A J HACKETT !

AJ Hackett is a New Zealand legend. His name is synonymous with one of the most heart-stopping sports here.
He was born on the North Shore, Auckland, left school at 16 and became an apprentice carpenter. He is a typical kiwi; loving snowboarding and skiing and anything involving risk-taking.
He was inspired in the 1980s, by the Oxford Club of Dangerous Sports, in England, who, in April 1979 made the first bungee jump from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.



The club members at that time consisted of David Kirke, Chris Baker, Simon Keeling, Tim Hunt and Alan Weston.
So...what is bungee jumping?
Bungee jumping, to explain it simply, is a ridiculous, activity that involves jumping from a tall structure, while connected to a large elastic cord.



The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge or crane; but it is also possible to jump from a movable object, such as a hot-air-balloon or helicopter, that has the ability to hover over one spot on the ground.




The thrill (that apparently occurs) comes as much from the free-falling as from the rebounds.
When you jump, the cord stretches and you fly upwards again as the cord snaps back and continue to oscillate up and down. You then hang head downwards until 'rescued' by someone at the bottom of the structure you have jumped from (sounds like such fun!)



Of course, kiwis believe they invented what they call 'bungy jumping' - change the spelling and claim it for your own!
AJ Hackett can claim fame to making the first commercial venture from this sport and for bungy jumping from the Eiffel Tower.



Bungy jumping is now passe - it's been done, all over the world, so the AJ Hackett team yesterday launched its latest thrill activity - claimed to be the world's highest swing. It's called the Nevis Arc, the swing that allows riders to reach speeds of up to 125kmh, while swinging across a 120m span high above Doolan's Creek Gorge.




Hackett is widely known for his many bungy stunts that have earned him Guinness records just a few include:

1988: Jumping off the Auckland Tower, claiming the title of being the world's first Bungy off a building (isn't the Eiffel Tower a building?)
1990: Jumping 380 meters out of a helicopter for the first time.
2000: Jumping off the Royal Gorge Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world
2006: Opening and jumping out of the Macau Tower in China (measuring 233 meters above ground) holding the title as the highest sky jump and highest commercial Bungy
2007: Doubling the previous record of 700 meters out of a helicopter with 1,499.6 meters in Malaysia.