Basejumper.com - archive

Very blunt answer: The correct BASE setup for a skydiving canopy is not to use them.


The setup for any BASE gear varies by the jump. There is no "standard" setup for any particular canopy.

Well, while I certainly agree with Toms post that the best thing is to avoid non-base equipment, Some people are using Ravens for base and still like them. I have a friend who has a mojo and a raven and still likes his raven. He called the manufacturer and convinced them to make him one with a tail pocket (of course, Ravens are made for main use also, and this was the case here - made with a bridle attachment, packing tabs etc.). So, Ravens can be used for base, but I don't really see why. I put a tail pocket on a raven for my first base jump at bridge day, and it worked ok, but blew toggles due to excessive force of slider off opening, so be sure you get some BASE risers that are kinda beefy if you want to use a raven for base.

I have a Strato Cloud in an old wonderhog that I sometimes use for base (there is some really scary video of the walkout -- the jumps have been fine though). I really only use it at Perrine for water landings, though I did get Aiello to pca me once during high winds and landed it on land. He described that jump as "interesting". It is quite a bastardized setup (Politically Correct Note - I am in no way disparaging parentally challenged persons). I wouldn't recommend anyone try this at home or any other place, especially exit points. Though, if you see me at perrine and feel adventureous, I might let you jump it. It is kinda funky, even for me though.

I think Britney also has a yaller raven she jumps off and on, and would be a real good person for input on this topic, in fact i am only posting cause i am staying up late drinking in prep for all night jumps on new years :).

I am amazed at people who want to take their junk rigs and bring them to BASE. It should be the other way around. Spend your money on BASE equipment that has a better chance of saving your life in a more critial environment and take your junk and fiddle around with it out of an airplane (with a good reserve and harness, of course). That makes more sense, but again , I been drinking.

later,
t

I was standing right next to Tom when he PCA'd you on that jump. I would also call it "interesting" only becuase I can't think of any other goods words for that jump.

Note that Ravens and most skydiving mains lack span-wise reinforcing tapes.

Skydiving canopies can work fine. That said, tailoring a skydiving canopy for BASE is highly experimental and can cause much grief in the BASE environment. Each tailored canopy seems to have its own personality. The BASE canopies are much more consistent.

Note: IMHO, do not use mini-risers on BASE jumps, unless they are integrity risers! The Pick had a mini-riser break on a large cliff jump and he was badly injured. Do not use anything but a BASE specific toggle system when jumping slider down or off. Historically, this has caused severe injuries and fatalities. The community learned this the hard way through the 1980s and early 90s. Non-BASE canopies lack excessive reinforcement at the bridle attachment point compared to BASE specific canopies. Big pilot chutes can greatly stress this point during canopy extraction. A skydiving canopy can survive this but requires diligent inspection post jump compared to a more rugged BASE canopy.

Please note, now that tailored BASE-specific gear exists, why would you want to consider anything else? An injury (and potentially subsequent legal trouble) can be extremely expensive. Gear cost should not be an issue. My broken leg (shattered femur) cost >$30000. Most people who apply for bankruptcy in the US now are from medical bills, and those bankruptcy laws unfortunately changed recently.

Here is a thread that is relevant.

Kris.

When reading that thread, definitely pay close attention to the posts by John LeBlanc, who is vice president and lead designer at Performance Designs.