Being a former extreme snowboarder, I had good hook ups to other extreme sports people when I came to Moscow. Right after my arrival in 2003, I have been invited to one of Moscows most exclusive clubs. No, it wasn’t one of the posh hangouts for Oligarchs. I was taken to a government building in the Moscow center at night. When we arrived we met some people, who just left the club on the street infront of the club. Even in 2003, far before Tarrantinos Death Proof, these guys were driving US muscle cars from the 60s, all shiny and in best shape. We said hello, had a quick chat and then walked to the club.

On the way you have to pass a FSB guard, saying nothing, but checking you out with a grim face. Then you walk into some backyard of a government building. You pass a number of garages and one of the gate is actually the entrance to the club. There is no sign. You’l have to enter a code to get into the first door. Right after there is another heavy door with another box. Now it gets spooky. You need to scan your fingerprints and if you are a club member the door opens magically. You walk down some stairs into a very cool club with industrial design. The doors are made out of submarine or alike doors. The seats and tables are taken from some old planes. Some of them are eject seats from jets.

The walls of this club are covered with photos of base jumpers in frames. Base jumping is popular among Moscovites. While you’ll find a few of these extreme guys in cities like New York (and the world famous “The Range”), you have enough people to form a club here in Moscow. Most of these guys are rich kids, but the cool and nice types, not the Paris Hilton copying pretentious ones. Most of them are in their 30’s now. Their parents made their fortunes with the privatization in the 90s, while the kids enjoyed their time and partied. Techno and Drugs, the vast consume soon took its toll. Some of us died, says Olga, a long term member of this elite group. We tried anything, we wanted to have fun and we pushed the limits.

Parties and drugs soon proofed to be super visual and these guys looked for another thrill. Some of them burned out and became adults, becoming more quiet, creative and spiritual. Some others looked for nature and adrenaline. Some became snowboarders, others skydivers and base jumpers. Today we have a new generation of base jumpers. Younger people, who follow the footsteps of these guys, who led the way.

The club, I will not tell its name and location, is still alive and more popular than ever. You need to be invited to become a member. I find nothing special about it, apart of the interior and the nice atmosphere. Even though its closed for the public, they have regular concerts of famous groups and DJs playing there. Or you just go for some after work beer or some dinner. Meet some friends, play some pool, watch a movie and hang out.

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Here are some more Moscow base jumpings vids from Youtube. Enjoy these guys. The video above is my favorite. These guys just walk into the library of the Moscow Universtity on the 21st floor. The ones of you who know Moscow, know that this is one of the “7 Sisters”, the Stalin high rise buildings, built in the 50s. Where was I? Ah, they walk into the library, say a polite Hello to some woman who is there and then the first guy jumps out of the window. The second guy, who films, says a polite “Good Bye”, checks the wind and jumps as well. Its just great! I wonder how they got on and off the campus, since that is highly guarded and your bags are checked when you get in. You won’t make it in, if you are not a student anyway. Good one.

The other vids are cool as well.