OGDEN -- For spills, chills and high-flying fun, there aren't many places in the U.S. that top Ogden, according to a report by a national moving and relocation website.
Livability.com has ranked Ogden as the sixth most death-defying city because of its high-adrenaline sky-diving offerings.
Livability.com scoured the U.S. for the 10 municipalities with the most extreme sports, surf, rock-climbing and even hauntings.
"While we can't promise they'll kill you, all these places can at least give it a good try," the website says.
Other regional cities ranked in the survey included Twin Falls, Idaho, which came in first, and Rock Springs, Wyo., which placed fourth.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey said he's pleased with Livability.com's recognition of Ogden as a hub for white-knuckle adventure.
"It's exciting to see national recognition around the high-adventure recreation brand we have been building over the past several years," he said in an e-mail to the Standard-Examiner.
"We really do live in a remarkable place, and it's very satisfying to have others take notice and rank us in this way. We know we still have a lot left to do for us to reach our full potential."
Livability.com acknowledged that while Ogden is a growing center for skiing and adventure sports, sky diving is what makes it death defying.
The website notes the city is home to the Ogden Skydiving Center, which offers 120 mph freefalls and everything from tandem jumping to advanced dives amid the scenic splendor of mountains and Great Salt Lake.
Ogden Skydiving Center officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
For those who want to simulate the thrill of a freefall and remain indoors, there's the iFly vertical wind tunnel at The Junction in downtown Ogden, says Livability.com.
Gary L. Nielsen, owner of the iFly, said the advantage of the wind tunnel is that novices and skilled sky divers can practice year round.
A single two-minute session in the iFly is equal to three freefalls from a plane, he added, noting the wind tunnel has enjoyed widespread popularity since opening in 2007.
"We continue to get national and international exposure," he said.
Ogden's reputation as a hot spot for sky diving has also been enhanced by the Rockwell Airtime team, a local sky-diving group specializing in vertical formation dives, which won gold medals at the 2010 U.S. Parachute Association National Skydiving Championships.
Descriptions of all ranked cities can be found at www.livability.com.
This topic is being discussed at The Weber County Forum.
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