Basejumper.com - archive

What should I do ?

Riggers course starts same day as Bridge day.

There is another course in the spring.

hell yea, riggers course!

bridge day doesn't get you paid later on.

I might be a little bias, but I'd go to Bridge Day

even if BD is a lot of fun... rigging course will help you more (and i dont talk about future job-money...)

but... itºs another one in spring

so i cant give an answer

I would go for Bridgeday, it`s only once in a year...rigger courses are arranged all the time...

what activity do you do most?

are you a skydiver who BASE jumps?
or
are you a BASE jumper who skydives?

from your answer i understand something like:
if he`s a skydiver who BASE... than go to BD
if he`s a BASE jumper who skydives than go to rigging

am i wright or wrong?

You can most definitely make money at Bridge Day, I do every year.

Hey Shunkka, I could be wrong but
the way I read it you got it reversed.


Hey Wwarped, I usually find your posts to be
pretty sharp, but this time well, hmm...

According to dz.com and basejumper.com
Stitch has 300 SKY jumps & 30 BASE jumps.
Of course I am not about to define him.

The rigging course allows him a way to earn money.
Bridge day, from what I hear, is a damn good time.

So the real question is --- Can Stitch afford to
spend about $500* to attend Bridge Day 2007?

**This estimated figure represents his $79 slot, some
travel costs, and a month of missed earnings as a rigger
assuming he was able to find another course that soon.

It cost less than half of that last year. I slept in the parking lot and mooched off of Johnny Gates(RIP).

It's an interesting choice you have to make, although fortunately either one will be enjoyable and memorable.

Rigging is an opportunity to better understand the intricacies of parachute construction, maintenance, and repair. Earning your actual certificate is a side effect of the education you'll receive because the time you spend becoming a rigger will be invaluable to you throughout your parachuting career. Even though there are also financial opportunities to be reaped from earning your rigger's ticket the more important aspect of the training is that you'll develop a deeper knowledge of how and why gear works, how the current designs came to be, and a lot about the history of parachuting.

On the other hand, Bridge Day has been a historical part of fixed object jumping for many years. Huge crowds cause the small town in WV to swell up to amazing numbers and you'll meet jumpers from various walks of life with the full spectrum of experience levels: skydivers looking to make their first jump all the way to veterans who got into the sport on the ground floor. While your skillset may not develop significantly from the NRG bridge, you'll get to be a part of a great party, meet some great people, see some people you probably haven't seen for awhile, and get in a few good jumps.

If your goal is to have a good time in the company of fellow BASE jumpers, enjoy a great party, and add some good memories to photo album, Bridge Day will be more successful than hanging around the rigging loft. But, if your goal is to advance your technical knowledge and skill in rigging and to earn a certification that you'll carry forever, attending the rigging course is the way to go. Both opportunities aren't going away and you can always do a rigging course in the winter, or attend Bridge Day next year when you have a few more BASE jumps under your belt and the knowledge and experience of being a rigger. You may want to base your decision on your current resources (time and money) and your current goals when deciding how to prioritize the two options. Best of luck in your decision.

-=Raistlin

I voted take the riggers course which means you should really go to Bridge Day.

a rigger's ticket does not make anyone an expert. experience provides that.

if you prioritize BASE, attend BD. you can find tons of rigging information from people who actively jump their last chance. can you find that sort of intimate knowledge at a dz? how about people who have designed, sewn, and jumped a rig?

if you prioritze skydiving (or income) get the ticket so you can pack legally. much of your work will be unpacked and never jumped. it might be awhile before you find out how well you pack...

a rigger's ticket is like a marriage license...
both ensure legality.
neither ensure quality.

Let me clarify if I may, getting a rigger's ticket is much more for personal reasons than financial reasons.

You may not. You want to be a rigger for the reason we and only we will decide. When you receive the ticket, you will receive the location of where you will be stationed.

You will work with a partner of our choosing. You will work on the equipment of our choosing. You will be alotted 4 hours personal rigging time each week for the first 16 weeks then 8 hours from that time forward. Take note that the alloted personal work time will not interfere with work you perform for us.

You will dress like THIS at all times.

Carry on.

have you been drinking tim? nothing in this world could make stitch look like that. and if it did i want some, well watered down enough so the clone head would be a little more femine

rigger's ticket does not make anyone an expert
I agree completely.

tons of rigging info from people who actively jump their last chance
BASE definitely requires good knowledge of rigging.

Packing reserves helped me to pick up BASE packing.
Watching & thinking about BASE deployments plus my
minimal experience configuring BASE gear has all helped
me with sky gear. I think of it like cross training in sports.

can you find that sort of intimate knowledge at a dz?
Sometimes, depends on the DZ. I know of one
in particular that is run by a rigger who has like
10,000 jumps, many saves, and BASE jumps.

how about people who have designed, sewn, and jumped a rig?
Well the TSO requirement prevents this but I can
see your point and it is definitely valid! By the way,
this is one of my very distant future goals.

might be awhile before you find out how well you pack
You're right, I have 24 reserve packs and so
far none of them have seen any flight time.