In view of recent articles on bungee-jumping, and having supervised more than 600 jumps off of bridges, hot-air balloons and cranes, I believe there remains much to be said on the industry.
I find it hard to believe the media still has a hard time separating two kinds of bungee cords.
An American-style cord consists of traditional bungee cord, usually five- eighths of an inch in diameter, in sets of three, four or five cord lengths. Each individual cord has a breaking strength of 1,000 to 2,000 pounds and consists of a rubber core with one or two layers of sheathing, which acts as a backup system. Any one failure in the bungee system is backed up by at least two other cords.
New Zealand-style cords consist of braided latex strands looped back and forth along the cord`s axis. It has no backup sheathing, and consists of one thick rubber-band. This is the type which failed recently in Michigan.
There is a difference between bungee companies, regardless of the new Illinois regulations. The American-made bungee cord should be the standard due to its safety record (no accidents).
Bungee-jumpers are not fools, idiots or softballs. In the right hands bungee-jumping is safer than driving your car. We do not take irrational risks at the expense of our customers!
