SKYJUMP to launch in Las Vegas as record numbers take the plunge in Auckland

As the SkyJump concept is prepared for launch in Las Vegas, record numbers of jumpers take the leap at Auckland’s SkyJump - proving the concept to be more popular than ever.

The Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip will be the next location to launch the New Zealand-designed SkyJump concept in April 2010. In October last year, SkyJump Ltd’s founder and Managing Director, Steve Weidmann signed a deal with The Stratosphere to install the SkyJump product at the site and will work with them up until launch and during the first six months of its operation.

Steve Weidmann commented: “It’s very exciting to be setting up our fourth SkyJump concept worldwide and while this one will be the highest in the world, the construction and installation thus far has gone smoothly and we’re pretty confident it will ready for Vegas thrill-seekers in early April.”

SkyJump Las Vegas will be North America’s only SkyJump and lucky adrenaline junkies will have the opportunity to plummet 260 metres at a scream-inducing speed of up to 85kph – while enjoying breathtaking views of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip – day or night.

Weidmann says he has had enquiries from many other destinations around the world about his SkyJump concept, so added that Las Vegas would probably not be the last to install this unique operation.

“SkyJump has been proven as a safe, yet sensational experience, so we are now looking at the possibility of setting it up with other partnership operations and have had enquiries from Canada, Australia, Mexico, the Philippines and Singapore.”

Auckland’s SkyJump had a record year for jumps in 2009, recording an increase of 20 percent in the number of jumpers over the previous year. Weidmann said this was a very pleasing result especially in tough trading conditions throughout 2009. “Visitor numbers to Auckland in 2009 may have fluctuated, but we were lucky that most of those who did visit were adrenaline junkies and wanted to jump off the Sky Tower.”

Key facts about SkyJump Ltd:
· SkyJump Auckland is 192m straight down and jumpers fall at approximately 85kph for around 11 seconds. Jumpers have ranged in age from 10 to 86 years since the operation opened in December 2001.

· There are currently two other SkyJump operations outside of Auckland, based in Macau (launched in 2004) and South Korea (launched in 2006), both initially set up by SkyJump Ltd NZ.

· SkyJump Managing Director, Steve Weidmann, was instrumental in the creation of SkyJump and was the first person to test the prototype jump from the Sky Tower.

SkyJump Ltd works closely with fellow New Zealand company, Beca which provides engineering drawings and advice to international tower owners and designed Auckland’s Sky Tower.

· SkyJump’s latest attraction in New Zealand is SkyWalk, opened 2 years ago, which now has a bigger domestic uptake than SkyJump.

· The Sky Tower, the home of Auckland’s SkyJump, is New Zealand’s most popular paid tourist attraction with one in every two international visitors to Auckland making the trip up it.