On 24th September 2024, Sebastián Álvarez, skydiver and wingsuit flyer from Chile, has made aviation history by becoming the first person in the world to make a parachute BASE jump concluded with surfing the world’s longest artificial wave at Surf Abu Dhabi.
The Chilean, with a modified surfboard attached to his feet, performed BASE jump from Bell 212 helicopter hovering 3,657 metres (12,000 feet) above Hudayriyat Island. Then, after opening his parachute, the skydiver performed a series of advanced swooping manoeuvres. Shortly after, Álvarez landed on the world’s largest artificial wave measuring 2.3 metres (7.5 foot), cutting away the parachute at the precise moment.
As a child, Álvarez was fascinated by birds, particularly pelicans and seagulls, effortlessly soaring over the sea waves. ‘I remember as a kid watching pelicans soar over the waves, thinking how gently they fly and approach the ocean.’ – he said. It was those observations that, years later, inspired the Chilean wingsuit flyer to combine BASE jumping, parachute swooping and surfing into a single stunt.
For making his ambitious vision become reality, right location was needed. The one, that would offer unmatched precision and control over the timing and positioning of the waves, which was crucial to the success of the project.
Therefore, Sebastián Álvarez and his team partnered with Surf Abu Dhabi, which is a state-of-the-art artificial wave generation facility, designed in collaboration with eleven-time World Surf League champion and surfing legend Kelly Slater, and his team from the Kelly Slater Wave Company. The advanced artificial wave creation system at Surf Abu Dhabi allowed for the speed and height of the swoop to be precisely synchronised with the exact moment of the wave formation. ‘I wanted to recreate the feeling of birds gliding over waves, and thanks to the perfect setting at Surf Abu Dhabi, I was able to make it a reality.’ – said the skydiver.
The advanced wave creation system at Surf Abu Dhabi allowed Álvarez to precisely synchronize the speed and height of his swoop with the exact moment the wave was formed. The smooth transition from skydiving to surfing was made possible by the precise timing and consistent wave positioning provided by the artificial wave creation system. This kind of precision would be impossible to achieve with natural unpredictable ocean waves. By offering the longest artificial wave in the world, Surf Abu Dhabi created the perfect conditions for Álvarez to push the boundaries of what is possible, turning his long-time dream into a reality.
Sebastián Álvarez spent more than two years mastering each discipline he combined in his stunt. The project required physical prowess and innovative problem-solving to adapt equipment and techniques. He intensively trained skydiving, perfecting his canopy piloting skills to achieve the precise timing needed for the stunt.
Combining BASE jumping, skydiving swooping, and surfing into one feat presented unprecedented challenges requiring precise timing, exceptional control and the ability to adapt to changing conditions mid-air during the trial. “It felt like entering into the unknown, doing something that nobody has ever attempted before,” – reflected Álvarez.
The achievement of Sebastián Álvarez sets a new benchmark and highlights potential in sport. The successful integration of multiple disciplines accomplished in this feat shows how boundaries can be crossed and new ones can be discovered, while inspiring others to innovate even further.
Cover photo: Sebastián Álvarez after jumping out the helicopter with the modified surf board attached to his feet. / Photo: Alfred Jürgen Westermeyer / © Red Bull Content Pool.
Information from the Red Bull company press release were used.
