The Jumping Man

The Story Behind The Jumping Man The Jumping Man is REAL! The animated form trailing a rainbow behind him as he leaps for freedom over Cosmic Corner, appears wherever Cosmic is involved.

This was originally a photograph of a captured moment of absolute freedom. The day was a beauty in Autumn 1998 and the location was 3km’s North of Lake Tekapo. After visiting Mt Cook and indulging in nature’s finest mood enhancers, the music was turned up and the Jumping Man removed his clothes. He assumed a downhill racers ski tuck in the back of the station wagon and the wagon began its run through Tekapo.

All was going well until the wagon zoomed past a traffic cop sitting on the side of the road. Shit! The Jumping Man hit the deck. You DON'T want to meet a cop in that state, naked and ever so slightly twisted! Checking the rearview, the driver and passengers roared at their exposed friend - “Stay down… quick, put your clothes on!” was the call. Clothes though, were too far flung...

The wagon pulled over to the side of the road and waited 30 seconds. The Jumping Man was sweating - “Where’s the cop??” The driver yelled back - “He's pulled up! We’re busted for sure!” Visions of a surprised and perhaps pissed off copper were freaking out the naked downhill racer. Time stood still! 30 seconds more. "What's this copper doing?" "He's coming now" was the driver's reply. Another 30 seconds passed. The Jumping Man couldn't take it any more - he got up courage to poke his head up and peek back down the road to see... No fucking cop!!!

Hysterical laughter from the front of the wagon as their jig was up! The Jumping Man felt a rush as the fears of being caught disappeared, replaced by a sense of escape, freedom... He jumped out of the back of the wagon and sprinted up the road. Moments later, metres high, higher than ever before, the Jumping Man leaped for joy, the shutter clicked, and an image of true freedom was born!