Basejumper.com - archive

Stupid question probably but I was just wondering why base canopies are bigger than skydiving canopies? I don't even skydive yet so sorry if it seems a stupid question.

bigger is more safe

our balls are bigger too, but i'm not sure that makes us safer

I know I woudln't want a stuck toggle or a line over at 200' under a napkin. :-)

Bigger usually means slower. (in both decent and airspeed) thus you have more time if something goes wrong.

The canopies are bigger to support the weight of the balls.

I judge how cool other BASE jumpers are by the size of their rig... Small rig, good jumper... Just like skydiving...

I like the way this guy plays. The bigger the canopy the slower the object strike. don't "jump" into BASE. LATER......MATT

BASE jumpers are generally lazy and therefore fatter than skydivers.

Skydivers are more scared and want to get to the ground quicker.

Skydivers generally don't have a penis so they're lighter, hence the smaller canopy.

Skydiving canopies are smaller so they can fly close together and hold hands for comfort.

It's fashionable to have a container which could barely hold a childs lunch hidden between your narrow assed shoulder blades while skydiving.

Skydivers are wannabees and generally unsuccessful, unkempt and unwashed. Base jumpers can afford the extra 'silk' since they don't have to pay for their altitude.

Skydivers don't want a large canopy to detract from their flowery jumpsuit. Neon never really went out of style when they 80s finished at the DZ.

Skydivers are too weak to carry a large canopy due to their poor diet of franks and soda.

Any more for any more?

its like writting is BIG in books for the early learners and people who cant read very well............


just out of interest will there be a boy born who could swim faster than a shark?

Larger canopies are generally more docile, so you get more time to deal with things. Anything you can do to slow things down in an emergency is desirable, in BASE.

1. More BASE landing areas are small, filled with rocks/boulders, and surrounded by obstacles (trees, cliffs, boulders). Finding yourself too low/upwind to make the main landing area makes things much worse - I landed on top of a 15x15x10' rock in a river when the other options were cliff, river, and tree covered hillside.

2. Less speed on opening gives you more time to avoid object strikes.

3. A slower decent rate gives you more time to deal with other problems. Many skydivers open by 3000 feet, while we exit most of the cliffs in Moab between 300 and 400 feet.

I weigh 150 pounds, jump a 105 skydiving (could go smaller), and 245s BASE jumping (this is about right, but was small when I weighed 170).