Base jumping is not an extreme sport often seen around the United Kingdom. The country’s landscape is a challenge to individuals seeking to don a wingsuit and parachute to soar through the air. Former Royal Marine Tim Howell recently took up the challenge and successfully jumped from a 1,032-meter peak (4,000ft) in Scotland. Sports fans are anticipating some exciting events in the next month from traditional to alternative sports. Fans can use Tennessee online gambling sites to find the best odds, markets, and advice for wagering on the sports that will be played.
Due to a lack of suitable peaks across the UK, Howell had an extreme challenge on his hands. UK mountains lack the vertical profile, altitude, and safe points for landings that are needed for base jumping.
According to Howell, the UK has plenty of potential base-jumping sites. There are around 200 in his opinion around the UK. The former Royal Marine’s research found An Teallach’s incredible overhanging peak, known as Lord Berkeley’s Seat, which he deemed perfect for a base jump using a wingsuit.
Prior to making the leap off of An Teallach, Howell had to climb the mountain. His ascent took three hours to make. In the build-up to the base jump attempt, Howell climbed to the top of An Teallach multiple times to ensure it was safe to make the jump. Howell’s team spent around a week scouting the perfect location before finally choosing Lord Berkeley’s Seat.
Howell, an extreme adventure sport enthusiast, chose to make the base jump in Scotland due to restrictions created by COVID-19. The high-flyer tends to go abroad in search of adventure, but has been unable to do so this year.
According to Howell, prior to the jump, he spent time calming his nerves. He knew his calculations, training, and experience would prove to be the biggest difference in completing the attempt and failing. Howell had to wait for the cloud cover over An Teallach to clear before making the attempt. He climbed up to the jump site five times before the clouds had cleared enough to make the leap.
Once the COVID-19 pandemic clears to allow travel, Howell expects to be traversing the world again. He has plans of making jumps in the United States and Africa. Howell claims that the challenge of “doing something that has not been done before” drove him to make the jump in Scotland. Now, his motivation is to continue to take challenges and overcome them.
