Retired
This is one of the hardest things that I have had to do in my life but the time has come. I have decided to retire from base-jumping due to several reasons. I have been struggling with this decision for several months and a little bit over the years. I gave my wife my word along time ago that I would quit when certain milestones in my base jumping career passed and I have not fulfilled my promise for several years now. I lost sight that I was a man of my word and that is what this is truly about. I realized that if you cannot stand proud, confident, and true to yourself, you really have nothing. I will miss this sport greatly, mostly the conversations at the exit points, pre jump, the jump, and celebrations afterward. You have my promise that I will not sever the relationships I have built over the years, as they are, what is, most important to me. Base-jumping for me has truly become a relaxing event. Jumping for me over the past several years was the easy part. Heck I was more scared of getting caught and in trouble. I have gotten to a place where pushing the envelop if illegal exit points became more fun than the actual jumping. I have lost respect for the danger in jumping and that scares me even more. Again, what I truly love is the people in which I have shared my base-jumps with, so for that I will still be around but please don’t ask me to jump anymore.
I want to thank several people and I am sure I will miss some of them. My first basejump was Bridge Day 94’ and I was inspired by the Team Extreme, Spiders from Mars, Ill Vision, and Team Body Baggers, I’ll miss the registration on a picnic table in the center of the bridge w/ Andy Calastrat. Avery, Dennis, & Harry taught me everything I know about running the exit point. Jason Bell for continuing support on with my bridge day staff. Ill miss my exit partners Kramer & Utah. I will miss all the new students going over the edge, the shaking hands, knees, and faces at bridge day. Thank you Jimmy, Marta, Troy, Heather, & Go Fast for the chance to be part of the Royal George first and second events. Thanks to Gravity Sports for my first rig & CR for my Perigee my great Mojo that has saved my life so many times. To all of the manufactures, BR, CR, Morpheous, Apex, Todd, Andy, Brenda, Anne, Rob, Cathy. To all of the “Crew’s” especially the old (relative) Colorado crew, Hank & Wayne, the old SC crew, Mobile crew ricky/paul (wish we would have got the record), Tom A. Jess. B, etc., I finally got to meet the Harrison’s and Nick at BD last year. Mostly the Atlanta Crew Gardner & Baxter and my first jumping partners Gary & Tom. Even Earl R. who got me going. Sorry, I sure I missed someone.
I have been very fortunate over the years with only a few scrapes and bruises and no broken bones. As Dwain once said the bucket is full when you start and with each jump you take out a piece every time until the bucket is empty. For some of us the buckets are larger than others. Anyway I have to retire sooner or later and for me I have gotten to the point that the 11+ years has been a great run.
For those of you who know me I have a wife and two children, which play a significant factor in this decision. For me my family has to be number one (not that Base was). I finally realized that base-jumping although a significant part of my life is no longer a driving force. I will miss everyone, but at the end of the day I ain’t going home with you. I have learned to never say “never “ anyone can come out of retirement. It is very hard to explain to people how this sport affects you, once you surrender to it. A good friend of mine once said “once a base jumper, always a base jumper”. Damn how true that is. I cannot hide the past as it is part of me, maybe when my kids become of age and the circumstances are different I will jump again but for now I can no longer continue.
I believe in the Alliance of Backcountry parachutists and all of the people before it, who have fought for our rights as Base jumpers. I have a picture of Half Dome hanging in my living room. One day I hope to jump it and the Captain.
I realized most of this a few weeks ago on the way to Twin Falls or maybe, perhaps before that. I cannot continue for the sake of my two children and wife, this sport is simply too dangerous and the people I love have too much to lose if something should happen.
Its kind of funny at the end of the day I threw a perfect slow gainer and thought to my-self man that was a great jump. Did not know it at the time but it was my last jump.
See Picture.
Take care, be safe, and as we all say See Ya.
Michael Davidek - Base 626
,i think...poor kids
) and a WIFE
and hers 2 kids aswell also makes me wonder sometimes..