Adventures in BASE Jumping With Doctor Charley Kurlinkus
Posted by Nancy Teichert, Photos By: John Swentowsky on Jan 26, 2017
Wow! Lunch became an adventure as we flew around the globe with Dr. Charley Kurlinkus, a Sacramento physician, whose hobby is free falling in a lime green wing suit from the tallest buildings and cliffs in the world.He is an emergency room doctor at Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center who is also known as “Doctor Daredevil,” for more than 2,300 BASE jumps. (“BASE” is an acronym for the objects he jumps off: Buildings (e.g. Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world in Dubai), Antennas (e.g. Eiffel Tower), Spans (e.g. bridges) and earth (e.g. Grand Canyon). He is one of the world’s Top 10 BASE jumpers.
Kurlinkus has made his jumps in 18 countries, soaring down rocky cliffs, stepping off skyscrapers, flying a few feet off the ground or between trees in what is sometimes called a Squirrel Suit, which inflates with air as he drops to allow him to fly.
It is an extreme sport, but as a child, he always dreamt of flying. “In those dreams, I was never sitting in a cockpit,” he told a rapt audience. “To get up there and swirl around, to fly. It is hard to put into words. It’s quite fun.”
A skydiver for 12 years, he began flying the wing suit ten years ago. The videos of his jumps in the wing suit were amazing. Dr. Kurlinkus just stepped off the Grand Canyon as his wing suit instantly inflated into a rigid frame, which he could direct with small precise movements to soar along before making a safe landing. He has flown at 120 miles an hour at three and a half feet off the ground so the margin for error is very small.
“Bad things can happen quickly,” said Dr. Kurlinkus, 32. The jumps can take less than seven seconds. He has known 73 people who have died in flying accidents.
But, Dr. Kurlinkus married three and a half months ago so he has given up the sport for now. The risk tolerance and acceptance of the danger changes with age and circumstances. He said he wants to stay alive and doesn’t want his wife to leave him.
President Dan McVeigh (Downey Brand LLP) opened the meeting with the announcement that he had survived his 66th birthday. He also announced that Maynard Nelson had been in a serious car accident and that cards would be welcomed. Seated at the head table were PP Tim Pinkney (BGM TruNorth Wealth Partners), Dr. Kurlinkus, Michael Bullington (Pacific Advisors) who gave the thought of the day, Mead Kibbey, and PP Ken Noack (Newmark Cornish & Carey).
Kibbey, celebrating his 95th birthday, was the meeting sponsor. He donated his time to PP and Past DG Fred Teichert (Teichert Foundation), his godson, who spoke about the important work of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento. Kibbey and Fred’s father, the late PP Henry Teichert were friends.
Since college. Henry Teichert called Kibbey the smartest man he ever knew. A mechanical engineer by trade, Kibbey has contributed greatly to Rotary and many other community groups.
Tom “I was born ready” Bacon, Sergeant-At-Arms (Kidder Matthews) introduced guests. Greeters included Jay Lowden (YMCA of Superior California) and Alice Sauro (Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera). Music and audio-visual was provided by Kevin Williams (KVIE) and Aaron French (Zanker Recycling). PP Diane Mizell thanked Jim Mattesich (Greenberg Traurig) and his wife Patty for hosting the recent Fireside in their home.
Recognitions included Dick Osen, Tom Bacon (Kidder Matthews) and Dan Fenocchio (Cunningham Engineering) for their first Eddie Mulligan. Becki Roberts (Central Valley Community Bank) received her second and PP Peter Dannenfelser II (Architectural Arts) got his third Eddie Mulligan.
Becki Roberts (Central Valley Community Bank) and Dave Higdon (California Moving Systems) reminded members to RSVP for the Valentine’s Day meeting on Feb. 14. Wedding photos can be scanned at the Rotary office for a display. Next week’s meeting will be a Brown Bag event so sign up promptly.
Bob Daly (Financial Network Wealth Advisors) was “extremely disappointed” to announce that next year’s Pony Express Marathon has been canceled due to difficulties getting a safe course approved. He received a standing ovation for his hard work on this event.
Club Boasts and Toasts included: Jim Relles (Relles Florist) pledged $100 for his second grandchild and another $100 for Rellis Florist’s induction into the Chamber of Commerce’s Hall of Fame on Friday; Rick Osen ( Sutter Builders, Inc.) gave $100 in honor of his father; PP Dave Cohen pledged $100 toward Bob Daly’s Eddie Mulligan for his marathon work; Buddy Hubbert (PCG) gave $250 in honor of his father’s birthday; Len Simpson (2020 Financial Advisers of Sacramento, L.L.C.) gave $500 in honor of his firm’s launch of a second fund; Elfrena Foord (Foord, Van Bruggen, & Pajak) gave $100 in honor of Mead Kibbey; PP Fred Teichert also pledged $100 towards his Eddie Mulligan in honor of Mead, who had the foresight to start the Sacramento Rotary Club Foundation as well as and $100 in honor of Bob Daly; and Tim Pinkney gave $100 for Bob Daly.
Correction in January 17th Pulse Report by Callee Setzer:
Last week’s Pulse recognized the Arch Klumpf Award being given for the generosity of PP and PDG Fred Teichert, this was incorrect. No less, Fred Teichert actually received the Benefactor Award for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation permanent fund. My sincerest apologies to Fred and Nancy Teichert, and the Rotary Club for this mistake.