Exactly a decade has passed since a man called Oxygen first threw himself across America. Known for his jumping ability, Oxygen, a Czech, who jumped a nearly 10footwide abyss (深渊). Today, Petr Kops, 21, is wearing Oxygen's pants." I did not know Oxygen personally, but my sister did," Kops said. "I wear his trousers for good luck." Minutes later, Kops was standing at the edge of a 70foot abyss called Broken Bones.
While it may seem suicidal (自杀的), jumping across a gap is actually an extreme sport that is gaining in popularity. Called rock jumping, or simply jumping, this activity is taking place in the AdrspachTeplice Rocks, a remote nature preserve in the northeast part of the Czech Republic. Known for its 11 square miles of sandstone, the region has been loved by lifelong rock climbers. "The aim is to get to the top of as many towers as you can." said Vladimir Prochazka, known as June Bug, a 59yearold climber and a collector of Czech rock climbing histories.
Jumping is often the most possible way to get to the tower. In most cases, climbers jump with a rope tied around their waist. If they miss the landing — which is not uncommon — they will fall into the wall of the base tower. "Jumping requires fearlessness," Prochazka said. "Broken or damaged bones are fairly common." Still, there are those who prefer to experience by jumping without a rope. Among the most wellknown of these adventurers are Petr Prachtel and his wife, Zorka, who helped create the sport in the 1960s. They pioneered countless jumps, sometimes without the safety of a rope.
