Basejumper.com - archive

i am an american skydiver living in turkey and i want to start BASE but have no resources for learning here. this place is highrise construction heaven and it is not officially illegal. but i would like some coaching does anyone have any net resources i am the type to just get a rig and teach myself but would prefer to have some info to get started and be safe
i have very good flying and canopy skills
if you want to come here for a holiday i can hook up up with almost unlimmited jump sites for some training.

Buildings are definitely not the place to start learning.

Your profile indicates that you are "semi-retired". Can you find the time to take a trip to a better learning location to start BASE?

If you check out Getting Into BASE at the top of this page, you'll see some contact info for a first jump course in Croatia, which is relatively close (compared with the other places instruction are available). Contact Robert Pecnik, robert@bird-man.com, for more info about that.

I do belive Robert is a bit busy at the time,atleast what he told me last i mailed himSo if he dont answere right away theres a reasson...

It might cost you a good chunk of money, but I think paying to come to the USA to one of the manufacturers First Jump coarses is a great value to you, and well worth the money.

Why do you think that manufacturers First Jump courses are that better that those held by experienced jumpers?

Because the manufacturers do this for a living. Not just once in a while like most experienced jumpers.
Most experienced jumpers are not trained professionals. They also have not trained hundreds of students, thus having refined the art of teaching over the past decade.

(Typically) You will not find a more seasoned or qualified experienced base jumper over any manufacturer. Unless they are one of the manufacturers on vacation.

he didntBut most experinced jumpers want to learn you personality first,which means ground crew and so on..If your traveling you might dont have the time/mony to stay there that long...
But i agree thry are probaly as good as FJC,but who says they want to become a FJCmentor

What about Johnny Utah? I think he's more qualified than the trainers sent by some BASE manufacturers. Others agree as well.

Keep in mind that when you say "BASE Gear Manufacturer", that doesn't always mean that the head of the company with 1000+ jumps will be the one training you.

I think that there are excellent instructors who are not manufacturers. In Norway, for example, full time, resident BASE instructors are available who are not gear manufacturers. They probably have far more teaching currency than most of the manufacturers.

That said, I think there are lots of good options available for training, and the FJC's offered by the manufacturers are definitely among them.

I totally agree Tom.
And I also agree with Jason. Johnny is a great instructor with heaps of experience.

I guess my point is that _I_ still think that a "majority" of experienced jumpers are not trained/qualified to teach other _BASE_ jumpers.
This does not mean they are not there, it just means that every experienced base jumper is not an instructor.