Excited spectators gathered early on New Year’s morning to catch a glimpse of Singapore’s largest-ever BASE jumping attempt. This free event was viewed from a number of vantage points across the property. At exactly 8.30am, the first of the BASE jumpers swan-dived off the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, 200 meters in the air. The other BASE jumpers soon followed in a smooth succession, landing one after the other on a pre-designated landing area on Bayfront Bridge, in an awe-inspiring display of precision and skill to welcome the New Year. The stunt was completed by 8.40am.

The BASE jumpers consisted of Marta Empinotti (Brazil), James Pouchert (USA), Jeb Corliss (USA), Anne Helliwell (USA), Amanda Vicharelli (USA) and Brendon Cork (USA). All are professionals in the field of BASE jumping, having completed over 6,000 successful jumps in total. They have jumped off some of the most well-known structures in the world, including the Eiffel Tower, Seattle’s Space Needle, PETRONAS Towers in Malaysia and Christ the Redeemers statue in Rio de Janeiro.

This BASE jumping stunt was the brainchild of Omer Mei-Dan, an orthopedic surgeon from Israel, an extreme sports enthusiast and a professional BASE jumper himself. Omer successfully executed the world’s first climbing race on a building facade to mark Marina Bay Sands’ opening celebrations on 23 June 2010.

“It couldn’t have gone better,” Omer said. “This has been one of the most exciting jumps I have organised to date, and to have been able to have the team BASE jump off the architectural marvel that is Marina Bay Sands, is a dream come true. All the jumpers are absolutely elated.”

W: marinabaysands.com

Photos courtesy of Marina Bay Sands