Fire extinguisher powered wheelchair makes a Big Splash - with slideshow!
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10 / 10MORE than 3,000 people enjoyed the crazy sporting antics at this year’s Big Splash in Aviemore over the weekend, with the organisers declaring it the "best, biggest and wettest yet".
Some 65 competitors – double the total from the last event two years ago – launched themselves from a giant 14 foot ramp into the River Spey on a variety of contraptions.
They included bikes, snowboards, skis, kayaks, sledges, wheelie bins, dodgem cars and even a fire extinguisher propelled wheelchair.
The latter was particularly memorable as its occupant, local extreme sports enthusiast Jim Gatenby, was thrown out of the chair and was left dangling from the edge of the ramp over the river.
Twenty-four-year-old Jim said: "I didn’t do very well, unfortunately the wheels on the chair were squint.
"I went skidding off to the side of the ramp and caught the corner of the ramp in my chest. I am a bit battered and bruised but I love propelling myself off ramps – I do it every opportunity I get.
"It’s a shame the Big Splash only happens once every two years, I would be happy doing it every two months!"
His earlier effort using another form of "jet pack" and wheelchair had seen him go down the ramp on fire and he also went down the ramp on a bike while on fire.
Jim explained: "I soaked my T-shirt in paraffin and set myself alight but only a bit of my top went up in flames because I think my clothes beneath were already so wet."
The daredevil did add, however: "I did have a fire proof jacket on underneath the T-shirt, I maybe daft but I’m not that stupid."
The Big Splash awarded top prizes for the best jumps using outdoor gear such as kayaks, mountain bikes, snowboards and skis and there were also additional prizes for the most innovative contraption and the craziest jump.
Some of Scotland’s best up and coming bands and DJs delighted the crowds over the two day event.
Bands including The Little Kicks, KOBI, Size Queen, Three Blind Wolves, Over the Wall, The John Knox Sex Club and Robin Adams were joined by Detour DJs, David Weaver and Ally McCrae, to entertain the crowds.
With the roots of the Big Splash based way back in 1974, the 37th anniversary succeeded in its aim of cementing the event firmly in the Aviemore sporting calendar.
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This year’s event attracted adrenalin drink sponsor Red Bull and all money raised at the event will be donated to the new Aviemore Primary School.
Event director Mike Gale said: "This year’s Big Splash was definitely the best yet. We couldn’t believe the amount of people that turned up ready to throw themselves down the ramp as well as those who came to watch, support the event and generally just join in the fun.
"The event just gets more popular each year, which is fantastic and it’s thanks to the dedication of the people involved – all of whom work in the run up to the event and then work tirelessly all weekend all on a voluntary basis – that The Big Splash is such a huge success.
"We would like to thanks everyone involved and everyone that joined in the fun and supported us. It was an awesome weekend."
