Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "Fence Surfing" Story

Fence Surfers prepare for takeoff of jet plane.

It was an ordinary day. People are beginning to line up along the chain-link fence in anticipation of the large KLM four-engine jet that has pulled in place at the near end of the runway at Princess Julianna International Airport on the island of Sint Maarten. As long as I can remember, pros and novices have given the sport of fence surfing a try at this airport.

This photo I snapped a few years ago when the
sign was across the road from the runway. A young
woman was injured while fence surfing and she
sued the airport. Took the case to the Dutch Supreme
Court ….. and WON! The sign has been changed and
attached to the fence to better warn the fence
surfers. It doesn't seem to have had any effect
as seen by the above photo.

Closeby stands multiple signs that declare: "Danger" Jet blast of departing and arriving aircraft can cause severe physical harm and/or death. Sign doesn't seem to phase the fence surfers. The daredevils weave their fingers through the fence which is located along the beautiful Maho white sand beach and attempt to absorb the jet blast from the huge KLM plane as it fires up its jet engines in an attempt to gain the necessary speed for take-off on runway 10/28 with its 7,546 foot tarmac. A few years ago Carol and I watched as an unknowing Asian family attempted to carry their luggage across the beach as a 747 was attempting a take-off. They had all their luggage blown from their grip into the Caribbean Sea. Many attempted to retrieve their luggage for them, but I'm not sure they were able to achieve that goal. Many hats of fence surfers have been washed out to sea during their fence surfing tries.

The KLM preparing for takeoff along the fence.

But, perhaps one of the biggest accidents was caught on film a few years ago when a young woman was badly hurt when her intertwined fingers couldn't hold her weight and she was blown off the fence, across the nearby road, landing on the concrete curbing head first. I have included the YouTube video showing what can happen to those who feel they can beat the 100,000 pounds of jet engine thrust that hit them square on while they flirt with danger in the sport that has been titled Fence Surfing. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.