Basejumper.com - archive

At what time in your skydiving career did you start base? What training if any did you get, and what equipment did you use?

450 skydives in total
A load of 7-cell jumps
Practiced CR's Canopy Drills
2 years of reading, learning, talking, and reading some more
Took a FJC with CR
Used BASE specific Gear
Alot of time, money, effort spent.
Alot of grief from Family members, Bosses and Girlfriend.

194 skydives when I did my first.
I was lucky that one of my AFF instructors was also a BASEer, so he was able to watch my skydiving progression and then we both decided when I was ready to make my first leap.
I did ground crew every chance I got and read everything I could get my hands on.
My first 5 jumps were with a Mojo 260 in a Perigee Classic container. After that I was hooked and purchased a Mojo 240 and a Warlock 2-pin container.

When I started BASEing in '84 I had over a thousand skydives with a lot of experience at both CRW and accuracy jumping, a rigging rating, and an instructor rating... It still scared the s##t out of me... I had lots of friends that started around the same time, but none had less than at least 500 jumps.

With the increased visibility of BASE jumping in media today, I think one of the problems is that too many people are starting to BASE jump with too little parachuting experience. Sure, you can get away with some stuff, but you really need to be aware of everything if you expect to come back again and again.

I think people should still be taking tiny steps towards the goal of becoming BASE jumpers, rather than trying to take giant leaps to get there faster...

Skypuppy BASE92

Just getting into it with around 450 skydives. Read as much as I could online (grabbed and printed out all of the articles on Blinc), lurked the BASE board, exchanged emails with some more experienced BASE jumpers.

I recently hooked up with a mentor and have ground crewed a couple of jumps.

I also began apprenticing under our local Master rigger. BASE jumpers are, sort of by necessity, very gear-conscious. Much more so than skydivers. If you lurk the BASE board for any period of time you'll see how incredibly technical some of the discussions become.

If you can't do one of the first jump courses put on by Vertigo (Jimmy & Marta are great!), CR or BR, definitely try and do Bridge Day. I learned more in those couple days than just about anything else I have done. I met tons of extremely experienced BASE jumpers and got to pick their brains on just about everything. And they were all really cool and willing to help out. Plus you get to do a jump in a safe, as far as BASE jumps go, environment.

That one jump & I was hooked. Hrm. Where have I seen that before?

Oh, and equipment-wise, I jumped a Vertigo Warlock (2-pin rig) with a Dagger 220. I just ordered a Warlock and a CR Ace 220 (the consensus of people I talked to was thatthe Dagger is alittle too high performance for a first BASE canopy).

My first BASE jump was at Bridge Day this year. I had 87 skydives, but all this year, nearly everyday of the week.

My S&TA and DZO talked it over with me a lot - and all the experienced jumpers showed me the ropes - how to pack a BASE rig, how to hold the PC, what to do/not to do, etc.

They insisted that I land in the water at the bridge - which was also my live water training.

I borrowed a rig that was a modified skydiving rig. It was basically a big piece of crap, but it did the job.

would a safer way to train for base jumps be doing balloon jumps?

Basic Research used to use balloon jumps as a part of their First Jump Course (to practice zero airspeed exits). At various times, Balloon jumps, bungee jumps, the "pendulumator" (a set of ropes hanging out of a tree somewhere in Norway) and swimming pools have all been used to practice dead air exits.

The bottom line is to practice your exit over and over until you know that it will go well on your first real BASE jump. My favorite way to do this is into a swimming pool, because you get repeated jumps very quickly, to hone the muscle memory. The "pendulumator" is also a good method for doing this. Balloons and bungee both have the downside that you really only get a few practice exits at a time, and it can take a very long time to rack up sufficient practice to (practically--nothing is for certain) guarantee a stable exit on your first jump.

I made my first BASE jump three months, and 250 skydives, after my first solo skydive (about eight months after my tandem). I had been a climber in a previous life, and my only goal in skydiving was to accumulate experience for BASE. I often wish I had done more skydiving (particularly CRW and Accuracy) before starting BASE. My first jump was made from a forgiving 700 ft span with a nice, big road to land on.


I made quite a few accuracy jumps on my first BASE canopy, and received packing and exit instruction from a mangy, 20 year old Australian who had around 250 BASE jumps (thanks Pete!).


My first jump was made on a borrowed Perigee Pro and Mojo 260. My next 25 or so jumps were made on a rigger-built velcro rig (basically a Vision copy) with a clapped out old PD235 in it. After that my gear arrived (I'd ordered it before my first jump, but didn't get it for a while), and I jumped a FOX 265, with multi bridle attachment (no Vtec then, but I had it retrofitted 250 jumps later) in a Prism (BR single pin rig).

That said, I wish that I had done the following differently:

1) Waited until I had my own real BASE specific gear before diving in (some of those PD235 openings were downright scary).

2) Made more CRW jumps before starting BASE (CRW is the best way I've seen to learn close canopy control without the risk of an object strike).

3) Practiced more accuracy with odd (cross and down-wind) approaches.

4) Gotten more live exit practice into a pool (I never blew an exit in the early days, but I know that was pretty much just dumb luck). I went back when I had around 100 jumps and made around 400 practice exits from 12 feet into a foam pit, with video so I could check out what I was doing.

5) Spent about five hours getting diving lessons so that I would have developed enough low airspeed body control to save myself if I did blow an exit.

One thing I'm very glad I did was to sit down with my family and explain BASE to them, and what the risks were, and that I understood the risks. This saved me all kinds of grief later (when I put myself in the hospital).

Only 87 skydives and you were happy doing your first BASE jump with a modified skydiving rig that was "basically a big piece of crap"???

I'm not knocking you or Bridge Day here, but that just seems wrong.

Will

Made my 1st at BD 2000 with about 300 skydives. Definitely agree with a lot of the points Tom brought up. Base gear is the way to go, sure a skydiving reserve works but after you use base specific you want go back. We helped a bro get his B last weekend and he was jumping a PD 253 and as we watched his canopy flutter almost all the way to the ground I said and that's why we use base specific gear. Also CREW is very helpful I wish I had done some. Knowledge and being confident with you gear is extremely important. I always tell people you should be willing to take your gear totally apart (to include lines off links) tangle it up then untangle it, hook it up and feel comfortable jumping it. Read everything you can the Base Board is an excellent place to go. I had a job on a ski mountain that involved hours of sitting around by yourself and I literally read every post in the archives, despite the frequent bickering there is a huge amount of good info. Like Tom said diving training, or just going to the pool and playing, helps but also, as me and a buddy have discussed, freeflying. It gets you used to not being on your belly and seeing the world in other positions. Of course, as I learned in Norway this summer, work on your tracking or you'll find out that you really can't track as you see everyone fying away and your just hanging around near the wall. As for the courses I'm sure they're good , I've heard Jimmy and Marta's is very good and covers everything from doing PCA's and S/L's to site selection, but I'm a firm believer in finding a mentor and doing it the old way. Again like Tom said talk with your family and let them know your motives and wishes. This sport will lead you to some of the most beatiful places in the world and to meeting some really great people. Oh yeah be ready to get hasseled some about it by those who know you do it, some people will never understand but you don't do it for them you do it for yourself. Well maybe a bit more than you asked but there you go. Take Care
Later
Gabe
BASE 697

> At what time in your skydiving career did you start base?
128 skydives, of which latest 30 made using a Fox 245 Multi BASE packed (learned through BR video) into my Javelin

> What training if any did you get
I read and studied ANYTHING was possible to find on Internet (BASE Board included), got in touch with an extremely experienced Italian BASE jumper (BASE #657), +350 BASE jumps at the time, grond crew for him so many times, he taught me everything is possible to teach. I was at the end of the above 30 skydives with Fox, I was about to be ready for my first BASE jump because I knew nearly everything is possible to know by a BASE student, but, I must admit it, I was very scared about the site we WOULD have used for my (supposed) 1st BASE (our very scaring terminal wall...), so I took a FBJ Course with Vertigo (without saying anything to BASE #657), I was sent off an S in Southern Idaho, sent a postcard to BASE #657 with the picture of that S, came back home, waited to get a phone call by #657 saying that he got my postcard from US, and finally I told him I did my first (four) BASE jump(s) in the States. Then I hooked with him for BASE jumping with him, and I still jump with #657. We are very, very good friends. Along the way, they joined the team very, very few other guys. In the end, I did my first BASE jump about 1 year 6 months after I met personally #657 and started studying from Internet and being taught by #657. By the way, before my first BASE jump, among many other things, I did hundreds of simulated BASE exits launching off a 1 m high cliff into sea water (with a wet suit, jolly cold water in April at my place...), 4 bungee jumps off a 60 m crane and 3 skydives off a balloon.

> and what equipment did you use?
For my first (three) BASE jump(s) I used Vertigo's Wizard+Dagger 222, but I was already a happy owner of a Prism+Fox 245 Multi (later upgraded to Vtec). Never considered for BASE jump anything different from a proper BASE rig. After that, I completed BASE at 13th jump, completed NIGHT BASE at 31st jump and completed NAKED BASE at 60th jump

I had 580 skydives before I made my first BASE jump. However, my training began well before that first BASE jump.

I lurked around on the BASE Board for almost 2 years reading every word that was posted, literally soaking in things like a sponge. At that point and time, I had a fascination with BASE, but was unsure if it was right for me.

And then one day, I saw this guy at the drop zone with an actual BASE rig. I dropped everything I was doing and stood off to the side watching and listening to everything this guy did and said. Before he left, I introduced myself and my expressed my interest in BASE. After I gave him my phone number, I walked away not realizing that as a BASE jumper, you will be hounded time and time again to "teach" people. And most people have no idea what a tremendous responsibility this can be.

A month or two later, I ran into "Mick" again at the DZ. Without being overbearing, I hung by his side and gave him my number again as he was leaving. Lucky for me, Mick contacted me a week later to ground crew for him off a local span. I'll never forget seeing my first live BASE jump. I'm convinced that the adrenalin was coarsing through my veins at the same rate as the jumper himself.

For the next 6 months, I drove for Mick, I ground crewed for Mick, I did site-surveys with Mick, and I practiced canopy drills like there was no tomorrow. The entire time, I continually analyzed things and made sure that this was absolutely something that I wanted to do. BASE has given me the greatest rewards in life, but it is also a deadly serious pursuit. I wanted to make darn sure I knew what I was getting myself into.

Knowing that I was ready for that first jump, Mick took me to a 700ft span that is ripe for first-timers. (for those of you following all the posts on this thread, yes, it was the same place where Tom made his first jump)

That night changed my life forever. I was waiting on CR's (Consolidated Rigging) doorstep the next day and ordered my first rig.

My approach was more of a traditional way to get into BASE. Find a mentor, and sponge information for months on end until you felt you were ready. It's hard to do this, because as I mentioned before, it's a huge responsibility for the mentor -- more than you know.

Nowadays, I feel there is a better way. Take your time and really think about whether or not you want to do this. In the meantime, soak up all you can on the internet, or better yet, from BASE jumpers in your area. Take the bad with the good (you can learn a great deal from other's mistakes/ignorance). And practice all the accuracy and CRW you can get your hands on! Then spend the money on a first jump course with a reputable company. There are many out there -- Consolidated Rigging, Basic Research, and Vertigo are just to name a few -- there are others out there too. Take your time and decide which course suits your taste as each one has a different style of teaching.

After your first jump course, and after you own BASE-specific gear, seek out an experienced group of jumpers to mentor you. There are increasing opportunities every day to meet other jumpers, you just have to know where to look.

Whatever you do, take your time and only move forward in difficulty when you are ready. I'm of the personal opinion that too many people are going too hard, too fast -- and the increasing numbers of injuries and fatalities may be a result of this.

And if you're still following my lengthy post (sorry!), I jumped a Vision container and a Mojo 260 on my first BASE jump. (BASE-specific gear)

Blue Skies,

Bryan

Of course we're still reading; didn't you just tell us to soak up everything we could?

btw- I'm not planning on base jumping until I get another 200 or so skydives, but I'm already saving money for a FJC!

I did for 7 years acrobatic ski jump (hotdog), acrobatic training, first skydive jump in 1979, I'am free climber, about 2 years of reading and listening from experienced jumpers, buy my new BASE rig, 2-3 moths did packing, ... then the first jump.

B.A.S.E. is not a crime, it's way of life.
C-YA
Ljubo M.

I saw it jumped several times. I packed it myself. And I trust the guy I borrowed it from with my life. Plus, our DZO, S&TA, and many more experienced jumpers were there over my shoulder the entire time okaying everything I did and explaining everything to me in detail. So, in my book, it was okay.

I am one of the most conservative jumpers at our dropzone. The things that most people would do without question, I'd think about for hours before hand. Seriously. I had enough confidence in the rig to jump it.

And one more thing, I honestly don't see the need in having hundreds of jumps before trying a BASE jump. People were confident enough in my skills to let me jump and so was I.

So, thanks for your concern, but I think I'm doing just fine.

Blue skies.

Well, after a few years we closed down the whole dz and took everyone to Bridge Day and put them all off... At the time I figured I could teach a chimpanzee to jump off the bridge pretty easy... and we were all using modified (just barely) skydiving gear... but we're not just talking jumping the bridge, we're talking about learning to BASE jump... Probably anyone can be taught to jump the bridge relatively safely once, but can they go on their own and decide what objects to jump next and how to do it?
A first BASE jump at bridge day is, while a worthy achievement, basically a carnival ride similar to a tandem... If a person doesn't mind having everything done for them, and the person doing the stuff doesn't mind doing it for them it can be done with little experience, but if you want to do it on your own you need to start with a certain level of knowledge and experience...

BTW - I was a little concerned the chimpanzee might try to climb up the lines as he was floating down, thereby collapsing the parachute, but it was something I never had to figure out a hundred percent...

that's a pretty strong statement dont you think?

Maybe a little strong - but it's like riding white water - do you just want to go rafting in a group with a guide and someone to prepare dinner for you while you relax over a few drinks, or do you want to run the river in your own kayak, maybe with a few friends in their own boats - choosing your own routes and playing where you want. I like to paddle my own boat.

It may not be strictly necessary to have hundreds of jumps to survive a Bridge Day jump.

However, it is necessary to have the skills and awareness developed in those jumps to survive the beginnings of a BASE career (tens of jumps from multiple different objects). Not every jump you will make in your early BASE career will be as easy, or as forgiving of error, as Bridge Day.


I am curious what the BASE (not skydiving) experience of those people is.

I'm not knocking your decision to jump at Bridge Day. But please, please be careful making jumps from other objects.

 

 
You addressed that to myself (amongst others), yet I haven't posted to this thread since your last reply.

Why are you so over-sensitive? Do you not appreciate that maybe people have your best interests at heart with the advice they give?

Will

PS BTW I have zero BASE jumps so please refer to me as a 'BASE wannabe' rather than a 'BASE god'.

Listen, I wanted to reply to everyone who had judged me so quickly. I love constructive criticism. That's what helps us all to learn in this sport. I welcome it with open arms. But so many people "attacked" me for my posting. I am not over-sensitive - at least I don't feel like I'm being so. But you have to admit that some of the comments made were completly out of line. (chimpanzees doing BASE jumps and comparisons to tandems).

I applogize if you feel you didn't deserve to be included in that statement. I just felt that some people were outright rude to me. This is a rare happening, so maybe I didn't handle it quite well.

Again, I appologize if you feel like you didn't deserve that. Some people did.

Be nice. Life is short.

That is not an offensive comment

Be safe but be particularly LOW...........

M

I'm sad to see this interchange. It's so unnecessarily hurtful.

Weegegirl is unnerved by the nastiness of the experts. The experts are self-righteous because their comments contain worthwhile information.

It's so common to see this in skydiving. Experienced jumpers generously offer their hard-won knowledge but poison the advice with a condescending attitude. Even worse, they publically humiliate the recipient. Sometimes the nastiness is overt and sometimes subtle. Either way it distracts from the original generous intent, turns the recipient defensive, and puts everyones' nerves on edge.

In the end, the victim walks away from the experts and all future learning opportunities are lost. How sad.

Amen.

Coming to Tom's defense here, I went back & re-read his posts and I honestly don't see anything in there that seems offensive. About the only thig I saw that could remotely be taken negatively is his inquiry into the BASE experience of the people at the DZ helping you out. And I think that's a legitimate question to ask.

Tom & I have exchanged PM's on the topic of getting into BASE and I've always found his comments to be extremely helpful. He's never taken on a condescending tone with me, even when I asked some probably stupid newbie-ish questions.

And if you do plan on taking up BASE, you probably should thicken your skin a little, because compared to what you've seen here, the people over at the BASE Board are ruthless.

That said, the people that I've met in the BASE community are some of the nicest, most helpful, down to earth people you'll come across. You think skydivers are a tight knit bunch? BASE jumpers are even more so.

I agree with other people that you really should get a dedicated BASE rig if you're going to seriously take up BASE. I'm only jumping a skydiving reserve (in a BASE container) right now because I have an 8 week wait to get my custom BASE gear.

As far as Bridge Day goes, it is a relatively safe jump as far as BASE jumps go. No obstacles (except for the rapellers and some trees in the landing area), pretty high, boats to pick you up if you land in the water. It's a good first exposure to the BASE experience. But the real benefit isn't the jump, it's meeting and talking to all the people. It's a learning experience as much as anything.

I'm no BASE God or anything, I have exactly the same experience as you... one jump from this year's Bridge Day. But I've talked to a lot of folks who I respect & trust (such as Tom) and this is sort of my take on it.

YMMV.

You know what, that right there is the problem. I respect Tom and everybody else's opinions - they do have FAR more knowledge and experience than I do - there is no comparison. However, I have met plenty of nice people in the sport who aren't ruthless and don't feel the need to insult and discourage newbies. I like the skin I have. I'm really not all that sensitive - trust me - I'm the youngest of nine. I can take it and I sure do dish it out. But sometimes people need to think before they talk. I don't see the point in unnecessary rudeness.

I also want to take this time to thank all the people who sent me PMs in support of me sticking up for myself.

I really really want feedback and constructive criticism. But I won't sit here and be called stupid for going through the learning process.

On that note, why don't we bring this forum back to its original purpose. That's all I wanted to do was answer the damn forum. Now it's turned into a bad episode of Jerry Springer.

Blue skies.

I just went back and re-read every single post on this thread. Nobody called you stupid or even insinuated it... particularly Tom. Now maybe some of them said some things that you didn't want to hear... like maybe you ought to jump BASE-specific gear, and have a few more jumps and inquire into the BASE experience of the people helping you... but that is a far cry from calling you stupid.

skypuppy made the only statements that I would consider controversial, but the sentiments behind them I think are legitimate. Bridge Day is an easy jump... that's why experienced BASE jumpers recommend it as a first jump. For many people it's their one and only BASE jump. In some ways I suppose it is the BASE equivalent of a tandem... for some it's a one-shot deal, and for others it's the beginning of their BASE training.

And to reiterate, I have the exact same experience as you, yet I'm not offended by anything anyone has written. I certainly don't think skypuppy was calling me a chimpanzee because my one and only BASE jump thus far was Bridge Day. In fact, I thought his follow-up about keeping them from climbing up the lines was pretty damn funny. And I don't think it was a joke at your expense. It was just tongue-in-cheek.

This is starting to remind me very strongly of a wing loading debate.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are precocious and naturally skilled and whatever, and that's absolutely fine, and maybe they'll never have a serious accident, but if you're an outlier on the safety curve and you know it, then you should expect a little backlash when you bring it up.

That isn't because people are assholes and want to make you feel bad or put you down, or protect their superiority, it's because they want to prevent something unpleasant from happening to you, and when people want their remarks noticed they spice them up a bit. I consider it a favor when people give a shit about my safety.

At 100 jumps, you have maybe 10 minutes of canopy control experience between 100' and the ground. 10 MINUTES. Probably a similar amount of experience with canopy openings. How many activities do you know of where death is the possible or even likely result of a relatively minor screwup, yet 10 minutes of experience is enough to make you feel safe upping the ante?

Regarding this specific thread, I personally didn't think the comments were too offensive, and I thought the reaction to them was unwarranted. That's my $0.02. Of course, everyone is free to disagree, and I'm sure some do.

Anyway, wishing blue skies and safe landings to everyone, regardless of the path they choose...

Joe

Weegegirl,

One of the reasons I'm intrigued by base is that being a bit of an outlaw activity, it doesn't draw the Authority Protector types. Not as much at least.

The base people I've met in person so far have been excellent safety enthusiasts with great experience and detailed knowledge. They're also patient, caring instructors. Most importantly though, they're adults who recognize that I'm an adult who will make his own decisions.

One jumper in particular says something that I -REALLY- respect: "Every jump you make is wholly your own decision, but I would like to let you know what I think." Oh, the incredible rarity of finding someone who treats another human being as an equal! Not as if I had his knowledge and experience mind you, but as if I too were responsible for my own fate and nobody else's. Someone who's willing to help me but has no illusions that he controls me!

This is a real saftey concern...NOT a personal attack.

I have one question...does your DZO or your S&TA BASE jump. If they do (and I don't mean once and a while or a few bridge day jumps...I mean really BASE jump on a regular basis), then yeah listen to them. If they do not...then don't listen to them regarding BASE. Check out the BASE fatality list of people who figured skydiving gear was good enough, or who figured they were good skydiver so therefore they were BASE experts.

Listen to AS MANY opinions you can get regarding BASE (from people who BASE jump on a regular basis...like Tom). You probably will find MANY diferent opinions.

PS...I just got back from a sweet A like an hour and a half ago and I still have the smile on my face.

Weegegirl relax if you thought that was an attack just go read through the archives of the Baseboard. The comparison of BD to a tandem is fairly accurate. A tandem just walks up and are spoonfed a jump and thats what many, not all, skydivers did at BD. I did my first jump there but it's a cake BASE jump at BD. Sure the danger is still there but it's nothing like standing on an A at 420' with the winds blowing at 8 mph down the wire and its pitch black and you have to make the decision to jump or not. There's a lot of knowledge required in this sport and most people who come and do thier one or two jumps a year at BD don't have, or need, that knowledge and that's fine, but you must realize that BD is not like your average jump. In skydiving you fill out some paperwork pay some money and ride up to altitude and jump. There's a whole lot more work, time, risk and reward with a normal base jump. I'm sure you and everyone understand that but if you look at it that way you can see why people look at BD as being similar to a tandem. Trust me if you get into this enough you too will see it that way. Anyways not trying attack anyone just want you to understand where we're coming from. Also you said:

"This is such a formulated sport with all sorts of rules and regulations"

Trust me the day that's true most BASE jumpers will quit. Take care.
Later
Gabe

funny you should say that

First of all, I was being sarcastic - obviously - when I said that it was a formulated sport.

I never claimed to be a "BASE jumper" or to be ready to jump off of anything other than the bridge. I realize that I am not NEARLY experienced enough to do some of the crazy ass things you guys do.... and I'm not sure I'll ever WANT to be.

This forum asked for first jump experiences, and I gave mine. Maybe mine wasn't as "cool" as other BASE jumps, because it was simply off the bridge. I'll tell you what - it was the coolest jump I ever did. Scared the shit out of me - felt wonderful. I wasn't claiming to know EVERYTHING I need to know for the sport.

What happened here, was that a bunch of people with a ton of experience - and rightfully big heads - jumped on me for doing things that they thought were wrong. They took this breath taking, wonderful experience that I had and belittled it and made me feel like a piece of shit for having done it in the first place. I took it as an insult. I thought it was patronizing.

I've asked - quite a bit ago - that this topic be brought back to its origin. I just want everybody to drop it and get off my back. I'm not saying that I'm right or wrong here - I just have my own damn opinion.

I think this has gone on FAR enough. Everybody has taken their jabs at me. Everybody has had the opportunity to feel big and important and to bully the new kid around.

Believe it or not, I'm not a stupid person. I wouldn't do anything that I wasn't prepared for. I'm not going to go make a jump that I'm not ready for. I wish people would give me just a little credit here. Just a little.

Thank you everybody for the helpful tips that were buried in all of this bullshit.

Have a nice day.

BY THE WAY.... this was not directed toward Geronimo.... he was just the one I happened to hit reply to.

I was retarded and jumped an A from 280 ft by PCA into a average landing area on my first. I did have my own gear though and read the BASE board for a year and half and pestered all the locals for information when I could. I practiced all the BASE drills I could on skydives for 200 jumps and put a few jumps on my Raven that I started on. That only lasted 7 jumps until I got a Fox.

Be careful out there though.

I'm really sorry that some posts on an electronic forum were enough to ruin your first BASE.

I, for one, really appreciated the comments of Tom and others -- I might approach my first Bridge Day in a safer way than I originally would have now, having read the reactions of some experienced BASE jumpers to your post.

I agree with this. I've also learned from all this not to discuss my experiences in this forum, lest kneejerk experts and psuedo-experts turn on me with "helpful tips buried in bullshit".

<<<<<Hands go up in air - waving white flag>>>>>

I surrender. If you would like to continue discussing your thoughts on this - I will not try to stop you. But, I am walking away from this thread.

With me, I am taking...

• A suggestion to use BASE specific gear. FYI, I was already looking into the purchase of some ever since I took that first leap off the bridge.

• Some tips on accuracy training with my new BASE gear before jumping off any serious obstacles.

• A suggestion to wait another hundred or so jumps before trying anything more difficult than the bridge.

• A note to self - not to be AS defensive as I was here.

• A second note to self - not to share any experiences that I actually enjoyed - unless I want to have them torn to shreds by big heads.


On that note, I have the utmost respect for anyone that skydives or BASE jumps. We immediately have something very strong in common - a passion to push ourselves to the outer limits. I appreciate beyond words the willingness of those more experienced to offer their skills and knowledge to those who are trying to learn. I hope someday I can come face to face with some of you and we can laugh, make a jump, and have a beer. Until that day, I wish everyone safe and happy jumps.

Be yourself. Be wild. Be free. Fly.

CYA!

Weegirl-
I have been BASE jumping for about two years now. I know you have good intentions, and A very hungry interest in this activity, but what's the hurry???? The objects aren't going anywhere. In the end so much of this sport is good judgment, a head game, and gear. I remember my first couple of jumps, I was so un-knowledgeable I didn't even truly understand how a parachute flies, or achieves lift. I just knew it should be big and square. Pull on the toggles, it does this. Pull on the risers it does that.

I got really really lucky...... A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE (NOW), took me under his wing and mentored me through becoming a more well rounded BASE jumper. He is a master rigger, aff, .......ect..... 250+ BASE jumper . I can pass along to you some things I've picked up along the way.


1. Your basically committing suicide without the commitment. Your just saving yourself with a bunch of nylon attached to strings.
2. All you have between you and certain death is your gear. KNOW IT WELL !!!!!
3. It's not a matter of if , it's when you will have a 180 and face an object.
4. You have to be able to be scared out of your skull.....and still perform at higher than optimal levels.
5. You have to be able to be scared out of your skull.....and if you can't perform at higher than optimal levels, have the self moderation to walk off the object..... hey, it'll still be there tomorrow.
6. Realize that BASE and skydiving are to two totally different activities. BASE requires you to be a master packer,canopy pilot,subterminal body pilot, and all around quick on the instant decision making.

These are just a few things to digest. I'm sure you'll either find a suitable mentor, or take a course(P.S. Jimmy and Marta at Vertigo ROCK!!)

See you when I'm looking at yah.....

Jay E.
WWW.ADRENALINEEXPLOITS.COM

p.s. If you want to meet and see tons of Jumpers, the Turkey Boogie in Moab over Thanksgiving is an awesome place to soak up BASE...... I just got back from there last night..........mmmmm..mmmmmmm.......mmmmmmmmmmmmm goooood!!!

I can understand how you feel this way. You just achieved your first jump from a fixed object and you might feel like others are minimizing your achievement. In reading some of the comments that upset you, though, they contain good advice. What you have to remember about BASE is that this is a sport where if someone burns in, gets hurt or gets busted, it takes a highly marginalized sport and brings it one step closer to "extinction". You would feel the same way about skydiving if every time a 50 jump wonder decides he has what it takes to 90-270 himself into a double compound fracture, that drop zone was made illegal to jump. BASE jumping has a greater risk factor. There is a better chance that you will get hurt. The comments offered to you were meant to protect you from getting hurt, and protect the greater good of the sport, as well. Please don't take it personally. It's great that you made your first, and hope you're hooked enough to invest in proper gear and training. Just try to understand what you're getting into. It's not skydiving, and there are some harsh realities involved. I'm sure you're aware that the BASE fatality list has had 33%+ of its fatalities this year. That is cause for concern.
'nuff said...I welcome you to BASE jumping and encourage your continued enthusiasm.
the huck.

>Only 87 skydives and you were happy doing your first BASE jump with
> a modified skydiving rig that was "basically a big piece of crap"???

I'll bet mine was worse; a Pursuit 215 with 1000+ jumps on it and a Swift container. Of course, I made my first BASE jump in 1992, and there wasn't too much in the way of dedicated BASE gear out there. My first NRGB jump (93) saw about 10% dedicated BASE rigs and the rest modified skydiving rigs. I didn't know much about BASE back then, but the stuff I saw was still scary. Even some of the BASE stuff worried me - Harry Parker had a Perigee that would simply not stay closed.

By the time I was working at bridge day (97-98) the number of BASE specific rigs had risen dramatically, and there were way fewer scary rigs. Even first time jumpers had BASE rigs on that they got help with packing.

Not all of us started BASE when good gear was easy to come by.

And you guys don't get nearly the respect you deserve. I've seen some old video that made my skin crawl. The pioneers of the sport learned everything we know today through trial and (painful) error.

I had the good fortune to meet Rick Harrison a little while back. Super great guy with a lot of really cool stories.

Yikes! I don't mean the following to sound standoffish or otherwise disrespectful, so all due respect, but that was then, this is now--Wouldn't you agree though that it's not what will "work", but rather what is the most safe/appropriate for the task at hand for BASE these days?
yes, you "old timers" had brass ones. props.
the huck

 
How many skydives did you have when you made that first BASE jump Bill?
If you made that first jump in 2002 rather than 1992 would you still have used the same gear?
I appreciate what you said with regarding my comment about using crap skydiving gear to do Bridge day. But my comment was regarding Bridge Day 2002 not Bridge Day 1992. You guys did the best with what you had at the time.

If you think her first experience was silly I will redirect the attention to me. I made my first B.A.S.E. jump off a 195' tower with a not so bad landing area. It was a pilot chute assist with an excellent instructor who ahs been in the sport awhile. The problem comes from the fact that I went to film a friend and asked after she jumped if I could borrow her rig and do one myself. They said sure. So with very little instruction I went and did it. I had about 175 jumps at teh time. Oh well, what can you do. It was the single most amazing thing I have ever done in my life and I honestly would do it again if I had the chance. Thank you to the Karma Gods for taking care of me. I have about 8 B.A.S.E. jumps now. and am saving for a rig. hehe, let the reactions begin.

~chachi

How dare you!!!!


Bet it was fun! What kind of rig are you gonna get?

I apologize if my comments were taken personally. I did not mean them to be... Unfortunately I was away for a week a didn't realize they'd caused offense... I stand by my original post that I think a lot of people get into BASE too early simply because of its media prominence now, but I did not mean to disparage your accomplishments...

Skypuppy

 
With the increased visibility of BASE jumping in media today, I think one of the problems is that too many people are starting to BASE jump with too little parachuting experience. Sure, you can get away with some stuff, but you really need to be aware of everything if you expect to come back again and again.


Skypuppy BASE92
Here here well said!

My first was in '82 over the similkamen river bridge (about 500ft) in british colombia, I had 197 jumps, i used my new racer And my hobbit main (165ft). we rigged a bogus static line. Being head down I towed the p/c to a very low height(200 ft -) both loops locked into the keepers. After two sharp turns to avoid the canyon walls I landed on top of a boulder.


The next one I did I was pushing close to 1000 jumps I was MUCH better prepared rig wise and ability wise. I think 500 jumps would be a good number to have before preforming base jump.
Be a good at accuracy and assessing in a hurry where you are going to land. In base accuracy is a heavy duty survival skill.

the exit is simple ... do right the the FIRST time. Somebody will teach you how...practice at a swimming pool

hutch base140

which part?
the one about tandem jumps being equivalent to a carnival ride????
it seems true simply by inspection.
at least for the rider, not always true for the ridee.

stay safe

kleggo

did you just read that or did you read my whole post? it was in reference to him saying a BASE at bridge day is like a Tandem.....

yes..I believe Tandems are just carnival rides...

but a BASE jump is a BASE jump...

Hey,

I'm just responding to the whole thread here--I'm just replying to the last post because it is convenient.

Let's all try to be civil here. This thread is starting (perhaps it's way past "starting") to degenerate into an old-school, BASE Board style flame fest. We've got overreaction, ridicule, misunderstood humor, and some hard feelings.

I don't think anyone was trying to attack anyone else personally (because if that was happening, we'd have to lock the thread, right?), but I can see quite a few people getting bent out of shape.

Let's try to leave this thread to it's original intention (relating first jump experiences, and getting feedback on what you think should have been done differently in your case).

Remember, the idea of this forum is to give accurate information to low time jumpers, and it's hard to do that if we scare people (low timers who need advice or experienced jumpers who can give it) off by flaming them. If we start down that road, we'll just see people out making jumps without good information.

Thanks,

OK my first jump was after about 250 skydives, I had BASE specific gear(mojo280 and velcro rig), and was being mentored by one of the best in the world. I was PCA'd off a 230' B, that has a nice landing area. I guess the scariest thing about it was that it was Friday the 13th, and my "new" mojo had 13 patches on it.....etc.etc.etc. black death hahahahahah
But that night my life changed, I truely believe, for the better. I can't imagine not BASE jumping, I've been out with an injury since August, and its been the worst......but the only thing that keeps me positive, is that I KNOW I will jump again, and I know that feeling.....the one after you exit, before you start to accel. then all your periphial vision, blurrs upwards (oops I'm drooling), then the CRACK of a slider off 3 second delay....fu(king SWEET!
c-ya
BASE 700

Hey Tom,

I was reading this thread last night thinking to myself, "self, these folks aren't even 15 days into the new BASE forum at dz.com and already there are flames and tempers and misunderstandings running rampant."

I think the benefit to this forum being on dz.com will be the fact that moderators and moderating are/is already in place; hopefully that will keep the bitching to a minimum. That said, I've been enjoying reading the posts so far... a renewed vigor that seems to have been lost over at blinc.

BTW, I hate that I didn't get a chance to spend more time with you at BD. You know how that place goes, though... more people to see and talk to than anyone can possibly manage to manage. I was packing in the yard outside in the drizzle because space was limited inside... and it was brutally hot in the hotel to boot.. and... well... that's where my bud Gary was packing.

Enjoyed reading your article on gear selection. Great article and good advice. Keep it simple.

As for my first jump, I'm not going to even go there considering the audience and the intent of this forum. Suffice it to say that persons intending on doing their first BASE jump are advised to get lots of canopy control experience (after all, that IS the name of the game); read, read, read; ask lots of questions; practice exits and packing; get a current, experienced mentor who isn't afraid to say NO; the newbie shouldn't be afraid to say no; always keep water, chewing gum and TP in your fanny pack; and MAKE A WILL AND KEEP IT CURRENT. If you do not have a WILL and you do not update it with regularity then you are not prepared for this sport.

Y'all take care now... y'hear?
Gardner

Chewing gum?

500+skydives
first BASE from a Power line(A)whit a Fox 225
Now afther 30BASE-jumps (in 3month)i have a broken leg and cant jump again before at least 1/2year..Becouse of a BASE.I did go whit my master fo 2 jumps and have been on my own since(becourse of distance to other BASE-jumpers..)
Dont be in a hurry,but enjoy the life..
Stefan Faber

Hej Faber! Hvorfor tager ikke du Private Messages? Undskyle, min dansk er dårlig...

Bork! Bork! Bork!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Sorry, I tried to PM him, but he won't accept PMs.

yeah... the fear dries the mouth and the gum helps between water breaks while climbing long, long, long, long ladders (or while hiking, climbing, etc. as the case may be). Helps maintain rhythm too... eventually you settle into x number of chews per climbing stroke. heh heh.. I said 'stroke'. Plus it's nice to have something to hand out to your buddies at the exit point.
-gardner

No worries. I just read that and the first thing that popped into my head was the Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show.

After getting a ton of info from friends and web sites like BLiNC I did ground crew for some buddies a few times... then I read some more and watched some videos... then when I thought I was ready to jump I watched a friend pack his Mojo and realized that I needed to learn even more! I had over 900 skydives on almost ten different kinds of canopies when I finally went out to our local A with our crew and climbed up to around 700'. That was less than a year ago and I've only made 17 more jumps off of 3 other objects since then but I will never be the same.
I think the most important thing to realize if you're considering taking the BASE leap is that BASE jumping is NOT skydiving. You have to know more about your gear than some riggers. You will be more scared than you ever thought possible and will have to make some very difficult decisions. But if you choose to go down this road we call BASE you will feel emotions that rival some really good drugs and have a smile on your face that blows away that sh!t eating grin you had after your first skydive.

Team Donk anD BoneZ kicks a$$!

Hey just reading along for fun. I have no interest in base etc. but as I read along I’ve been thinking about the current issue of skydiving’s “talk back section”. Page 37 caption “John Starr makes his FIRST PARACHUTE JUMP, A base jump from a 180-foot-high bridge…at night, over water.

WACK!

.:skip

Din Dansk er fin
Your danish are fine.. sorry not used to this board..
Have fun!!!
Faber

i know this is an old post, but i am a "natural" researcher. i can see from this posts age, that the attitude to new people coming into your "private" little world is not anything new.

It were a freindly reminder that she should take care,becours she didnt got the traning and gear to that kind of a jump.Ofcours she trusted the instructor whith her life,we all did onse,but he/she shouldnt had let her jump,at that time(dont know Weegegirl,but i hope she`s just fine).

to get it back to tropic heres my first jump

I am just fine, thank you. And I sincerely believe, to this day, that I was perfectly capable of executing that jump. It was not one person that gave me the go-ahead, it was a lot of people that I had been jumping with for quite some time. Oh, well. Thought this topic was long gone.