Rob Harris

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For other people named Rob Harris, see Robert Harris.

Rob Harris (December 17, 1966 – December 14, 1995) was the skysurfing world champion of 1994 and 1995. He died in a non-skysurfing accident while shooting the Mountain Dew "007" commercial directed by David Kellogg and lensed by Janusz Kamiński, when the lines of his secondary parachute became tangled and his reserve parachute failed as well. The script had called for losing his primary parachute earlier in the jump. That accident is the topic of an urban legend, which states that footage of the fatal jump were used in the commercial. This is actually untrue — while the commercial did get released eventually, all shots used were from earlier takes of the jump.

The fatal incident was not attributed to skysurfing, but rather an error made during an attempt to film an "intentional cutaway" (where a skydiver intentionally releases, and falls away from his primary parachute). Harris was wearing a modern sport parachute harness containing two parachutes (a "main" and a "reserve") which was modified so that a third parachute could be externally attached to the risers of his main parachute and be released in-flight via an extra "cutaway" release handle (attached to his harness near the standard main parachute release handle). It was the intention of the stunt to film Harris releasing his open "main" parachute, dropping into freefall, and deploying his "reserve" parachute (which would have actually been his real main parachute -- the one he intended to land -- while still having a reserve parachute in case it was required. Skydivers are required by law to always jump with one more parachute than they intend to deploy on any given jump -- and it is good common sense. Since Harris planned to deploy two parachutes on this jump, he required a third.

It was decided the third parachute would be attached to the risers of his main parachute; (risers are the webbing which connects a parachute's suspension lines to a jumper's harness and are exposed on a jumper's shoulders while the actual canopy fabric and lines are packed securely in the container on the jumpers back). In sport parachuting, a jumper typically has just two handles on his chest (in addition to a third handle which deploys the main parachute and is located elsewhere). Usually on one's right side is the main parachute release handle (or "cutaway"). On the left is the reserve parachute ripcord, which deploys the emergency parachute. Due to the special nature of Harris' jump, a second release handle was attached to his harness near the usual one. Harris was to jump and immediately deploy the third parachute, and then be filmed releasing that parachute, entering freefall, and deploying his normal main parachute (completing his skydive in the usual manner).

Due to either an operator or rigging error, the wrong parachute was released when Harris attempted to cutaway. The parachute that was disconnected was the main parachute still packed on his back (which he had intended to deploy and land after the cutaway). Since the third parachute was connected to the risers of the main parachute (which had just been released) and not any part of Harris' harness, it began to quickly extract the main parachute from its container in a disorderly, out-of-sequence manner. Neither parachute could now be used to land Harris safely, and unfortunately Harris was unable to disentangle himself from the two partially open parachutes. Lacking clean air to deploy his reserve parachute, he was eventually forced to risk deploying it with the others still attached, but the reserve also entangled. His resulting fall-rate was not survivable.

The advertisement was aired, with the consent of his family, though the final jump was not included; Harris's appearance in the commercial uses film shot several days prior to his death.

[edit] Kottonmouth Kings

Rob Harris was a very well known DJ and musician. Not only was he rated the number one DJ in Los Angeles, but he is also known for making remixes on projects for well known performers (most known being Madonna). Partners with some of his great friends Harris was the original DJ to the Kottonmouth Kings, who was eventially replaced by DJ Bobby B. Harris was great friends with Humble Gods' and Kottonmouth Kings' back-up singer Brad "Daddy X" for he was his roommate. He became AGN's premiere star. AGN, the Artist Groove Network was a concept to provide a platform for artist, DJ's and musicians to make money so they could pursue their art without having to be constricted to the typical nine to five work place. "Starving artist" included: Tony Kanal and Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, Brian Baker of Bad Religion, Minor Threat, Yogi from Buck Cherry, Ron Goldman (alleged murder victim of O.J Simpson), Ricky Vodka from Motochrist and the Humble Gods along with countless others. AGN was also partners in the Club Truth with Steve Levy, owner of "Moonshine Music."

[edit] Trivia

In dedication to his death The Rob Harris Foundation was created.
The song Fall Free from Alan Parsons's 1996 release On Air is dedicated in the legendary skysurfer's memory.
The DJ of the band, Bobby Adams, AKA Bobby-B, created a musical CD entitled "99 Rips and Beyond," in dedication it to Rob's memory. The album includes a picture of him in the booklet.