Top skydivers jump from KL's Petronas towers
Top skydivers jump from KL's Petronas towers
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Forty-eight skydivers from 15 countries leapt from the world's tallest office block Wednesday as the "first extreme base-jumping world tournament" kicked off in Malaysia.
The parachutists jumped from the 73rd floor of the 452-meter Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to land in a grassy circle 10 meters wide.
"It is a very difficult jump because the building has all its different shapes and corners," said Michael Wolff from the Australian team. "Divers could easily hit the building."
Wolff, one of the first divers to take the plunge and land safely within the circle, said he had been skydiving for 12 years and had no intention of retiring from the "great sport".
"I'll be doing this until my wife kills me," said the 30-year- old doctor, who lives in Australia.
He was luckier than Dutch parachutist Jean-Louis Becker, who broke his leg Monday during a practice session before the five- day tournament. But Wolff dismissed suggestions of organizational flaws, saying the organizers had done a good job.
"Accidents in this sport are quite normal and as professional divers, we are always aware of this," Wolff told AFP.
Dann Lee, the chief executive of Skyventure Production, organizers of the event, said entry standards were raised after the accident to weed out less experienced divers.
"We raised the standards for competitors and have asked a few to step out of the tournament. All that are left today are very experienced and we hope this will minimize the chances of another accident," he said.
Lee added that he visited Becker in hospital Tuesday and found him in high spirits and recovering well.
"Skydiving is an extreme sport, a sport of the new century where only the best will survive," said Lee, who does not jump.
"This is the world's first skydiving championship where divers leap from a building, and the world's tallest buildings, too."
He said the competition would become an annual affair held in different countries.
The tournament, which is divided into four categories, showcases base-jumping, where divers leap from non-moving platforms such as mountains and buildings rather than aircraft.
Jumpers from France, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, Canada, USA, South Africa, Sweden, Malaysia, Australia, Croatia, the Netherlands, Britain and Slovenia have been attracted to the event.
Contestants with ages ranging from 22 to over 50 are given points for landing accuracy and overall performance.
A closing ceremony will be held Sunday and cash prizes, trophies and medals worth US$25,000 will be given out to the winners in each category.