Here's some info on Bridge day which was yesterday, by the way: Bridge Day is the largest BASE jumping event in the world, held on the third Saturday in October every year in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Over 450 BASE jumpers and up to 200,000 spectators are expected to attend this year’s Bridge Day on Saturday, October 18, 2008. The New River Gorge Bridge is the world’s 2nd longest single arch bridge, providing the launch point for six hours (9am-3pm EST) of legal, safe BASE jumps.
Jumpers from all over the world will be lined up to take their turn leaping from the 876’ tall New River Gorge Bridge. Although 876 feet is extremely high it is a quick 8 seconds from the bridge to the water of the New River! Most will fall from the bridge for 3-4 seconds before deploying their parachute. Then they’ll spend the next 20-30 seconds floating down to the designated landing zone located at the water’s edge.
"BASE" is an acronym which stands for the four categories of objects from which one can jump – Building, Antenna, Span (the word used for a bridge), and Earth (the word used for a cliff.) BASE Jumping is known as being the world's most extreme sport. Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event in the world, and is West Virginia’s largest one-day festival, rated one of the top 100 in North America. The festival is unique in that it is the only day visitors may walk across the bridge, BASE jumpers can parachute from the railing and rappellers are allowed to descend and ascend fixed ropes. Vendors line both ends of the bridge selling crafts, shirts, photos, souvenirs and refreshments.
Making a return this year will be the popular 16’ commercial aluminum diving board, first introduced in 2006. “Last year, I finally got the chance to make a BASE jump by springing myself over the edge like an Olympic diver. I was pretty nervous, much more than a normal BASE jump,but it is a jump I’ll always remember,”says Jason Bell. BASE jumping aerialists from countries as far away as Australia and Russia will again travel to Fayetteville, WV, to amaze the spectators with multiple flips and twists before they deploy their one and only parachute. The Vertical Visions team also plans to have a landing accuracy contest with cash prizes, a BASE jumping video festival, and some special jumps that should make for an exciting Bridge Day for both jumpers and spectators.
BASE Jumping Through the Years
BASE jumpers have jumped from the New River Gorge Bridge every year since the first Bridge Day on November 8, 1980 (the only exception being the cancellation of Bridge Day 2001 shortly after 9/11). The first Bridge Day saw five skydivers making BASE jumps from the bridge in the early days of the sport of BASE jumping. Over the years, Bridge Day became the place for thousands of skydivers to make their first BASE jump. It is also the largest gathering of BASE jumpers each year, complete with first jump seminars, packing classes, a BASE gear trade show, and a film festival.
BASE Jumping Registration Information
All BASE jumping activities at Bridge Day 2008 will be coordinated by Vertical Visions LLC, owned by West Virginia BASE jumper and skydiver Jason Bell (BASE #428, D-16725), assisted by his wife Jennifer, Charleston native Bill Bird (D-6977), and over 50 staff members.
Anybody can watch this exciting feat, but not just anybody can jump. Jumpers must first skydive numerous times from aircraft before attempting to BASE jump. Jumpers must also register in advance. Jumper registration begins on July 1, 2008 at
www.bridgeday.info, a website dedicated to Bridge Day BASE jumping. For questions regarding Bridge Day BASE jumping, please visit
www.bridgeday.info (You will be redirected to http://www.vertical-visions.com).
The bridge is 2 hours from Huntington.
And here's some info on the bridge itself: The New River Gorge Bridge
By Morgan Ryan Cruikshank
On the 22nd of October in 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge was opened to traffic. This bridge opening marked the end of the old, long commute from one side of the New River Gorge to the other. This drive used to take around 45 minutes of driving on narrow roads that snaked down one side of the Gorge and up the other. The construction of the New River Gorge Bridge turned this tedious 45-minute journey into a trip of a little over a minute. Most of my 1980’s generation is familiar with the back seat dare to hold your breath until your Mom or Dad drove all the way across the New River Gorge Bridge. (This, of course, should only be attempted by passengers of a vehicle crossing the bridge).
The American Bridge Division of US Steel constructed this miracle of modern technology for almost $37 million dollars. They saved $300,000 off the original cost by using unpainted weathering steel to construct the bridge. The color blends with the surrounding breathtaking beauty of the New River Gorge itself. The West Virginia Division of Highways does not need to repaint the New River Gorge Bridge, saving them around $1 million dollars for each time the bridge would have required painting. All they need to do is treat the bridge with calcium magnesium acetate, which smells very much like vinegar, instead of the normal salt treatment preventing ice in the wintertime.
For those of you who will be attending Bridge Day for the first time, you are being treated to something most people do not get to experience. Pedestrian traffic is not allowed on the surface of the New River Gorge Bridge at any time—except on Bridge Day, the third Saturday in October. The distance you have to walk to get from one side of the Bridge to the other may astound you. The main span of the Bridge is 1,700 feet long, and the total length of the Bridge is around 3,030 feet long. That is quite a walk. It is also a walk that is special for yet another reason. The Bridge you are walking on is actually 876 feet above the rapids of the New River. This may not seem very tall since you just walked 3,030 feet across the Bridge, but do not just push that number aside. We could move the Washington Monument underneath the New River Gorge Bridge and still have 325 feet left of empty space between the two. This makes the New River Gorge Bridge a perfect location for the BASE jumpers and rappellers that take advantage of the Bridge Day festivities.
Hopefully, you too can join us this Bridge Day to enjoy the New River Gorge Bridge against the beautiful fall colors of the New River Gorge.
Through the Years of Excitement
On New River Gorge Bridge Day
1977
The New River Gorge Bridge was dedicated and officially opened on Oct. 22
1980
The first New River Gorge Bridge Day was held on November 8
There were two parachutists that jumped from a plane onto the bridge
There were five parachutists that jumped from the bridge into the gorge
5,500 certificates were given out to people taking the 3,000-foot walk across the bridge
1981
28 rappellers and 10 parachutists participated in Bridge Day
1984
Three hundred BASE Jumpers jumped from the bridge
1985
Oak Hill & Fayetteville Post Offices offered the first Bridge Day cachet
Jon McBride, NASA astronaut, was the honored guest
1986
Four hundred BASE jumpers took the plunge
1990
Tom King and Vivian Taylor tie the knot in the first and only wedding on the bridge
1991
Chris Allum bungee jumps from the bridge to set a world’s record for the longest bungee jump from a fixed structure
1992
Chris Allum and six others bungee jump for a record seven person jump
1997
20th Anniversary of the dedication of the Bridge & Bridge Workers’ Appreciation Day
Twelve BASE Jumpers leaped off the bridge to break the world record for a simultaneous jump
1998
Sixteen jumpers, a group of 12 followed by a group of 4 setting a world record by jumping simultaneously
2000
Two hundred sixty five people rappelled from the bridge
2001
Bridge Day cancelled due to 9/11; The Spirit of Bridge Day was held in downtown Fayetteville
The First MountainState Slalom and Skateboard Competition was held
The First Taste of Bridge Day was held
2002
The First Bridge Day High Line was held
Bridge Day back on the bridge
Route 19 closed to through traffic from 7AM to 5PM
2006
The First Down Under Tour was held
2007
Robert Handley became the oldest rapeller at 79
Interesting FactsAbout the New River Gorge Bridge
Owner
West Virginia Department of Highways
Design Engineer
Michael Baker, Jr., Inc.
Contractor
American Bridge Division – US Steel Corp.
Bid Price
$33,984,000
Final Cost
$37,000,000
Time to Build
Three years – from 1973-1977
Time to Design
The man hours for design calculations and drawings would be equivalent to one man working 40 hours per week for 15 years
Other Facts
• Officially opened on October 22, 1977
• Longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere with a 1,700’ span
• Second highest bridge in the United States at 876’
• The bridge length is 3,030’
• The deck width is 69 feet 4 inches
• Total bridge weight is 88,000,000 lbs.
• Ultra-high strength “Cor-Ten” weathering steel was used to blend into the surroundings and save approximately $1 million for every painting that didn’t have to be done.
And a couple pix:
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