Reading. Base Jumping

BASE JUMPING

Twenty-six years ago Carl Boenish took a team of skydivers to Yosemite National Park, USA, and jumped with them from EL Captain’s summit. The sport _________, named after the four types of fixed objects people jump from: Building, Antenna, Span (bridge) and Earth (cliff). Due to the legislation surrounding it, many BASE jumpers keep their hobby a secret, so it’s difficult to say how many are involved in the sport. Estimated figures are very low — there are probably fewer than 1500 across the world.

BASE JUMPING

Different countries have different attitudes towards BASE jumping. In the USA, the act of BASE jumping is not illegal, although the owners of high bridges and buildings do not usually ____________ from them. There are tight regulations against the sport in American and Australian national parks. One of the few countries that welcomes BASE jumping is Malaysia, home to two of the world’s highest buildings.

BASE JUMPING

It is the danger of the sport that lures people to it. Comparably, skydiving is very safe. For some people skydiving begins to feel too safe and they move on to BASE jumping to recapture the sense of excitement. The main thrill experienced is a sensation called ground rush. BASE jumpers fall from heights much lower than those considered safe by sky divers. Though they do not reach the same speeds, __________ during their fall. At the fastest part of a skydiver’s fall the ground is still distant, but BASE jumpers see it approaching them at an incredible speed.