By: Sydney Nazloo
The New River Gorge Bridge towers above the violent rapids of the mighty New River of Fayette County, West Virginia. Built in 1977, it is the third highest bridge in the United States, standing 879 feet from the bottom of the canyon. A bridge this massive is irresistible to the adventurers who flock to it each October to jump from its edge onto the banks of the river below.
BASE jumping refers to the sport in which participants parachute off fixed structures (BASE being an acronym for Building Antenna Span Earth, the four types of structures used in the sport). Bridge Day is one of the largest extreme-sporting events in the world. Every third Saturday in October, around 400 BASE jumpers take the plunge as 100,000 spectators look on from the safety of the pavement.
Not only can daredevils jump from a platform or a diving board, but they can also choose to be launched over the edge by a catapult. The Human Catapult Project was created in 2012 by engineer, BASE jumper, and West Virginia native Jason Bell. His machine can launch jumpers 20 feet into the air and 50 feet away from the bridge’s railing. Joe Caulfield made history as the first person to be catapulted off the bridge.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Bridge Day. The celebration was lively and spirited despite the cold and rain. Festival attendees crowded the railing to watch some interesting and historic leaps. Among this year’s 450 jumpers were a 70-year-old woman and her daugher, a paraplegic and a man thrown off the bridge by his friends.
Since the first jump in 1979, the New River Gorge Bridge has seen thousands of jumps yet only four fatalities. Security is taken seriously. Jumpers must have made at least 100 parachute jumps prior to the event to qualify and their gear must meet specific requirements. There are four boats in the river at all times to assist jumpers who miss the bank and land in the water.
Bridge Day has become much more than a sporting event. Food vendors, local craftsmen, and game stations line the street for attendees to browse as they make their way to the bridge to watch the jumps. What was once a niche event for BASE jumpers has become a huge festival attended by people from all over the country.
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