A base jumper hugs a friend after landing in the square. A base jumper takes in the scenery as he parachutes to the ground. Base jumpers celebrate their safe and successful jumps.

SIBU: Base jumpers participating in the eighth edition of the Sibu Base Jump 2016 attended a trial session yesterday.

Among them were Australians Toby Turner and Ashley Walsh, who are taking part in the event for the second time.

“I love Sibu because Sibu is an ideal location for base jumping and that is why I could not resist to come back here again for the Sibu Base Jump 2016,” said Turner who is from North Queensland.

The 33-year-old skydiving instructor said the warmth and hospitality of the locals, local food and tropical weather attracted him to return.

Walsh, from Western Australia, said he returned because the government allows jumpers to do what they love most here.

“Above all, here in Sibu, Sarawak in particular and Malaysia in general, we the base jumpers receive such wonderful and warm hospitality. Thus it makes us feel very much at home,” said the 31-year-old mining engineer.

The annual event involves parachuting from the top of the state’s tallest building – Wisma Sanyan – to the Sibu Town Square Phase 1 below.

Besides Australia, jumpers from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America and Malaysia will make their official jumps from today (Sept 23) until Sunday.

With 52 jumpers – 47 men and five women – this will be the largest number of jumpers since the event began in 2009.

As with previous years, there will also be night jumps from 7pm to 9pm tonight and tomorrow.

The event is organised by Sibu Divisional Tourism Task Group (STTG) in collaboration with various government agencies and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage.

Members of the public are advised to stay away from the cordoned area at the Sibu Town Square Phase 1 for their own safety and that of the jumpers.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by The Borneo Post

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