THANK YOU: Sim (third left) receives a mock cheque from Edward (second left) while Cunningham (left) is among those looking on.
SIBU: The Sibu BASE Jump 2011 at Wisma Sanyan from Sept 22 to 25 will be grander than previous jumps with 23 jumpers from seven countries confirmed coming.
The four jumpers from Malaysia and others from Australia, US, Austria, the Netherlands, New Zealand and United Kingdom will jump from the 126-metre building during the day and at night.
At a press conference here yesterday, Sibu Division Tourism Taskforce chairman Sim Kok Kee said the number of jumpers this year was 12 more than last year’s.
“Most of them are `returnees’. That is a good sign that Sibu can be a perfect place for BASE jumping,” he enthused.
Sim said the official jump will be between 9am and 5pm on Sept 23 while the night jump starts at 7.30pm.
The organiser had planned activities for the jumpers during their stay in Sibu.
“They will be brought to tour the town, taste local fruits and delicacies, spend a night at a longhouse and more,” Sim said.
The event is organised by Sibu Division Tourism Taskforce in collaboration with various government agencies, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage.
This will be the third year the event is held here. The first was in 2009 with six jumpers and 11 jumpers last year.
Malaysia will be represented by jumpers Aziz Ahmad, Ahmad Zaharuddin Zainuddin, Azuan Taharuddin and Hizam Sahibudeen this year.
Jumpers from Australia are Gary Cunningham who is also the technical advisor, Aaron Chalk, Dale Butterworth, Grant Raedel, Heath Baird, John Funk, Ken Miller and Shane Lacey.
From the US are Adam Gardner, Brandon Chance, Frankie Boban, Joseph Nesbitt and Robert Scheier.
Marcus Stiglitz and Markus Pressl are from Austria, Mitchell Coll and Simon Guthrie from New Zealand, Jeroen Koevoets from the Netherlands and Ronald Luke from the UK.
Sim received a RM30,000 sponsorship from Cityvine (M) Sdn Bhd, represented by its business development manager Edward Henry Mut at a press conference yesterday.
Among those present were Sarawak Tourism Board executive Rudi Anoi, state administrative officer Brin Munsang and Pelita Towerview Sdn Bhd engineer Tony Hii.