"A skyscraper is a wonderful piece of recreational equipment."

In Part Two of our interview, BASE jumper Chuck Berry tells us more about his most recent project: within three days he jumped from the Manara KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur 36 times. Additionally, Chuck discloses what he’s planning next: jumping from “Lion’s Head.”

At this event you started with a run-of-the-mill jump and added tricks with each one. Do you really only see the world’s fourth largest skyscraper as sports equipment the way others might see a diving board at the swimming pool?

Absolutely! We were privileged to have such good access to this wonderful piece of recreational equipment. On the roof I met the previous mayor, who played a part in having the tower built. It was grand to be able to thank him for helping create such a wonderful structure and allow the BASE jumpers to come and play to our hearts content.

Two of the most spectacular jumps in Malaysia were the “Hell-o-copter” and the “Totem,” which you performed with Miles Daisher. Please tell us a bit more about those processes.

The ‘Totem Pole’ was a two-person jump where Miles climbed up my back and stood balanced on my shoulders while we teetered on the 50-centimeter-wide tower edge, 325 meters above the earth. Once there, Miles leaned forward and I pushed off, holding Miles’ feet, maintaining that position in freefall. Miles opens his parachute while I held his feet, then it was my turn. Incredible fun!

The ‘Hell-o-copter’ was dreamed up by Miles. I stood on the edge of the tower while Miles got a 20-meter run-up towards me, increasing his pace, reaching out and grabbing my outstretched arm, wrenching us both into space with much momentum to spin like crazy around each other in freefall. The visuals and sensation are fantastic, watching the tower and landscape spinning around us and wondering which way we’ll face when it’s time to let go and open our parachutes in the predetermined sequence.

In these three days you became famous and infamous as the Red Bull Display Team. What brought that about?

We were constantly doing different and new tricks, as well as being rather vocal about how much fun we were having. We jumped together as a team, displaying our Red Bull colors, and had great fun landing in a high speed, exciting fashion together in a tight landing area at the bottom of the tower where we could interact with the public and media.

You say that your hobbies include “anything fast, exciting and pumpy.” Is there no part of life in which you’re as normal and boring as the rest of us?

I love to excel in everything I do, and I get great satisfaction in everything I do well. The more you push yourself and learn in life and sport, the greater the sense of achievement and the reward. I love it all. We can all rise above ‘normal,’ achieve more and take anything to a whole new level.

And finally, looking into the future: What’s your next BASE project, where will it take place and why are you particularly looking forward to it?

My next BASE project is to climb and jump a 670-meter sheer cliff in Milford Sound, New Zealand called Lions Head. This is particularly challenging as far as access goes. The geography is incredibly steep, having been formed by glacial action with areas of dense wet native bush to negotiate. Our party will have to climb a dense bush-covered ridge behind the cliff up to 1200 meters, then descend via ropes to the 670-meter level to find the launch point. The jump is over the sea of Milford Sound, creating the excitement of attempting to land in a raft attached to our retrieve boat. This is a BASE jump I’ve wanted to do ever since starting BASE in 1989.