{{Short description|Extreme sport}} {{confuse|Skipping rope}} thumb|Rope jumping down a 160 metre free-fall, at Aiglun in France '''Rope jumping''', is the extreme sport of jumping off a high cliff while tied to a long climbing rope which is itself statically tied to a highline-anchor system at the top of the cliff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/australia-ropejumping-idINKBN29I0L1|title=Australians head to sea cliffs for adrenalin-pumping sport |date=13 January 2021|website=Reuters | first=Loren | last=Elliott | accessdate=24 April 2026|quote=Australia's adventure sport enthusiasts are joining the ranks of those heading to the seaside but for a much more stomach-churning activity - rope jumping}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rope-jumping_n_5694643|title=Rope Jumping Is The Most Terrifying Extreme Sport Since Cliff Diving |date=21 August 2014|website=HuffPost | first=Suzy | last=Strutner | accessdate=24 April 2026}}</ref> Rope jumping is notably different from the act of bungee jumping as there is much less stretch in the climbing rope, which allows the rope-jumper to experience a much longer sensation of freefall before the sensation of any arrest.<ref name=LAT/><ref name=F24/>
To avoid injury, and to avoid placing too much stress on the climbing rope, the rope-jumper sets up the anchor-system to the far right or far left of their jump-off point, thus creating a pendulum trajectory at the bottom of their free fall that absorbs much of the energy of the arrest (see video).<ref name=LAT/><ref name=F24>{{cite web | url=https://observers.france24.com/en/20101215-rope-jumping-even-better-russian-roulette-extreme-sport-russia-ukraine-belarus | title=Rope jumping: even better than Russian roulette | date=17 December 2010 | website=France 24 | accessdate=24 April 2026 | first=Ostap |last=Karmodi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | website=International Business Times | url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/over-200-people-tied-rope-jump-off-98-foot-tall-bridge-brazil-set-world-record-1644285 | date=24 October 2017 | accessdate=24 April 2026 | last=Roy | first=Ananya | title=Over 200 people tied to a rope jump off 98-foot tall bridge in Brazil to set world record}}</ref>
Rope jumping is considered a very dangerous sport that requires extensive technical knowledge and preparation to be done safely.<ref>{{cite episode |title= Getting Sketchy |series= Pushing the Line|network= Discovery+ |date= June 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | website=Nine News | url=https://www.9news.com.au/world/russian-woman-in-death-defying-rope-swing/d6905855-5173-4ac8-be91-e244147ecd9d | title=Russian woman in death-defying rope jumping swing | date=9 December 2010 | accessdate=24 April 2026}}</ref> American rope-jumper Dan Osman, who is considered the founder of the sport, died due to the failure of his anchor system while jumping from the Leaning Tower, Yosemite on 23 November, 1998.<ref name=LAT>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-07-mn-5665-story.html | title=A Daring Young Man's Odyssey on End of Rope Above Yosemite Floor | date=7 February 1999 | accessdate=25 April 2026 | first=David | last=Foster | newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/terminal-velocity-death-master-gravity/| title=Terminal Velocity: Dan Osman's Freefalling Death |date=2 April 1999| accessdate=24 April 2026 | magazine=Outside | first=Craig | last=Vetter}}</ref> Others have died rope jumping on large arches in Moab, Utah, and the Corona Arch in particular, to experience the unique effect of penduluming through the open arch.<ref>{{cite web | website=CBS News | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-killed-attempting-famous-utah-rope-swing/ | title=Man killed rope jumping while attempting famous Utah rope swing | date=26 March 2013| accessdate=24 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/death-rope-swing/| title=Death on a Rope Jumping Swing |date=13 May 2013| accessdate=25 April 2026 | magazine=Outside | first=Ryan| last=Krogh}}</ref>
==See also== *BASE jumping
== References == {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * [https://adventuresportsjournal.com/hownot2-dan-osmans-final-jump-in-yosemite-gets-repeated-23-years-later/ Dan Osman's final rope jump in Yosemite gets repeated 23 years later], ''Adventure Sports Journal'' (December 2022) * [https://www.planetmountain.com/en/videos/shaan-kaya-rope-jumping-in-crimea.html VIDEO:Shaan-Kaya, rope jumping in Crimea], ''PlanetMountain'' (2013) * [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/featured-video-new-russian-deathsport-alertgroup-rope-jumping VIDEO: New Russian Sport Alert—Group Rope Jumping], ''National Geographic'' (2009) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5olx81kcr9w VIDEO: Dan Osman and friends, rope jumping on Rostrum, Yosemite] (1990s) {{Extreme sports}} Category:Jumping sports Category:Extreme sports Category:Sports originating in the United States Category:Outdoor recreation