Soul Flyers base-jump from worlds tallest building – in Dubai

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After being mesmerised by the above video, as put together by the Dubai Films production team on the ground in UAE… imagine this if you can: You spend months of training and preparation and then one day the day arrives for you to do something not many people on Planet Earth can claim to have done, or even thought about doing. This is not just a project but more of a lifestyle for renowned and respected Soul Flyers World Champions Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet.

Skydive Dubai, also respected and renowned worldwide as a leader in extreme skydiving, this month has now set not one, but it’s second high profile World Record and this time for base jumping off the very tip of The Burj Khalifa. Skydive Dubai sponsored Soul Flyers World Champions Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet to take the first leap off The Burj Khalifa, 828 meters tall, on Monday 21st April 2014, claiming a new official World Record Title of the ‘Highest Base Jump’ from the Tallest Building, exhibiting their astonishing base jumping skills, and not to mention their lack of fear and meticulous preparation.

The jump from The Burj Khalifa was only possible with the construction of a 3 X 1 meter platform at the very top of the pinnacle and was an immense task in itself. The structure which was recently spotted by residents and tourists, took a total of 3 days for installation with challenges faced due to weather constrictions limiting the time available for construction. Throughout the whole period, the highest safety measures were put in place to ensure the pinnacle did not get damaged and we are guessing that the UAE climate is probably best suited to this level of logistics.

“On behalf of the entire team and myself, I would like to thank H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council for giving us the opportunity in making this project a reality. Skydive Dubai has become a pioneer in regards to aerial sports and will continue to strive in setting more new world records.” said His Excellency Nasser Al Neyadi, President of the Aero Sport Federation and Chairman of Skydive Dubai.

Fred and Vince had to go through a series of training in Switzerland by base jumping off Lauterbeunnen Mountain which is almost the same height as The Burj Khalifa. With a week of intense training in Switzerland, Fred and Vince continued to condition themselves with base jumping out of helicopters in Dubai to ensure they were ready for the leap off of the world’s tallest building.

“This was the jump of a lifetime and an achievement of three years of hard training. I am glad we landed successfully, accomplishing a lifelong dream.” stated Fred Fugen. “This was my best jump by far. It was a dream come true.” continued Vince Reffet.

Skydive Dubai, with the support of Emirates Aero Sports Federation, is one of the world’s premier skydiving locations right in the heart of Dubai City, with a desire for breaking world records. Since Skydive Dubai’s launch in 2010, they have provided a platform for extreme athletes to express their passion, train hard and achieve their dreams. This was highlighted earlier in April when they broke the World Record for the smallest parachute jump.

“As always, Skydive Dubai prides itself on the 100% safety record and the Burj Khalifa Jump is no exception”, said Alan Gayton, General Manager, Skydive Dubai, The Palm Drop Zone.

“This success is due to the ‘Practice make perfect’ method of training that we always follow and the 100% dedication of everyone working on this project”.

Skydive Dubai and The Burj Khalifa are symbols of Dubai’s exceptional growth over the past 30 years as well as an example of International co-operation and exceptional human talent, aspiration and inspiration. The Dubai based production team involved in the project will be working on a short documentary focus on the project as a whole that will be released soon.

About Skydive Dubai

SKYDIVE DUBAI, the world’s premier skydiving location, is located in the heart of Dubai city. It is operating in two locations The Palm Drop Zone, which has as area size of 260,000 and runway size of 60m x 700m, and Desert Campus Drop Zone. Skydive Dubai offers tandem jumps, training for athletes and courses for beginners and experienced skydivers. Both drop zones observe the highest standards in safety under the regulations of The International Air Sport Federation (FAI). All skydivers are fully accredited by the United States Parachuting Association (USPA) and The Emirates Aviation Association (EAA).

PHOTO CREDITS: Skydive Dubai / source credit: TIG Media
VIDEO CREDIT: Dubai Production Team

Special thanks to Sara at ‘Active’

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