So, what
is the trick of jumping The Clam. I'll start with some beginning
cliff jumping pointers from some guy named Stu.
"Cliff
jumping is an extreme sport and by nature is dangerous. You owe
it to yourself to make it as safe as possible. I try to follow
several commonsense guidelines. If you are new to the sport, I
recommend starting slow, going along with someone more skilled,
and coming up with your own guidelines. Just for reference, here
are mine:"
- Know
your own ability. Don't push it.
- Take
gradual steps. Before you jump off a 50 ft. cliff, jump off
a 25 foot cliff.
- Always
swim your landing spot before you jump it. Check the depth,
pick your target, and swim around for obstacles.
- Know
your physics. Your fall will be parabolic. Throw small stones
to imitate your leap, get an idea of where jumps that are too
long or too short might land. On high jumps, it seems to me
that most people travel less horizontally than they expect.
Per #1, don't jump for any targets that aren't double the size
of your margin of error.
- Land
with your feet together and arms crossed over your chest or
firmly at your side. Arm-slap is extraordinary common for beginners.
Those are
great recommendations, but The Clam has other complications that
many don't think about.
Rules
of jumping at The Clam:
- Never
jump in the winter or during a storm. (Most important rule)
- Snorkel
around The Clam and get to know were rocks stick up and what
the different depths are for the different jumps.
- Don't
hesitate - to be explained...
- Follow
the tides, they can make a large difference in the depth of
the water. Only jump when there is a medium tide or higher.
- Don't
jump at night
- Don't
drink and jump. I know that can be part of the fun, but with
any extreme sport, you really don't need an impaired judgment
when you put your life at risk.
- Don't
jump alone.
The most
important thing to remember about The Clam is, NEVER jump in the
winter time. Why you ask? Several reasons.
- The
water is cold, real cold!
- The
ocean is more turbulent
- The
surf can be big
- Less
people are around (Including Lifeguards)
- It can
be almost impossible to climb up the cliff walls when the surf
keeps knocking you down.
- If you
get in trouble, chances of rescue are greatly reduced.
I made
this mistake when I was in High School and it almost cost me my
life.
As far
as I know, three people have died "at" The Clam. Take
note that I don't say from "jumping" at The Clam.
The three
were within the last couple of years. These poor souls didn't
die from jumping, they died from drowning in the winter surf.
You argue that it was from the jumping that killed them, but you
should read my story of how I almost
died...you will understand.
Hesitation
(explained) - So what does it mean to not hesitate when jumping
you ask?
The old
saying goes: "There are two categories of Cliff Jumpers:
Grand Master and Stuff On Rock."
"If
you fall you are Stuff, if you jump your a Master." Most
of the accidents I have seen at The Clam were a result of someone
running and then trying to stop. You will lose your footing and
then fall of the cliff. Most of the jumps at The Clam require
having some forward momentum to clear the cliff on the way down.
Click
here to watch this real media video of what can happen if
you hesitate
Once you
start to make your approach, just go with it. Give it all you
got and make that leap. Keep in the back of your mind that you
will be safer landing in the water than rolling down the cliff.
Good luck
out there guys & gals, let's all be Grand Masters!
