The New Snowboard Bungee Jumping Craze

We’re in the middle of winter and most people in Sweden have at least experienced some snow. Those who enjoy winter sports may have already headed north in Sweden or abroad to the Alps or other destinations for lots of snow. All competitive winter athletes are also right in the middle of their seasons, competing at full speed. Following the Swedes’ performances reveals both successes and setbacks. Read more about winter sports here, as the season is far from over.

For those who enjoy practicing winter sports themselves, there are plenty to choose from – cross-country skiing, ice skating, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and more. What’s recently become the latest snowboard craze, however, is snowboard bungee jumping. Anyone who thinks it sounds uncomfortable is probably right… It involves a ramp that is 30 meters long leading to a 40-meter drop! Of course, you’re secured with two bungee cords around your waist and come down via a zip line, but it truly feels like you’re flying as you bounce up and down in the air.

Currently, the only place you can try snowboard bungee jumping is at the Tignes ski resort in the French Alps, and the bungee jump ramp is available for snowboarders, skiers, and even sledders if they dare. Tignes is a well-known ski resort for snowboarders, as it was one of the first resorts in France to welcome them. It’s also one of the largest resorts in France and has long hosted both national and international events, camps, training programs, competitions, and more. Most lifts open in early September and close at the end of May, making for a very long winter season.

The person who started snowboard bungee jumping is a Frenchman named Jean-François Michelin. He began his career working at a ski resort but then decided to travel with the father of bungee jumping, AJ Hackett, to Normandy, Bali, and later New Zealand. Michelin has now made more than 70,000 bungee jumps. In 2008, Michelin came up with the idea of bungee jumping from a ramp, and the very next year he started a company specializing in exactly these types of jumps. It’s not just about winter sports – there’s a similar ramp in Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, France, where bungee jumping is offered for summer activities, such as bike bungee jumping and trampoline bungee jumping.

Bungee jumping is of course only for the bravest among us, but the fact is that most people who try this activity don’t just do it once, but again and again. Thanks to the invention of jumping bungee from a ramp, the variety is greater and the offerings broader. There’s even bungee jumping for two people together for those who prefer it. We think, however, that snowboard bungee jumping should be one of the most fun varieties, since in snowboarding you’re already riding down a slope. This way, you get extra speed in your riding while experiencing the thrill of flying.