Wingsuiting, The World's Most Dangerous Sport

Photograph: Richard Schneider/Flickr Creative Commons

Wingsuit diving is one of the world’s most dangerous extreme sports. The idea of wingsuiting from planes started with the “Birdmen” in Europe in the 1940s, but that met with mixed results – and several deaths. From the 1940s up to the 80s all the people who were attaching canvas wings [and jumping off cliffs and out of planes] died. 

There are 5,000 active Base jumpers who jump regularly in inflatable suits and attend festivals and invite-only competitions worldwide. 31-year-old Jhonathan Florez will be defending his title at this month’s World Wingsuit League Grand Prix.

More: theguardian.com