First Everest Sky Dive 2008 concludes setting new records
The first Everest Sky Dive 2008 concluded amidst a function Tuesday setting new records as part of the extreme adventure of the year.
Maya Gurung and Nima Tamang from Nepal became the first Nepalese to dive from Everest while Holly Budge and Neil Jones from UK and Wendy Smith, world champion who has the experience of diving 17,700 times, from New Zealand were the first solo jumpers from the height of 29,500ft. Per Thanning Wimmer, from Denmark along with tandem master Ralph Mitchell, UK was the first person to make tandem dive as a passenger from the height.
The event that took place October 3-11 was jointly organized by Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure (EHTA), Nepal and High and Wild, UK.
At the closing ceremony hosted by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the record setters were felicitated for their brave deeds promoting tourism industry and introducing new tourism product in Nepal.
Chief Guest Prachanda Man Shrestha, chief executive officer of NTB, said that the event has contributed a lot to enhance the sector with superlative words such as highest peak of the world and highest skydiving setting new records in the history.
“The credit goes to Suman Pandey, president of EHTA for introducing the new product that encourages doing something new and makes aware of the potential products,” added Shrestha, thanking national and international media communities for their contribution.
According to the EHTA, more than 300 media including Kantipur, Avenues TV, Nepal1, Channel 5, UK, BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera covered the event with extensive length focusing on importance after the golden jubilee celebration in 2003 marking the first accent on Mt. Everest in 1953.
Suman Pandey, president of the EHTA, presented the set records and activities performed during the event. “Altogether 76 jumps—solo and tandem--were performed by the nationals of 15 countries including Nepal from the height of 29,500ft landing on the drop zone of 12,350ft at Syangboche of Solukhumbu.”
Another world champion Omar F.K. Alhegelan, USA was also the record maker from the height. Wendy and Omar jumped as camera flyer 12 and 9 times respectively.
Iraqi national Lafta Fareed A Lafta and Pakistani woman Namira Salim made the solo and tandem jump respectively from the same height. Scot Eric Diesel and Louis Merod Diesel, USA became the first father-son combination diver from the same height. Molly Anne Bedingfield, founder of the charity mission Global Angels for raising funds for helpless children across the world also made the jump and has raised funds of US$ 300,000.
During the event, altogether 22 flights were operated by the Swiss Pilatus Porter Aircraft. Jumps were made between the heights of 18,000 to 29,500ft, said the organizer. All the jumps were planned and regulated by Dave Wood ,UK, while oxygen system was developed by UK cosmonaut and scientist Andy Elson. Rajen Dulal of Nepal prepared all the clothing and suits for jumps.
Wendy Smith said that the experience was most exciting and a lot of research and hard work was needed to get success beating records.
Excited by the success, Nigel Gifford of High and Wild, UK, said that he could not express in words how much he felt about the help, friendship and love from people of Nepal and thanked them for the contribution to the grand success of the event.
Expressing vote of thanks for the national and international dignitaries, organizers, divers and media, Subhash Niraula, director at the NTB applauded the roles of every sector especially of Explore Himalaya for helping to find a new tourism product. He also urged all to make the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 successful. nepalnews.com Oct 15 08
