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I have semi-low jump numbers (100+) and am not current (but I will be this weekend weather permitting), but I am planning on attending Bridge Day to make a single BASE jump and then retire from BASE jumping. :)

I kinda got bored of skydiving (and flying small airplanes once I did my first solo cross country and had to hit the books) when the intense experience wore off (i stopped being scared shitless and instead am just scared now hehe), so I quit jumping, but I am getting back on the horse just enough to do one BASE jump with reasonable safety. (have already decided BASE is too risky for me to do with any regularity at all, but have dreamed about doing it many times, so one time is worth the risk for me!)

I wager with the altitude of the bridge and the water for landing there is enough wiggle room where my ability is not 100%.

Anyway, does anyone think I am wrong for this? Just curious what the community feels about what is going to be essentially a BASE tandem for me. Don't get me wrong, I am planning on training for it, practicing exits at a pool, working on my landings, etc. (it is an epic adventure for me :)) But, I am going to be taking blatent advantage of the relative safety and accessibility of Bridge Day, to do a jump I might not do, without that opportunity. In other words, like tandems, Bridge Day is a shortcut to instant air-gratification due to the low requirements and ease of accessibility. (not that i'm complaining)

I know I might get flamed for this, but I'm just curious as to what people think about it. Will this sort of thing 'hurt' BASE jumping like some people claim tandems have for skydiving?

At least you're honest!

I've never been to Bridge Day and I don't know dick about dick but I'm going to offer my £0.02 anyway. If you're dead set on doing what you've described then my guess is that BD is one of the best places to do it. I'm sure others will offer more educated opinions.

BD faq

Gus

If you're expecting an educated opinion, please disregard my post.

Sinkster, I have no BASE jumps, but your thinking pretty much dovetails with mine. Bridge Day 2004 is going to be my first, and was chosen for the same reasons.....I've heard from a million sources that it is probably the "safest" first BASE jump possible.

If it's going to be your only one, at least it sounds like you've thought it through, are aware of the risks, and are going to prepare accordingly for it.

I don't see how only doing one BASE could hurt the image of the sport.


Don

Hi Sinkster --

It sounds like you taking a calculated approach which is certainly the right thing to do.

In my opinion, a big part of what Bridge Day is about is providing the opportunity for folks to make a BASE jump in a relatively safe environment. By no means is any BASE jump safe or guaranteed, but Bridge Day provides a lot of tools that makes it safer than the average jump.

With the right approach (which you are taking), I think it is reasonable for you to make a BASE jump at Bridge Day.

My suggestion would be for you to find an experienced BASE jumper in your area (if possible) and have him/her guide you on proper gear selection. Riggers can certainly help you with this too, but please be sure that they have an understanding of modern-day BASE rigging, or if they don't, be sure that they can and will educate themselves on today's standards. Once you have safe and functional gear lined-up, you can look towards training.

Canopy Control. Try to skydive the gear that you will be using at Bridge Day, and do so more than once. Get a feel for what it is like to correct an off-heading with your brakes stowed (object strike is possible -- even at Bridge Day). Learn to do flat-turns under the canopy. Learn what it is like to fly in half brakes and deep brakes. While landing in the water is a good option and should not be a problem, you never know when you might have to land somewhere else due to post-opening problems, so learn as much as you can about the canopy and how to fly it before arriving in West Virginia.

Exits. A swimming pool is a great place to practice. Once again, if you can talk an experienced BASE jumper into watching/coaching you, that would be the better option. If you can't, try to have a friend video tape your sessions at the pool so you can review and critique yourself. On a basic BASE launch, you do not want to jump out into a flat and stable body position as it will likely result in going head-low. A better way to look at it is: step-off and DO NOT leave your feet behind -- your feet should almost lead the way with your chest slightly in front. When you jump off the side of a pool (try to stand on a box so you are 12 to 18 inches off the water) your knees should hit the water first with your chest slightly in front when viewed from the side. Practice this over and over learn what it feels like to launch too far forward and not forward enough -- and try to practice this over 2 or 3 sessions at the pool.

Bridge Day. Be sure to show up by Thursday at the latest. Take advantage of every seminar you can get your hands on. Talk to folks and enjoy the fun and exciting atmosphere that only Bridge Day can provide. The seminars and training will make more sense since you've practiced much of it beforehand.

And be sure to savor the first time you are truly on the edge -- it will be a moment in time that you will remember forever.

If you have any more questions, feel free to post them here so others can learn too.

Enjoy and Have Fun,

Bryan

I am in the same boat here, but with many less jumps. I talked to people and they said it would be allright if I get my numbers up before october, focusing on training for BASE.

I intend to continue my BASE career, but much later, after I have about 200 jumps. I see this as an opportunity to learn a LOT about BASE jumping, which I can then apply to my skydiving to eventually apply it to my BASE career. follow me?

Please do not flame me on this forum, but flaming is welcome in the PM. If you seriously think I am not able or prepared, let me know. $70 is much cheaper than my life.

Thanks. Bertus G

Thanks for the good advice! I can't wait!!!

What Bryan said. With one other thought:

BASE jumping and Bridge Day are not quite the same. Bridge Day has it's own culture and experience, which is quite distinct from the culture of BASE jumping. What you are contemplating is definitely within the bounds of Bridge Day, but would be well outside the realm of "normal" BASE.

In short, go for it. But don't anyone think that means this is a good way to get into BASE itself.

I, along with many, many other BASE jumpers made their first BASE jump at Bridge Day. Before the year 2000, there were very few BASE First Jump Courses (FJC) in the US being offered (probably none that were legal). Bridge Day WAS the best place to learn (and sometimes the only place).

In the last 4-5 years, a bunch of BASE FJC's have become available, which DO offer the best training. However, Bridge Day is and always will be a place for skydivers to make a safe, educated first BASE jump. It actually may be SAFER for a jumper to make his/her first jump at Bridge Day with all the water rescue, ambulances, gear checkers, 876' of altitude, and hundreds of experienced jumpers around to offer advice.

The newer BASE FJC's are longer and do teach in more detail than Bridge Day (and they cost accordingly).

Perhaps saying "But don't anyone think that means this is the best way to get into BASE itself" would be more appropriate?

once the newbie jumper who has made one or two jumps from the bridge day event, then what happens then?

I know BD is a beast in itself - but I actually think that this is not a good way to get into BASE - i think there will always be the first time jumpers from this event that then think "i have started the BASE jumping" when in fact i feel that its more an amusement ride than anything else for the first time jumpers...................

I am fully aware that my view will be flamed - but I will stand by the fact that BD is a shit way to get into BASE...................

it may have been the only way once - but now a days and with a 50 jump limit to join i feel that BD as an entrance to BASE is misguided..........

i feel its like doing a tandem skydive and thinking that you skydive and know what its about..............


Feel free to flame my dirty injured arse!!

Have you ever been to Bridge Day?
Bridge Day has recently been overshadowed by the greed of collecting $750-$1200 each from new jumpers for BASE FJC's.

Bridge Day is a REAL BASE jump with REAL consequences. We always suggest that new jumpers get additional training after Bridge Day if they want to continue in our sport.

The bottom line is that Bridge Day sold out in 6 days this year. 450 jumpers will be there having a ton of fun. Cya there.

Not flamin ya Mac but in the original posters defense, he has been exposed to the real 'culture' of BASE. He has done ground crew for us several times, and is quite 'heads up' on gear, policies, etc. In my opinion, Bridge Day is a great beginning. It was for me, and undoubtedly its the route Sinkster should take. He's been exposed, now its time to throw him off in a legal, span-type atmosphere. Sorry I took away your stealth Jake

Yes it is. Ask my buddy freeflynick. He shattered his heel last year when he hit a rock in the landing area making his second BASE jump.

That said, I agree that BD is an ideal place to make one's first jump. We can debate over whether it, or the Potato bridge is the best, but BD was where I made my first jump and, as you have seen, where many others did theirs as well.

It's not a carnival ride, though there is a bit of a carnival atmosphere to it. For me that's another part of Bridge Day's charm actually.

Bridge Day is more than a BASE jump. It's also a social/educational event. You only jump for a 6 hour period, the remainder of the weekend is meeting with old friends, making new friends, talking about jumps & gear, and just generally having a good time.

I'm really looking forward to BD this year. Might just have to do a 2-way with Sinkster to see the look on his face when he exits.

I'm sure Bridge Day is a great time to be introduced to BASE and to meet many people from the BASE jumping community. But personally I think that the Perrine is a better location for our first 'X' number of BASE jumps. I mean what other bridge in the country is it legal to jump from 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The Perrine is not too tall and not too low and it does have a some what forgiving landing area (though it is still a BASE jump and is still dangerous). I still have so much to experience and learn, but I feel that there is no way in hell I would have my current BASE jumping experience if it wasn't for the Perrine. I am working my way towards jumping other (more difficult) objects, but it's so cool to learn things at the slightly safer comfines of the Perrine.

Twin Falls and the Perrine rock!!!

Oh and to the original poster of this thread. Make sure you've got your canopy control skills up to snuff before you try a BASE jump. There is some serious stuff out there ready to eat you alive and being able to control your canopy (at least for me) is the most important aspect of the sport. I'm sure some of the more experienced people would have other things to say, but I still feel that canopy control (outside of proper gear knowledge) is the key to having a chance at surviving the BASE environment.

I do agree to Mac that Its not the right place,but thats for the reasson that i think some people might cant take the pressure of thoussends of people watching one to jump off the first time,which means you might get a person jumping whith out really want to(in the end)

HOWEVER,i think its the kind of events that is a great chance to skydivers to get "the smell of BASE",i do agree to Mac that it must be considdered like a try it if you like pack.However i think the point which some of you are missing is that Mac is conserned about the new jumpers after the event(in the same way after any other FJC),will the jumper need to find a mentor after that??and if so,should the mentor then take the person even as he has only 50ram air jumps??

Jason,you must not misunderstand this as i think you guys pull off a GREAT event,i think you make BASE a good thing for the public,and the fact that you can pull such an event up year after year,is just amasing

My 2 cents may appear somewhere above my post already, but I'm too lazy to read through all of it so...

Low jump numbers+uncurrency=much higher probability for injury/death. IMO, It doesn't matter that it's a bridge. It doesn't matter that it's 850+ ft high. BASE jumping happens from the second your feet leave an object to the second you hit the ground...NOT only until your canopy opens. Look through BD archives--PLENTY of people have been injured/killed at NRGB. Any dumbshit can huck themselves off of something--but it takes a bit more skill to land yourself where you want, uninjured, among obstacles. In short, don't take ANY BASE jump lightly--make SURE you have enough experience under canopy to deal with the shit that can go wrong.
IMHO, from your description, right now you DO NOT. But that's just me. BTW, 100 jumps may be more than 1, but don't kid yourself--100 jumps is not SEMI-low jump #'s--it is LOW jump #'s. Ask yourself WHY you want to make a BASE jump and then quit? Sounds like a bragging right thing to me...And if it is, then why not wait a year to be current and build up some canopy time?

Do with this what you will--it's probably mostly bullshite anyhow.
mh

Excellent advice!

I finally ordered my BD 2003 video and got it last week. I've seen the Lemmings videos, but I didn't expect this new, nearly real-time dvd to be so loaded with dumbasses, skydiving rigs (with D-bags), tree snags, toggle hooks into ground and water, flareless landings and a whole baskin-robbins-flavor assortment of other "bullshite." I think I could actually hear a bone snap on the video. Very entertaining, yet loaded with cringe moments.

Like I said, excellent advice.

Maybe you can't answer this question, but hopefully other can asnwer it. Is this dumbass Bridge Day skydiving footage you speak of the same footage as seen in the "Bridge Day Safety Video"? Or is this additional dumbass footage which took place last year? Also what are people's opinions about the over entertainment value of the Bridge Day 2003 DVD?

Nope different videos.

The safety video is sort of a "Best Of" of Will Forshay's "Lemmings Extremes", which was a Best & Worst of Bridge Day over the years. The safety video is sort of a "best of the best of", if you will.

The video he's referring to is the footage from last year's Bridge Day. And yep, every year you get lots of botched exits and horrifying gear. The veterans will know better than me, but I get the sense that the gear has improved from years past. More folks seem to be using dedicated BASE gear.... even if only for that jump.

As far as watchability goes... it is about a 3-4 hour long video, so it's not something you'd probably want to watch in one sitting... but I thought it was put together very well.

Thanks for the info Zennie. I just needed to know if it was the same or different dumbass footage. But now that I know I'd be seeing different footage, then I may look into picking up a copy (even though I've yet to set foot on the NRGB and unfortunately won't be there in '04 as well).

DDDD

(Different Dumbass, Different Day).

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

Ummm, by the bottom of the 12-pack, I had finished it (even with a bunch of rewinds for my jumps and some other interesting stuff) in a sitting. Prolly wouldn't have if my last jump--a sweet little facing 2-way--wasn't at 2:40 sumpin.


Ya know, I have heard that too, but having only been there the past couple years, my first-hand knowledge is rather limited. Watch the video and figure out the percentage of spin-ups with d-bags in skydiving containers compared to the overall number of d-bag deployments. Seemed kinda high to me, but I was drunk. What do I know? Maybe skydiving rigs really are fine for BASE. After all, BD is only kinda BASE, right?

It's better bragging rights to make the jump with less skydives. (less skydives = more badass)

Actually, I'm planning do to it once because of the large risk increase involved with doing it over and over again at my experience level. BASE is pretty f*cking dangerous. I realize that, but I also believe that more skydives will only help me a small amount UNLESS I jump a canopy that is just like what I would be jumping off the bridge.

Would I be wrong in saying that hp skydiving canopy time is like driving a dump truck to prepare for a formula 1 race? (or vice versa)

Since I'm not willing to buy a new canopy just for one BASE jump where I can take a water landing, I'm not going to bother. I'm current again and now feel confident about the bridge after making a couple skydives.

If I was to keep BASE jumping right after bridge day I would agree with you though.

your first thourght are correct,so why dont you understand that learning how to handel a canopy can help you in an envioment were canopy skills really matter??

guess what i bother alot about this sport,which is why i cant stand the oppinions you just made..

sounds more like a dumb act than an bad ass act to me.. sorry for the flames,but i think your will jump for a wrong reasson,And if you end up hurt or even killed it will harm the sport i like,which means it would hurt me...

Its not a rolercoaster ride were your all safe if you just do 1 time,that 1 jump can change your life for the rest of it,if you stay alive...

Please guys,if you know that you just want to try it once,why then even do it?

Just my 2£

Bwaaahahaaahahaaaa...

Yeah, and the view from the exit point is JUST like the one you get from the door of an Otter. And the landing area: huge and grassy.

Make sure your cypres is on.

Hey Jake, since I know you I'll subject you to a little less flameage, though my sentiments are in line with Mike & Faber.

Dude, need I remind you about Nick's mishap last year? Yes, Bridge Day is a relatively safe BASE jump, by BASE jump standards, but it IS still a BASE jump. That means navigating to a fairly tight landing area, avoiding trees, rocks & such, dealing with messed up swirly winds & just generally landing in areas other than nicely manicured grass fields.

Unless you plan on taking an intentional water landing, you really do need to continue to do some jumps and work on canopy skills. You don't need to buy another canopy. You can shoot accuracy, practice crosswind landings, etc with the one you have.

Plus, if you can find a big enough container, I'll happily lend you my Sharpchuter so that you can get some practice in under a "big" F-111 canopy... they do fly differently. Plus you can practice flying & flaring the line mod... which is what you'll be doing at BD.

Jake, do NOT underestimate the jump or the necessity for currency. Don't fall prey to the general American tendency of wanting something without putting in any effort to get it.

I don't want to flame you either, but I witnessed plenty of carnage at the Perrine Bridge over the Memorial Day long weekend this year. And this span in Twin Falls ID is considered one of the safer BASE jumps you can make. Yet plenty of people had to visit the hospital on that dark Sunday afternoon.

I was being sarcastic. That's why the "" I'm jumping because I want to experience it and I feel that the risk is worth it especially since I can land in the water if necessary.

Edit: But I'm going to follow the advice and get more landing practices in. Zennie, I'll see if I can find a big enough container, and at least do a few hop-n-pops every weekend between now and then shooting for accuracy and crosswind and other canopy drills.

No pun intended, but you're dead wrong. Canopy time is about learning how to use good judgement to keep yourself unbroken. HP canopy time does this too. That said, you also need to practice skydiving a BASE canopy or something similar (200sf+ F-111 7 cell) You have a MUCH higher chance of hurting yourself on your first BASE jump than on your 100th BASE jump.


Not if you're 16 yrs old and don't have much driving experience to back that up...think baby steps.


I get it. this is a troll right? If not, I think your ideas about currency and competency under a parachute need to be re-examined. If you want to be more badass, please go tarnish a sport that's not already under the microscope of scrutiny like BASE is.
When will people get it? BASE is not about being badass. If that's why you're doing it it's for the wrong reasons.

Try to remember these two things:
1. This ain't skydiving., and
2. Surviving it once, or even ten times, isn't a sign of competency, but rather a stroke of luck.

$0.02
mh

I'm not doing this to be 'badass'. What I said earlier was meant to be a joke poking fun at the idea.

I'll keep my mouth shut next time. Lesson learned.

 

I totally agree with this:

But speculating on past performance: my first jump was AFF, stood up landing. Graduated 5 jumps later, 1 under the normal minimum. DZO saw video of my 7th jump said I looked as in control as people with 100+ belly jumps. I was scared shitless (right before jumping as always), but able to perform through it.

Do I think this is brag worthy and that I'm the shiznit? No. Is it any indication of how I will do on my first BASE jump? Who knows, but I'm banking on it. Yet, like Treejumps says, how can one know until they do it? I didn't know how I would perform skydiving until I did it. Too big an experience to predict your own behavior. BASE will probably be 1000x more intense, but that's why I want to do it. I want to know. I'm sure I won't be the only 'gnostic' jumper there.

How many 1 jump wonders have jumped there over the years and been carried or landed safely and never jumped again?

better wet than dead or hurt...

Hey I'm right there too. I have a slot for bridge day and I made two jumps on a tri 260 this weekend and I'm thinking maybe something a little bigger.
I plan on makeing my first base jump at bridge day.
As near as I can tell base is not like skydiveing, base
landings is where the rubber meets the road. I'll keep you posted.

blues

jerry

Heh, actually BASE landings are where the knees meet the gravel (and mud, and rocks, and water and cow poop).

Except in Eugene, make that sheep dip.

blues

jerry

edi for sp

why not try to make a few jumps prior?

Soon, gotta get some gear togeather, just odered
a new infinity, so I have cash flow problems for the next monuth or so.

blues

jerry

sorry but you ask for this
perhaps your a skygood jumping out of planes,but if you aint a BASEgood that wont help you shit if somthing goes wrong in BASE world..

neither do you know BASE,just as the rest of us.. theres no difference..

Perhaps you preform as a BASEgood on your jumps at that place,perhaps you dont,what were telling you is that more canopy time will make it safer to you,making it a better you for you(and the rest at the place).

Its simple care and not about flaming here.Its a fact that even experienced BASE canopy pilots can get hurt.So can you and i.
Take all this as advise,BASE world is free,just keep it in mind that 1 jump is dangerus aswell.

But at this point your one of thouse who said so,so giving you a hard time perhaps learn others aswell


stay safe,have a nice jump and dont forget video on it

Early summer 1997. My living room. BASE video in the background. BASE 193, 416 and me. Topic of discussion: Bridge Day.

Me: <deadpan> Maybe I'll jump this year.
416: <sputters incoherently>
Me: <laughing> Kidding. Just kidding.
193: <looks at me speculatively, begins to nod> You could do that.
Me: <appalled, looking for the exit> Really. I was kidding.
416: <speechless>
193: <into it now> No, really, you could do it. You just have to promise me you'll stay out of the landing area and land in the water.
Me: So how 'bout those Mets. (No, I didn't really say that, but I did redirect the conversation. It was a joke. Just a joke.)

4 months later in Fayetteville, West Virginia, I became BASE 283's first student ever to be injured--taking a nanosecond delay from the curb of the Holiday Inn. Ruined my best pair of jeans and took a big chunk of meat out of my knee.

Meanwhile, 416 was having none of it. He said, "You know more than I did when I started," and left me to the tender mercies of the first jump course. At least in theory. The whole thing was making him a nervous wreck. I'm pretty sure he figured that if I killed myself, everyone would blame it on him even though he had nothing to do with it. But in spite of his dubious attitude, he packed for me (you need to learn to pack for yourself, Jake) and did not leave my side until I left his at the exit point.

But in the end, without 193 and 283, it never would have happened. I started skydiving in 1995 and then I took 1.5 years off to tag along as driver and gofer--you know, ground crew. By the time I got to Bridge Day 1997, I had all of 36 parachute jumps. (All but two or three on 7-cell canopies, which helped some).

I made two jumps that year. The first was me alone, and it was pronounced perfect. Thereafter 416 made a jump with me. (At least he didn't go through my canopy. <g>) In 1998, I had more skydives, but still fewer than you do now. I made three jumps that year. A little head down on the first one, which generated some comment up top. ("Just like a woman.") But I got praise from Adam Filipino for the recovery, so I wasn't too fearful of making another jump.

Reference has been made to deaths at NRGB. It's true, people have died there, but somewhere there is a list of who they were and how they did it--probably on rec.skydiving, back before dz.com existed. You can google for it, and you'll see that the circumstances just don't apply to you. Of course, you could still die if you're incredibly stupid or incredibly unlucky.

On the other hand, if you have a little something over your head and you avoid the rocks, your chances are still pretty good. I was there the year BG took a field packed rig off the bridge in a bandit jump on Friday night. Everyone came back to the motel wondering what they were going to do with his baby daughter. He turned up later--wet indeed, and feeling pretty stupid--but otherwise none the worse for wear.

So go, pay attention, have fun. And don't forget to look down before you look out.

rl

That'd be worth it, just for the company. 416 and 283 are a couple of my favorite guys. I've never had the good fortune to be in the same place with both of them at the same time.

Hey even though I wasn't there I picked up a copy of this DVD and watched a good chunk of it last night (I'm at about 1:00 pm in the afternoon on the DVD with a couple more hours to go?). The format of the editing was not at all what I expected and after the first hour or so I was kind of left sitting there thinking ... wow this sure was a waste of money. But believe it or not, the format is now starting to grow on me. I mean after all the way the DVD is edited pretty much documents the event in an almost real time manner. It's not easy to keep track of everything and surely it isn't something to sit down for a long time and watch. But as I said the format is starting to grow on me. One day I might actually take notes so that I know where the good, the bad and the ugly jumps can be found with a quick search (Jeb's 2nd jump was sweet).

Oh and to all those who are planning on making their first BASE jumps this year at the NRGB on Bridge Day, I would suggest either getting your hands on this DVD or Johnny Utah's Safety Day video. There is a lot of fucked up things with some of the jumps you'll see here that hopefully you'll learn a thing of two and maybe not repeat the mistakes which many have made before you. You will see:

1) Close to 1/2 of all the people who exit, exit unstable.

2) Close to 1/2 of all the people have poor canopy control (probably the same 1/2 who exited unstable).

3) The landing area isn't all that big.

4) Go for the water if you're unsure of your canopy control.

5) Bad shit can happen to experienced people, so it can happen to you too.

Because I'm not finished with the DVD yet, the worst two jumps I've seen so far has been the line twist jump where the guy almost hits the rocks. I guess we need to learn to climb those line twists and never give up ... can you imagine if this guy made that jump in Moab? The other nasty jump is the aerials jump gone wrong (which one, there are so many of those) where the guy almost goes in. So who knows what other carnage still awaits me on this DVD. But as I said, initially I sat there thinking I had wasted my money. But now the format is starting to grow on me and I'm beginning to enjoy it.

Just got the BD 2003 DvD a couple days ago and watched it. I liked the format, it's sort of like you're at the bridge watching events as they happen from both the LZ and the bridge itself.

One thing I did was when anyone had line twists I'd rewind and check out their rig. Seemed like most of the people who had them were using skydiving rigs and not base rigs.

I was pretty shocked to see how awful most people were landing too. I guess most everyone was flying in brakes so they didn't have any flare left or is it that most just didn't know how to land a 7 cell canopy?

My neighbors were probably wondering why I was yelling ouch every few minutes.

Are talking about the two-way where both the guy and girl botched their aerials and overdelayed trying to get stable?

I cratered pretty hard on my first landing.

I was in pretty deep brakes shooting for the accuracy tuffet so ya I didn't have much flare.

I also noticed a nasty rotor right off the LZ that was briefly robbing my canopy of lift.

I'd have to watch it again (it's sometime around 12:00 pm if I'm not mistake) to see if it is a guy and a girl. But there is a two-way where some guy in a yellow top jumps initially doing a gainer. It looks like he over rotates and does two more gainers, but still over rotates and goes on his back, pulls and it looks like his canopy opens less than a second before he hits the water. The people editing the DVD made a point to show three different views of this jump in sequence with the last view from the ground being the most graphic showing how close the guy came to going in. Also the person he jumped with (a stable belly exit) seemed to suck it pretty low as well.

I also seem to remember this jump happening not long on the DVD before Jeb does a really cool jump from the diving board. It's kind of a "this is not how to do aerials" and "this is how you do aerials" thing-a-ma-bob.

Hey Zennie,

There's a yellow canopy that lands right after who I think is you. I am guessing it might be Brit?

Anyway, it does some strange shit at about 15 ft. It looks almost like a reverse bowtie as the flare starts (centercell in the front dips in).

You know what I am talking about?

I remember seeing Brit's first jump of the day and that she did a two-way with you? But this was NOT the jump I was referring to. I'm going to have to start taking notes of the good, bad and ugly jumps. There is a lot of all of the above that's for sure.

Probably. If its toward the end of the video after our 2 way. I haven't watched it yet, I'd like to see that one. I do remember it was the only landing i didn't tiptoe in though, the winds were all swirly around the trees.

I did a 2 way, not with Zennie though. Yeah, I was hardly doing aerials on my 2nd-4th base jumps, although it crossed my mind

Brit does fly a yellow Raven.

I did a 2-way with her where I went off backward videoing her exit... but that was later in the day. I'll take another look and see if I can find her jumps.

My canopy is black/gray alternating. I was wearing desert camo and a white video helmet.

Yeah we're thinking of the same one I think. The last view shows him pulling just above the treeline.

I saw that and went HOLY S#$%!!!!!

I'll have to go back and re-count the delay but I'm pretty sure it was at least a solid 6, 6-1/2.

Then, I am 99% sure it's you. Check out the video. To me, it looks like the center of your canopy's leading edge does something funky right before you land. It could be an anomaly from turbulence, or maybe I was seeing things, but it certainly struck me when I saw it.

I just watched Brit's jump and you're not seeing things dude. Her hands were all the way up, she's in full flight after she's crossed the beach shore line about 20 feet above the ground when the center cell of her nose collapses and it causes the end cells to ever so briefly surge forward. Fortunately this collapse only lasts 1/2 a second or so and Brit's canopy then resumes normal flight and she lands. A second or so before this collapse, Brits can be seen making minor right toggle course corrections, but she's only moving her toggle an inch or so at a time and then she returns to full flight. So she must have hit some really compact yet intense rottors or something like that.

Weird stuff I say.

And I thought I might have been seeing things. Well, that's what the voices in my head were telling me as i was typing, anyway.

Strange ass shit tho, i tell ya.