The most fundamental quality for competing in any sport is your ability to push mental and physical barriers, until winning the competition becomes the only goal. After all, despite human attempts to create new boundaries, there are certain bodily limitations which cannot be overlooked.
For example, humans cannot fly, so one’s desire to compete in an aerial sport can only be turned into reality by the use of a machine. That is the only way to participate in skill-based tournaments that take place in the air. However, the latest craze in extreme sports acts as an antithesis to this proposition.
Wingsuit flying in its most primitive form is gliding through the air in a basic wing-suit, which is specifically designed to add more surface area around the body. It essentially converts humans into bats, in an attempt to propel them significantly higher off the ground.
Considering the pre-existent physical limitation, the sport has had its fair share of casualties. According to reports, 31 recorded deaths have occurred due to wingsuit flying since its inception.
To most of us, the sheer thought of jumping off a cliff would incite goosebumps to say the least. So why would anybody attempt to pursue a sport ridden with mortal risks?
To serve his country
You don’t have to go very far to seek an answer to this question. Retired Lt Col. Satyendra Verma from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh became India’s first professional wingsuit diver after participating at the World Championship last year.
The current Asian record holder in course distance recently transitioned from base jumping. His reply to the question of choice is very simple – “Why not?” Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda, Satyendra said, “I belong to a very small town; if I have a dream and I know I can fulfil it, nothing else can stop me. It’s the same with adventure sport. The risk involved is a part of it; the more you let it affect you, the lower the chance for you to perform better.”
Ever since his younger days, Satyendra’s passion for sport has remained undimmed. Be it football or cricket, his need to be outdoors was an indication of things to come. An attempt to sky-dive during his younger days fuelled his desire to be a part of the adventure sports realm.
He added, “During those days, there was only one way you could be regularly exposed to adventure sports was joining the army sports academy. Then I realised, what better way to do this than serving my own country and pursuing my passion?”
The 35-year old’s tryst with extreme sports began with sky-diving, but the theoretical nature of the sport somehow didn’t appeal to him. So over the period of two years, he slowly transitioned into base jumping.
The sport of base jumping inherently requires you to jump off buildings and cliffs and land safely on your feet, with the help of a parachute. The average time for you to pull the parachute is about 1.5 seconds.
In 2009, he attempted his first major jump in Kuala Lumpur, where he leaped off 980 feet. Blood pumping through his veins, Satyendra stood on the ledge, with a clear view of the ground below.
On being asked whether he was scared or not, Satyendra yet again had a simple reply. “People in India always have this stereotype that when it comes to innovation or taking risks, that Indians can’t do it. But I always believed that’s not the case. I’m representing my country abroad, I had no other choice.”
After garnering a great reputation abroad, he set sights on promoting the sport in India. He said, “It’s very simple, if I’m anything today it’s because my country has given me the chance to do what I want to do. It’s not some other country. My goal in life till I live will be to introduce wingsuit flying and base-jumping in India.”
To set an example
In October 2010, after managing to put together the required funds, Satyendra announced that he would be jumping from the Doordarshan Tower in New Delhi. There is no better place to showcase the sport that he loves than at the heart of India’s capital city.
The jump was especially important to him as this would be the country’s first broadcasted jump in its short base jumping history.
Satyendra said, “Jumps like that happen every day around the world, but in India, this was a first. I had jumped from higher distances, but this jump would put base jumping in the mind of thousands of people across the country. If I failed at any point it would be very difficult for the sport to return to India at least in the near future. That would be unfair on the others who had instilled their hopes in me.”
An unusually windy day in October almost played spoilsport to Satyendra’s commercial domestic debut. However, a 15 minute buffer period of calm was enough to convince him about the jump. Shouting “Indiaaaaaaa!!!”, Satyendra jumped towards the media barrage stationed to receive him upon landing.
It was a successful jump which helped Satyendra garner several future commercial deals, including a deal with beverage brand Mountain Dew. His performances were also recognised by the Sports Ministry which honoured him with the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in Air Adventure (2015).
The absence of a coach will always remain a bump in Satyendra’s mind-space. He said, “I was never disappointed that I didn’t have one. But yes, it did make things a lot more time-consuming, because I had to learn everything on my own. Plus taking permission for jumps, you see the difference between a regular athlete and me is that I was attempting to pioneer the sport. It was very important that I created a path for others to follow as well. Anyways, YouTube videos can be a good coach as well.” (laughs)
Satyendra did garner foreign coaching assistance for the World Military Championship.
He would then go on to compete in the biggest jump of his life, the Grand Canyon. The terrain was as daunting as its name, with no assistance in a 100 km radius. Satyendra added, “This for me was a very difficult jump, not just because of the height involved, but everything else as well. The temperature was very cold, and there was nothing in sight for a 100-mile radius. So if something happened to me, my partner would have to go all the way there to receive network coverage. So yes, knowing that the safety measures are close to nil, it can get a bit difficult.”
“My father was never someone who would get very involved, he knew I was someone who was very motivated in what I did. So he would never impose himself, that you shouldn’t do this. Of course, being a parent he would be worried because of the sport’s nature, but over time he understood how much I loved it. In fact, it’s my wife who gets worried quite a bit. She never shows it, but when I return home after a jump, the relief on her face is indicative.”
Now fully transitioned to wingsuit flying, Satyendra is attempting to introduce another popular extreme sport in India. He said, “The sport is very competitive in nature, and I really like participating in it.”
His performances saw him participate in last year’s World Championship held in the United Kingdom. It was a fruitful outing, as he successfully secured the Asian record.
When Satyendra Verma decided to begin his journey to be India’s first base jumper/wingsuit flyer, there was no given path that he could emulate. So he created his own, one that others around the country can now follow.
He didn’t jump to get an adrenaline rush. He jumped to set and lead by example!
