Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Are You Man Or Woman Enough For This Ride?

From the Las Vegas Sun: The first step is always the hardest — especially when it’s from 855 feet up.
With their toes dangling over the edge and the Las Vegas Strip staring up at them, thrill-seekers took the first jumps from the top of the
Stratosphere's newest attraction, the SkyJump.
Some jumpers screamed all 855 feet, but others were unfazed by the free fall, like 75-year-old Ruby Malalay.
“I don’t get nervous for very much,” Malalay said confidently after her jump.

While this ride is exciting, it's not a jump I will ever do..
Before heading up to the 108th floor of the Stratosphere Tower, the jumper is suited up in a jump suit and harness. They’re taken up to the tower, in what might be the longest elevator ride of their lives only to come back down a few minutes later.
The jumper is checked multiple times by safety professionals before being led to the edge of the platform. It isn’t until they are on the platform — 855 feet above the landing spot — that they are hooked to a cable attached to a “descender machine.”
The machine lets out the cable as the jumper steps off the platform, controlling the speed at 40 mph. Just before hitting the landing pad, the jumper is slowed down for a controlled landing.
“It’s really not about the speed. The speed is actually nice because you get a chance to look around but you still feel like you are falling,” American Casino and Entertainment Properties President Frank Riolo said. Before heading up to the 108th floor of the Stratosphere Tower, the jumper is suited up in a jump suit and harness. They’re taken up to the tower, in what might be the longest elevator ride of their lives only to come back down a few minutes later.
The jumper is checked multiple times by safety professionals before being led to the edge of the platform. It isn’t until they are on the platform — 855 feet above the landing spot — that they are hooked to a cable attached to a “descender machine.”
The machine lets out the cable as the jumper steps off the platform, controlling the speed at 40 mph. Just before hitting the landing pad, the jumper is slowed down for a controlled landing.
“It’s really not about the speed. The speed is actually nice because you get a chance to look around but you still feel like you are falling,” American Casino and Entertainment Properties President Frank Riolo said. Before heading up to the 108th floor of the Stratosphere Tower, the jumper is suited up in a jump suit and harness. They’re taken up to the tower, in what might be the longest elevator ride of their lives only to come back down a few minutes later.
The jumper is checked multiple times by safety professionals before being led to the edge of the platform. It isn’t until they are on the platform — 855 feet above the landing spot — that they are hooked to a cable attached to a “descender machine.”
The machine lets out the cable as the jumper steps off the platform, controlling the speed at 40 mph. Just before hitting the landing pad, the jumper is slowed down for a controlled landing.
“It’s really not about the speed. The speed is actually nice because you get a chance to look around but you still feel like you are falling,” American Casino and Entertainment Properties President Frank Riolo said. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/apr/20/stratosphere-debuts-world-record-setting-thrill-ri/

The cost of the jump is $99 and up. So, I triple dog dare you take this ride.

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