The competition features a dynamic new discipline of flying, called ‘air racing’ where the objective is to navigate a challenging race course in the sky, in the fastest possible time.

What makes the Air Race so exciting and interesting for spectators is the proximity of the contest to the crowds. Low level flying on a relatively compact course means that people can really experience all the action close-up.

Abu Dhabi the capital of UAE, was recognized by the world once again for participating in Red Bull Air Race  - the brand new motor sport  that has developed incredibly in the past two-years and exceeded all expectations.

Last update: 10-08-2008 09:47

With the recent success of ‘Al Ain International Aerobatics Championship’ last January 24-27th 2008 – aerobatics in United Arab Emirates is no doubt gaining more popularity amongst the  aerobatic enthusiasts in the region. Before moving further about the next trend of this kind of sport in the UAE and the GCC countries, let’s re-define aerobatics.

According to an online source, aerobatics is an art of precision flying where pre-set patterns are drawn in the sky by the airplane. These pre-set patterns are called manoeuvres and they are put together to form a sequence or schedule. Aerobatic manoeuvres involve rotation of an aircraft called rolling a looping. Usually aerobatics demonstrates flying manoeuvres for training, recreation and entertainment.

Every year, Aerobatics Show is hosted by Al Ain, one of the seven Emirates of United Arab Emirates. According to the news published by UAE Interact early last year, the air shows hosted by Al Ain annually have firmed up the city's regional and international position as a major tourist destination.  Al Ain Aerobatic Championship is the only event of its kind in the world held every year in the UAE.

The entire world's attention is riveted on this city as it offers thrilling aerobatic displays by the world's finest pilots.  Al Ain City has become a centre for several tourism, social and recreational activities and is attracting numerous visitors from inside and outside the UAE round the year.

In Dubai where recreation and entertainment are inevitable in every corner of the city – aerobatics in the UAE will no doubt open a  new trend where enthusiasts can participate or experience this extreme sport in its utmost.

Is aerobatics for anyone? The answer is yes, as long as you can loop, roll and fly inverted and be able to fly the Standard or Sportsman’s schedule, however most important is to have a model aircraft that can do the manoeuvres and definitely an enormous guts to do the work.

Last update: 10-08-2008 09:47