Ignoring the wanky hyperbole.

[Gob]

This looks worth watching...

THE world is about to witness one of the greatest human feats ever captured on TV — when California resident Joby Ogwyn attempts the first wing suit flight off the summit of Mount Everest.
The epic event, titled Everest Jump Live, will broadcast live on the Discovery Channel and in 224 countries and territories in May.



“This is history in the making,” said Eileen O’Neill, group president Discovery and TLC Networks.

“Discovery Channel continues to bring live broadcast events unlike anything you’ll see on TV — from Felix Baumgartner’s world record for the highest space jump to Nik Wallenda’s incredible tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon.”

Discovery will take viewers along the journey with two, one-hour pre-shows revealing Ogwyn’s intense training and preparations for Everest.

His custom-made wingsuit will be equipped with cameras bringing a bird’s eye view as he descends more than 3,048 vertical metres at speeds of over 241kmh.

Ogwyn is no stranger to Everest. He first summitted the world’s highest peak at 24-years-old, becoming the youngest American to make it to the top.

In 2008, he set the world record for the fastest ascent of Mt. Everest, climbing from the base of the south side route to the summit in just nine and a half hours (it typically takes three to four days). Ever since then, he’s searched for the ultimate way to explore the mountain, and now he’s found it.

“This will be the final piece of my dream. Ever since I was a child, I’ve imagined what it would be like to fly. I can’t think of a more spectacular backdrop than Everest,” said Ogwyn. “Everything that I’ve ever accomplished in my life has just been practice for what I’m about to do.”



Read more: Wing suit flight off Mount Everest’s summit - Sunday Life & Times - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/sunday ... z2tSOHNBGw

[MajGenl.Meade]

I ignored the hyperbole (isn't that the American Rules football championship?) and all I got out of that was:

The world is ever the with set has about Sunday

[rubato]

Base jumping, its a lot like suicide but without the moral clarity and honesty. I think I'll be doing something else that day.

Newlywed BASE jumper who watched wife plummet to death fined for illegal parachuting

Clayton Butler, 29, was cited by federal park officials for Saturday’s incident. His wife, Amber Bellows, died after her parachute didn't open during a jump from a peak in Zion National Park in Utah.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... z2tT71NSGn

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... z2tT6osw8f



yrs,
rubato

[Jarlaxle]

Did you read the post? I thought not.

Have you ever done anything FUN in your life, rube?

[Sean]

Base jumping, its a lot like suicide but without the moral clarity and honesty. I think I'll be doing something else that day.

I found myself nodding in agreement with this!

[oldr_n_wsr]

its a lot like suicide but without the moral clarity and honesty.

Somehow, I've never put suicide together with "moral clarity and honesty".
Please explain.

[Jarlaxle]

You cannot understand rube unless you're smashed, baked, or heavily medicated, dude.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Oh durn, I thought I wasn't any of those three.

oldr - he's suggesting that such extreme adventurers are playing out a death wish and indeed frequently do die. That they really are candidates for the Darwin awards but for some reason are lauded as something other than idiots.

He further asserts that a person who has determined upon suicide is more honest in performing that act rather than the person achieving self-destruction by "accident", as it were. He believes this is an example of higher moral clarity - a decision and an act - than indulging in risky behaviour in the delusion of indestructability or even "daring" death to occur.

IMO - now where's those meds and the booze before I pop into the oven?

[oldr_n_wsr]

You cannot understand rube unless you're smashed, baked, or heavily medicated, dude.

I don't indulge in any of those things, but I wouldn't mind trying some of the "stunts" these people do.
That "wing suit" some people "fly" with looks cool. As does base jumping. I've sky dived (tandem) and can't wait to do it again.

MGM
thanks for the explaination.

I don't think these risk takers expect to die, but are aware of that possibility. Heck, any one of us could be hit by a car or have some other accident kill us. These people are just getting as much as they can out of life. They are adrenalin junkies. Everyone seems to have their own addiction.
I like going 100+mph on my snowmobile. Crazy? To a by stander yes. To me no. Been snowmobiling since a young age. Pushing myself (and my machine) gives me some sort of satisfaction. I could use a new snowmobile. They have some really really fast ones now. And they have better control and suspensions on them. Don't know if the wife will let me buy one though. (yes I have life insurance).

[Jarlaxle]

Is base jumping or a wingsuit any more dangerous than riding a motorcycle?

[oldr_n_wsr]

Probably less so. You only have to worry about yourself (skill level, etc), your equipment and gravity. You have the same with mc riding plus the added excitement of moving cars all around you piloted by who knows who, doing who knows what.