BASE Jumping 2009 in Komtar, Penang, tomorrow

Every time I read in the papers about the jumping event in KL, it was always after the fact. The strange thing about that is that there was never a time when I read about the event before it so that I could go see it firsthand.

I don't know, there might be people like me out there who would also like to see jumpers at work. I'm talking about BASE jumping here. Here in KL, these jumps are done from the KL Tower.

So, if you are interested to watch this event and if you are in Penang, then you are in luck.

Komtar International BASE Jump 2009 is set to take place this Sunday, i.e. tomorrow, with a total of 23 jumpers, the largest group of jumpers in the event’s four year history.

It's open to the public and the event will be from 8.30am to 5.30pm at the Komtar Dome located on the fifth floor. It is organized by the state government, Penang Develop-ment Corporation and Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd.

Jumpers will make continuous jumps from Komtar’s 62nd and 64th floor, located about 180m above sea level, throughout the day.

Out of the 23 participating jumpers, 13 are foreigners from Norway, New Zealand, India, Russia, Sweden, Holland, United Kingdom, Den-mark, Australia, Turkey, France and the United States. Six are women - two local and four foreigners.

BASE is an acronym for ‘buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), and earth (cliffs)’ indicating the locations the jumpers are leaping from.

The slightest change in wind changes everything and since the landing sites are nearer to the jump sites (compared to sky diving), the jumpers have to be very experienced, and jumpers have to complete at least 150 sky-jumps before being allowed to try BASE jumping.

Jumpers are between 26 and the late fifties, and most of them are very skilled and experienced so it should be a great show.

It is also possible to see it from afar as, if you are located anywhere on the island with a clear view of Komtar, you could keep an eye out on it tomorrow. Jumpers will be dressed in bright outfit and they will be seen from miles away. No roads around Komtar will be closed but there will be officers on traffic control.