By Carol Greenhouse

September 10, 2001 The first annual Malaysia International Championship of Extreme Skydiving, a week of high-risk aerobatics involving the world's tallest pair of buildings and 48 of the most accomplished B.A.S.E. jumpers, came to a close last week after a total of 650 jumps with an American taking the top award.

The event—significant because it marks the first time B.A.S.E. jumpers have been able to come together for a championship with official government approval—attracted athletes from 16 countries, including Russia, Saudia Arabia, South Africa, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and the United States. "B.A.S.E." stands for "building," "antenna," "span," and "earth"; practitioners jump from rooftops, radio towers, bridges, and cliffs with a single parachute.

Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism Abdul Kadir bin Haji Sheikh Fadzil blessed participants at the opening ceremonies in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, with Deputy Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism Ng Yen Yen present to award the prizes on September 2. First place went to Johnny Utah Winkelkotteer of the United States, second place to James Freeman of Australia, and third to Jurgen Muhling of Germany. In the team category, Nenad Pesut of Croatia took the top award, with the U.S. as runner up and Australia in third. In the opening canopy category, Australia's James Freeman took first place, while in the landing-accuracy competition, Croatia's Pesut again bested the field, with Winkelkotter second, and Australia's Dwain Weston third. More than $25,000 in prizes was awarded.

The only injury occurred when Dutch jumper Jon Luis Becker crash-landed onto a roof, breaking his leg. That comes as a relief to insiders, who worried that so many jumps might result in fatalities.

"We were very happy with our first annual championship and are already planning for next year," says Malaysian businessman Dann Lee, who founded SkyVenture Productions in 1999 to fund the nation's first mass jump. The Malaysia SkyVenture World Record Xtreme Skydive was held at the turn of the millennium at the same pair of buildings, the 1,483-foot-tall Petronas Towers, with 15 parachutists participating. Both events are in contention for endorsement by The Guinness Book of World Records.

For the full story on the rise of B.A.S.E. jumping in Malaysia, see "Cleared for Takeoff," Outside magazine, August 2001