Commercial bungee jumping (A. J. Hackett)
Puenting comercial (salto bungee de A. J. Hackett)
- Date
- 1988 · confidence high
- Place
- Kawarau Bridge, Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand
- Credited to
- A. J. Hackett and Henry van Asch
- Field
- Tools
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A jump from a bridge on an elastic cord tied to the ankles, turned into a commercial activity in November 1988 at the Kawarau Bridge. Hackett developed it from latex-cord jumps and the land-diving of Pentecost Island.
The Oxford Dangerous Sports Club made the first modern elastic-cord jumps on 1 April 1979 from the Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol); the Pentecost Island (Vanuatu) vine ritual is earlier and considered a precedent. Hackett contributed the commercial exploitation and safety rules.
What it led to
- commercial adventure sports in Queenstown and worldwide
- safety standards for elastic jumps
- popularisation of jumping from cranes and towers