Michael*K
Screenwriter
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
- Messages
- 1,806
Okay, I promised to post if I did this and hell if I didn't. And I loved it! 171 feet off the AJ Hackett Bungee Tower outside the Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas. What a rush!
I'll start by admitting that the whole experience scared the shit out of me. I got there at 10:30 in the morning and the place wasn't open yet. But there was a private group with jumpers coming down and grabbing inflatable rings floating in the pool. Seeing how far those guys were falling made my knees buckle and my mouth got dry. I went into the casino until 11:00 and came back out. There was a group of three girls from Europe signing up for the jump. I grabbed a waiver and started signing my life away. Basically I had to acknowledge I was aware of the danger and that I absolved the company of all liability in the event of death or injury. This made me even more nervous. Still, I finished all the signatures (more than I had at my house closing) and went to the desk. They looked it over and asked what "package" I wanted. The first jump there is $54. For an extra $20 you can get a video and for an extra $5, a t-shirt. I just asked for the jump, figuring my family wouldn't want to see a grizzly video if the bungee cord failed. I stepped on the scale and weighed in at a hefty 114 kilograms. My weight was written on my hand. Next, the three European girls were weighed. We were told to wait outside for the "lift" a.k.a. the elevator to come down. We were also told that the place had been booked in advance, but the renters were late. If they showed up, we would have to wait. Of course, they told us this AFTER they had taken our money.
I went outside and was given a harness similar to the type used in rappelling. Two loops to stick my legs through and a heavy, wide waistband fastened with velcro and fitted with a metal D-ring on the front. I asked one of the employees if it was tight enough or rated for my weight. He said he "thought" so, obviously playing on my fear. I talked to the three girls from Austria, Germany and Sweden and was somewhat relieved to find out I wasn't the only one ready to soil my pants. We were told to ascend some steps toward the elevator and were weighed again. Same weight. Two other jumpers had joined our group and would be going up with us. Just then, the "party" that rented the place showed up. It was a single guy with three people there to videotape him. He would be going up with us as well. We all piled into the elevator modeled like a rocket ship and started our trip up. Two employees told us what to expect and we were each handed a blank videotape. I told them I didn't order one and they said they videotape all the jumps and I'd have the opportunity to buy it after the jump. We also were told the order we would jump in. I got there first, but would have to jump last. The jerk that arrived at the last minute would be jumping first.
We got to the top of the tower and stepped out. First panic...the platform we were standing on was a metal grate. I could see all the way down to the ground and everything looked very tiny. I looked to the right, down to my friend and the other jumpers' friends standing down by the pool. They looked like ants. I could see clear up and down the Las Vegas Strip. I was also alarmed to see that we were higher than the roof of the Circus Circus Hotel. There was a multi-level parking garage next door with people on the roof with lawn chairs. They obviously came to see a bungee cord snap much like people that attend auto races in the hope of seeing a crash. The first "victim" stepped forward.
The guy had a videographer on the tower and two on the ground to tape his adventure. Even though it was his first time, he was going to be "dipped" meaning there would be enough slack in the line to allow him to touch the water. In the middle of the pool was a group of inflatable rings. The guy needed to grab one of the rings. After they hooked him up, off he went. He screamed the whole way down and never did grab a ring. The next jumper moved up to the jump platform. Unknown to me, the first jumper was furious on the ground that he didn't grab a ring and ordered that he be sent back up for another try. The jumpmaster up top got the radio message to send the elevator back down so the guy could make another try. He would cut in front of the next jumper to try again, which seemed unfair. When we asked the Aussie jumpmaster if the guy was some sort of adventure seeker traveling the globe or something, we were told that the "bloke's part of some rich kid's club." The videographer on the platform added that the guy and some friends were going around the west doing "extreme" sports trying to one up each other. He said the guy had money to piss away, since he worked for Microsoft. He made the second jump and grabbed a ring so we didn't have to deal with the dope anymore.
Next went the three European girls and two other guys. With each jump, I began to feel more comfortable. But then I was the only one left and was called up to the jump platform. For a fleeting second, I thought of turning around and bolting for the elevator, but there was no turning back now. I'd never hear the end of it if I backed out. So I sheepishly stepped up to the jump platform and sat down with my legs extended straight out in front of me. I was told to empty my pockets if anything was still in there. I asked how deep the water in the pool was. Nine feet I was told, as if it would make any difference if the cord snapped. Actually it would be cords. I was told that since I was over 108 kilograms, they would add a thinner second bungee cord. The jumpmaster started to get me ready. First a padded felt fabric was wrapped around my ankles several times. Then a nylon strap about four feet was wrapped several times tightly around the felt padding, basically forcing my ankles together. The strap then looped over the top and passed through the middle, coming out on the bottom of my feet. There was a D-ring at the end which was attached to a rappelling hook at the end of a rope. The rope passed through a system of pulleys and would be used to lower me to the ground after the jump. Making me even more nervous was the jumpmaster and his assistant calculating how far I'd fall. They didn't agree with each other's math and initially thought I might get "dipped." Oh shit. I was told to stand up and they tightened the harness around my waist and legs. It was so tight that my stomach was hanging over the top, making me appear even fatter than I am. They attached another rope to the D-ring on front. It would also be used to help guide me to the ground. The moment of truth had arrived.
I was told to shimmy my way to the edge of the jump platform. I could see the bungee cords hanging over the side. As I moved forward, their weight seemed to pull me ever closer to the edge. The jumpmaster told me to "dive" out and away from the platform. If I just allowed myself to tumble off the side, I could wind up somersaulting and get wrapped up in the cord. I was also told to keep my hands over my head, since if I kept my hands on the side, there was a possibility of the cord wrapping around my neck on the rebound. They told me to look over to the camera platform and say something. I made the sign of the cross and said that I was out of my mind. The jumpmaster was holding the back of my waist and offered me encouragement and told me to go. As I started shifting my weight outward, I started screaming like a woman. And then I was off the platform and gravity took over.
Screaming, I raced headfirst 171 feet toward the pool at the bottom. With each millisecond, I could feel the wind rushing more quickly past my ears. I could see the inflatable tubes coming up quickly and then...BOOM. The cord grabbed tightly around my ankles. I'd survived the initial plunge, but I rebounded into the air, probably another 120 feet. This time I was well behind the platform with nothing but pavement underneath me. I almost rotated vertical while floating through the air. Then I swung back toward the pool and bounced again, this time much smaller and then one more bounce and I was spinning slightly in a counter-clockwise circle. I looked down and could see a guy at the edge of the pool holding a long pole with a ring at the end. I grabbed the ring and he pulled me toward the edge. The rope attached to my waist lowered me slowly toward a "trampoline"...actually a wooden frame with rubber stretched across the top. The ground tech told me to rotate while I was hanging upside down so I could be brought down on my back. First my head, then my neck, back and finally my ass. They told me to keep my legs in the air so they could unhook the cords. They also detached the rope hooked to my waist. I spun to the side and was back on terra firma again, thank God. And I hadn't even soiled my drawers! My friend laughed at my womanly scream and told me she thought she got a few good pictures. We went inside to watch the video I never ordered in advance. Of course it was hilarious and I plunked down the 20 bucks for it. I was presented with a "certificate of valor" and a card with a single stamp on it. The card allows me to jump at the same location from now on for 25 bucks instead of $54. And each fourth jump is free. I would have loved to try it again at night but couldn't bring myself to ask my friend to wait an hour for me again. Remember when I said I got there first and had to jump last? Well it seems that people jump according to their weight. Being the bungee fat ass that morning, I was forced to go last. The whole process from start to finish took about an hour.
All in all, the experience was a blast. A tremendous adrenaline rush.
I hope to have a scan of my jump taken from the jump platform, as well as a QuickTime video of the entire jump online early next week. Once I do, I'll post the link here.
I'll start by admitting that the whole experience scared the shit out of me. I got there at 10:30 in the morning and the place wasn't open yet. But there was a private group with jumpers coming down and grabbing inflatable rings floating in the pool. Seeing how far those guys were falling made my knees buckle and my mouth got dry. I went into the casino until 11:00 and came back out. There was a group of three girls from Europe signing up for the jump. I grabbed a waiver and started signing my life away. Basically I had to acknowledge I was aware of the danger and that I absolved the company of all liability in the event of death or injury. This made me even more nervous. Still, I finished all the signatures (more than I had at my house closing) and went to the desk. They looked it over and asked what "package" I wanted. The first jump there is $54. For an extra $20 you can get a video and for an extra $5, a t-shirt. I just asked for the jump, figuring my family wouldn't want to see a grizzly video if the bungee cord failed. I stepped on the scale and weighed in at a hefty 114 kilograms. My weight was written on my hand. Next, the three European girls were weighed. We were told to wait outside for the "lift" a.k.a. the elevator to come down. We were also told that the place had been booked in advance, but the renters were late. If they showed up, we would have to wait. Of course, they told us this AFTER they had taken our money.
I went outside and was given a harness similar to the type used in rappelling. Two loops to stick my legs through and a heavy, wide waistband fastened with velcro and fitted with a metal D-ring on the front. I asked one of the employees if it was tight enough or rated for my weight. He said he "thought" so, obviously playing on my fear. I talked to the three girls from Austria, Germany and Sweden and was somewhat relieved to find out I wasn't the only one ready to soil my pants. We were told to ascend some steps toward the elevator and were weighed again. Same weight. Two other jumpers had joined our group and would be going up with us. Just then, the "party" that rented the place showed up. It was a single guy with three people there to videotape him. He would be going up with us as well. We all piled into the elevator modeled like a rocket ship and started our trip up. Two employees told us what to expect and we were each handed a blank videotape. I told them I didn't order one and they said they videotape all the jumps and I'd have the opportunity to buy it after the jump. We also were told the order we would jump in. I got there first, but would have to jump last. The jerk that arrived at the last minute would be jumping first.
We got to the top of the tower and stepped out. First panic...the platform we were standing on was a metal grate. I could see all the way down to the ground and everything looked very tiny. I looked to the right, down to my friend and the other jumpers' friends standing down by the pool. They looked like ants. I could see clear up and down the Las Vegas Strip. I was also alarmed to see that we were higher than the roof of the Circus Circus Hotel. There was a multi-level parking garage next door with people on the roof with lawn chairs. They obviously came to see a bungee cord snap much like people that attend auto races in the hope of seeing a crash. The first "victim" stepped forward.
The guy had a videographer on the tower and two on the ground to tape his adventure. Even though it was his first time, he was going to be "dipped" meaning there would be enough slack in the line to allow him to touch the water. In the middle of the pool was a group of inflatable rings. The guy needed to grab one of the rings. After they hooked him up, off he went. He screamed the whole way down and never did grab a ring. The next jumper moved up to the jump platform. Unknown to me, the first jumper was furious on the ground that he didn't grab a ring and ordered that he be sent back up for another try. The jumpmaster up top got the radio message to send the elevator back down so the guy could make another try. He would cut in front of the next jumper to try again, which seemed unfair. When we asked the Aussie jumpmaster if the guy was some sort of adventure seeker traveling the globe or something, we were told that the "bloke's part of some rich kid's club." The videographer on the platform added that the guy and some friends were going around the west doing "extreme" sports trying to one up each other. He said the guy had money to piss away, since he worked for Microsoft. He made the second jump and grabbed a ring so we didn't have to deal with the dope anymore.
Next went the three European girls and two other guys. With each jump, I began to feel more comfortable. But then I was the only one left and was called up to the jump platform. For a fleeting second, I thought of turning around and bolting for the elevator, but there was no turning back now. I'd never hear the end of it if I backed out. So I sheepishly stepped up to the jump platform and sat down with my legs extended straight out in front of me. I was told to empty my pockets if anything was still in there. I asked how deep the water in the pool was. Nine feet I was told, as if it would make any difference if the cord snapped. Actually it would be cords. I was told that since I was over 108 kilograms, they would add a thinner second bungee cord. The jumpmaster started to get me ready. First a padded felt fabric was wrapped around my ankles several times. Then a nylon strap about four feet was wrapped several times tightly around the felt padding, basically forcing my ankles together. The strap then looped over the top and passed through the middle, coming out on the bottom of my feet. There was a D-ring at the end which was attached to a rappelling hook at the end of a rope. The rope passed through a system of pulleys and would be used to lower me to the ground after the jump. Making me even more nervous was the jumpmaster and his assistant calculating how far I'd fall. They didn't agree with each other's math and initially thought I might get "dipped." Oh shit. I was told to stand up and they tightened the harness around my waist and legs. It was so tight that my stomach was hanging over the top, making me appear even fatter than I am. They attached another rope to the D-ring on front. It would also be used to help guide me to the ground. The moment of truth had arrived.
I was told to shimmy my way to the edge of the jump platform. I could see the bungee cords hanging over the side. As I moved forward, their weight seemed to pull me ever closer to the edge. The jumpmaster told me to "dive" out and away from the platform. If I just allowed myself to tumble off the side, I could wind up somersaulting and get wrapped up in the cord. I was also told to keep my hands over my head, since if I kept my hands on the side, there was a possibility of the cord wrapping around my neck on the rebound. They told me to look over to the camera platform and say something. I made the sign of the cross and said that I was out of my mind. The jumpmaster was holding the back of my waist and offered me encouragement and told me to go. As I started shifting my weight outward, I started screaming like a woman. And then I was off the platform and gravity took over.
Screaming, I raced headfirst 171 feet toward the pool at the bottom. With each millisecond, I could feel the wind rushing more quickly past my ears. I could see the inflatable tubes coming up quickly and then...BOOM. The cord grabbed tightly around my ankles. I'd survived the initial plunge, but I rebounded into the air, probably another 120 feet. This time I was well behind the platform with nothing but pavement underneath me. I almost rotated vertical while floating through the air. Then I swung back toward the pool and bounced again, this time much smaller and then one more bounce and I was spinning slightly in a counter-clockwise circle. I looked down and could see a guy at the edge of the pool holding a long pole with a ring at the end. I grabbed the ring and he pulled me toward the edge. The rope attached to my waist lowered me slowly toward a "trampoline"...actually a wooden frame with rubber stretched across the top. The ground tech told me to rotate while I was hanging upside down so I could be brought down on my back. First my head, then my neck, back and finally my ass. They told me to keep my legs in the air so they could unhook the cords. They also detached the rope hooked to my waist. I spun to the side and was back on terra firma again, thank God. And I hadn't even soiled my drawers! My friend laughed at my womanly scream and told me she thought she got a few good pictures. We went inside to watch the video I never ordered in advance. Of course it was hilarious and I plunked down the 20 bucks for it. I was presented with a "certificate of valor" and a card with a single stamp on it. The card allows me to jump at the same location from now on for 25 bucks instead of $54. And each fourth jump is free. I would have loved to try it again at night but couldn't bring myself to ask my friend to wait an hour for me again. Remember when I said I got there first and had to jump last? Well it seems that people jump according to their weight. Being the bungee fat ass that morning, I was forced to go last. The whole process from start to finish took about an hour.
All in all, the experience was a blast. A tremendous adrenaline rush.
I hope to have a scan of my jump taken from the jump platform, as well as a QuickTime video of the entire jump online early next week. Once I do, I'll post the link here.
