Sixteen base jumpers threw themselves from a height of 200 meters this Thursday morning, very close to Millau, as part of the Natural Games festival.
The big thrill. This Thursday morning, there were sixteen of them launching themselves from the Massebiau cornice, 200 m high, very close to Millau. They sometimes came from far away to put on a show for this first day of the Natural Games. This was the case for Ludovic Michonneau, who came straight from Annecy. “I came especially for the NG. Annecy is really a land that lends itself to base jumping, and here too.”
Some were locals, like Orlane Walbec. La Millavoise, a nurse at the Millau Hospital Center, is a fan of outdoor sports. “It’s a ritual in the morning to come, do your little jump, and then go to work“, she confirms as she prepares to walk the paths to reach the top of the cornice.
Three days of competition
There are many spectators downstairs. Among the crowd who came to watch the show by the river, two young women who came from Seine-et-Marne especially for the 15th edition of the festival. “It’s only been a very short time since I discovered this practice. We came all the way from Seine-et-Marne to see it all with our eyes. We’ll be there for the four days of the festival, and a little more to discover the surroundings.”
And who says Natural Games, says competition. Although friends, the sixteen base jumpers compete for three days. She only has competition in name. Once launched and the parachute deployed, head towards the target. “For base jumpers who are going to fall from the cliff, the goal is to land in the most precise wayexplains Françoise, volunteer referee in this discipline. There is a target with circles. Each corresponds to a number of points which increase as we get closer to the center. Be careful when landing: only arrivals in due form are validated. “Attero” during which the hands or the lower back have touched the ground are not counted. The ranking will be established at the end of the three days of competition, Saturday.
