Bungee Jumping, At Least, Will Have You Head Over Heels With Terror, Excitement

Maria Gonzales, 22, stood calmly in the steel cage as the crane lifted her and Rapid Descents jumpmaster Gavin Behr 171 1/2 feet above the ground for a panoramic view of the Cascades.

The Lynnwood restaurant hostess was about to plunge out of the cage, testing the elastic attached to her ankles in an actual leap of faith. A friend had bet Gonzales $100 she wouldn't jump.

"I was a little bit scared," she admitted on the ground three minutes later. "It's a pretty impressive height. . . . I'd never been up that high before."

Standing at the open edge of the cage, Gonzales thought she must be crazy to attempt such a thing.

After last-minute instructions and encouragement from Behr, Gonzales took a deep breath, leaned out of the cage and fell toward the 15-foot-deep pool of water beneath her at 65 mph. Seconds later, the elastic snapped her back up.

Bouncing up and down three more times and screaming "This is great!" she was lowered gently toward the ground. Two ground crewmen caught her and guided her to a large blue cushion, where she landed on her back, was unclipped and helped to her feet.

FACE TO FACE WITH FEAR

Rapid Descents Bungee Jumping Co., with 10 sites across the nation, has helped more than 14,000 people jump without any incidents since its inception three years ago, said Lynnwood Manager Rick-O Bartoldus, 24. The company moved from its former Gold Bar location to its present location just off I-5 in Lynnwood almost three months ago.

IT TAKES ALL KINDS

Bungee jumpers come in all types, Bartoldus said: "72-year-old grandmothers, blind people, students, corporate workers, 9-year-olds, even paraplegics."

"We had a guy with an artificial leg who jumped once," Behr added. "Other people have wanted to use a blindfold - which actually makes the whole jump easier. And we had three 84-year-old men jump one after another one day back in Gold Bar."

The 31-year-old South African jumpmaster is in charge of everything at the jump site, including Bartoldus' operation of the crane.

The $59 jumps last five minutes from gearing up to release back on the ground. Jumpers usually recoil 100 feet on their first bounce, then 80 feet and 60 feet, before being lowered to the ground.

Instead of using U.S. military cords, which Bartoldus says jerk sharply instead of gently stretching, Rapid Descents makes its own cords to specifications of the New Zealand government, which has regulated bungee jumping for 12 years. The rubber cord strands, 4 inches in diameter, are wrapped 1,000 times.

"We can lose up to 40 percent of one of our cords and still safely use it," Bartoldus said. "But if we have even 5 percent breakage visible, we don't use a cord. We don't take shortcuts with people's lives."

Behr inspects every piece of gear each morning, even climbing atop the steel cage and examining the brand-new steel cable and its connections.

The staff weighs each jumper twice, on different scales, instead of letting jumpers fill in their own weights on the company's release form. Before each jump, Behr and his ground crew triple-check each piece of equipment and double-check each jumper's weight before measuring the cord length.

Wool-lined metal cuffs bind a jumper's ankles together, and lockable clips secure the cord to the cuffs. Ground crewman Ryan Bergsman recites a safety litany to each jumper: "If you're afraid of heights, don't look down. If you're not afraid, be sure to check out the view; it's really nice. The jumpmaster will count down from three for you to jump. Don't hesitate. Keep your arms out to your side, just lean out and fall like a domino. Don't grab the bungee cord."

One in every 100 jumpers chickens out, said Behr, who frequently has to reassure jumpers. "My job up there is 10 percent bungee (supervision) and 90 percent psychology."

Bungee jumping requires no special clothing, other than what is necessary to keep warm high up in the cage. "People in San Diego even jump nude," Bartoldus said. "In fact, we'll be offering nude bungee jumping at Nudestock, in the Seattle area, this August." Rapid Descents operates in all weather except high winds and lightning, Bartoldus said.

Jumping won't make you throw up, so eat whatever you like beforehand without fear. The company offers cords to keep your glasses on. Be sure to empty your pockets, remove dangling jewelry and remember that clothing can be upended in the descent.

Got a great idea for a local getaway or summer activity? Give us a call at 745-7800 or write to us at Seattle Times Snohomish County Bureau, 1211 164th St. S.W., Suite 101, Lynnwood, WA 98037. --------------------------------------------------------------- -- If you go: Rapid Descents Bungee Jumping Co., 4003 204th S.W., Lynnwood. 774-2778 or 1-800-4A-BUNGE. Open Wed.-Sun. noon to 8 p.m. Take Fourth Avenue West exit from Interstate 5. From east of the interstate, proceed north across 44th Ave. W. a quarter-mile onto 204th S.W. and turn left into the Kaddyshack Golf parking lot. First jump $59; second jump $49; third jump $39. First jump $49 with military I.D., $39 with major company (Boeing, Metro, etc.) I.D. Group discounts.