Basejumper.com - archive

Hi there. I'm interested to buy my first BASE rig. Unfortunately, I'm not in position to buy new rig, even I know it would be best. I would like any suggestions regarding that. Most of the jumps I'm planing to do in the future are from buildings, and maybe span, with max 4 sec delay, and hand held PC, or in the beginning SL or PCA. Buildings are about 300-450 ft. It's clearly that I would need large PC, and fast openings on my future canopy. I'm about 5' 9" and about 170 lbs. I saw classifieds, and there is much interesting gear, but I'm not so sure what should I take. I'm planing to take FJC with my own rig, so I should buy one before FJC.
Please, help.
Tnx, Majki

most FJC's include gear rental. I would recommend using the rental gear, it allows you to get a feel for some of the different types of canopy's and containers before buying

Got that. But I'm not so experienced (not at all in BASE enviroment) so I think it wouldn't make much diference to me. I think that big canopy (260 or more) would not be mistake?
Two more things that I'm interested of: velcro or pin? And does anybody tryed "Hacker" and "Beast" from Paraavis? Or "Atmosphere?

I would question the integrity of anyone selling a rig to someone of your experience level. It is in your best interest to gain the experience necessary to make these decisions on your own before you purchase a rig. Good luck!

have your read the articles found on this website?

Clicky

many buy rigs and then sell them shortly after their first few jumps... they simply find the sport different than expected.

do you know anyone who BASE jumps? consider talking to them. ask them. they would have a much better idea of what is suitable for you. heck, would you prefer trusting a nameless face on the internet, or someone who knows you?

Probably not the best learning path... BASE jumps are not forgiving.. especially buildings

Thanks for reply to all. Look... I'm not suicidal type, and I want to end my eventual BASE career safe, and alive. As I said, my thinkings of my first gear are just that becouse I wanted to have my own on FJC. I'm not gonna jump that day when I get the gear. Only asked for advice. If all of you think that I shouldn't do that before my FJC - I'll do that. I'm reading BASE articles, and inform myself over videos and other stuff about it for 5 years. That is exactly becouse i don't want to be dead or in the wheelchair. I started to skydive becouse of BASE. I appreciate all of yours advices, and probably will do so. Everybody had to get his first gear sometimes.
I'm from Serbia, and in my comunity no one jumps BASE. Croatia is nearest to me of countries that have BASE jumpers, and I plan to take FJC at Robert Pecnik's. Ofcourse, since i can't have a mentor in Serbia, i had to take that path. Robie and few of his friends jumped from buildings in Belgrade few months ago, and that is why I think that this can be done. I realise that they are professionals, but I can't spend whole of my life just thinking of BASE jumping. And I don't see why would someone missinform me about BASE? That is why I turned here for help. My cognizance is that BASE jumpers are willing to help, and friendly, and I have no other experiences.
Anyway, thanks for posts, it was very usefull. Please, keep them comming.
Thanks, again

P.S. Here are the links for first BASE in Serbia, and the buildings that I meant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0QSqwfc7rc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6GirgAcpHg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WllvrF4zlKs

if you are as isolated as you say, please exercise care. other "lonely" jumpers post here as well. hopefully some may offer sound advice.

good luck.

In general, my advice on a first rig is here.


Robi is an extremely experienced and highly proficient jumper. Seeing him jump buildings might make it look easy, or even safe. Be assured that it is neither. You will definitely want to start by jumping much safer objects, and slowly work your way up to those buildings, gaining the necessary experience over a longer period. Fortunately for you, you have reasonable access to a selection of easier objects to begin your BASE career.





At your body weight (170 pounds) I'd recommend a 280 for jumping buildings or other technical objects. You can get away with a 260 for many things, and could go even smaller on some of the easier (and much higher) cliffs in Italy and Switzerland.



Where you live, I'd say you want a pin rig in the long term. But in the short term, velcro will be fine, and it's usually easier and cheaper to find used velcro rigs, if your budget won't allow you to purchase a new rig. Basically, at this stage, I'd say go with whatever you can find cheap, and save the money for a better canopy.



I've packed and jumped an Atmogear container (2 pins, but I can't recall the name of it). I own a ParaAvis Beast, which I have in service for First Jump Courses, so I've got a fair bit of experience with it. I've seen a Hacker once, so I can't really comment on that one.

The Beast is solid, but a bit overbuilt. It's very heavy (and well padded). It has weird double riser covers that are kind of a pain to open for gear checks. The crossover style pin flap is nice, and I like the top tuck flap, which comes down and around, better than the only other top pin flap (the Apex DP) I'm familiar with which comes up. I don't really think the top tuck flap is very necessary on the Beast (since it's got the lower profile crossover pin flap), and if the pin flap opening was made smaller, I'd say it could easily be left off. All in all, it's serviceable, but not my first choice.




Velcro is perfect for this style of jumping, but as I said above, I'd expect you to jump a bunch of higher stuff before you get back to those buildings.



I'd say 42" is fine at that altitude. PC's are cheap, though, and you're going to end up needing a smaller one for higher jumps fairly early in your career.



And bottom skin inlets. If you're jumping solid, slider down objects like buildings in the 300-450 range, the vents are a solid investment in your health and welfare.



My advice? Find the cheapest container you can, get a good solid canopy (Troll is probably your best bet, since it's manufactured in Slovenia and you can get technical help from people who won't be fighting a language barrier) with bottom skin inlets (MDV on the Troll), and then look to upgrade the container as soon as you can afford it.

Dear Tom

I thank you very much for helping me out here. As I said, i realize that Robi and his friends are high experienced jumpers, and I don't certainly thinking of jumping those buildings right after FJC. I just saw that is possible, which was very important to me. I spoke with organizer of BASE in Belgrade, and he told me that Robi and his friends spent HOURS analyzing those buildings, from bottom to top. That mean something. Will consider large canopy (280 and more) since as I said, my main activities are based in Serbia, which don't have much hight objects to jump of. I asked for a russian BASE rig since my friend is their dealer, and thought that it could be easier to get to this rig. Will consider pin rig, with Troll, after my eventual consults with Robi.

Thank you, thank you very much Tom, you were very helpful.

How about ACE 280?

Hey man,
I dig your attitude... you're intent on pursuing your dreams in an isolated area of the world, but smart enough to ask for help wherever you can find it.
Once you do your FJC, plan on doing multiple weekend road trips to jump safe objects with experienced folks who can continue to teach you after your FJC. It may be expensive at first, but it beats getting injuries from biting off more than you can chew jumping alone in your backyard. The buildings will always be there... so no harm in getting some safer jumps in your pocket first.
Enjoy the journey... my FJC (and subsequent adventuring) was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life!

Cheers,
Richard

I think a 280 is a good size for you. The Ace is my favorite unvented canopy (in fact, at this point it's the only unvented canopy I'd want to have).

That said, you must realize that it is an unvented canopy, and with the current state of technology, I wouldn't recommend using it from a solid, slider down object (like a building or low cliff).

It would, in my opinion, be a great first canopy, though, and would serve you well for bridges and big cliffs.

Spot on. The buildings will always be there ;) Tnx Richard for encouraging. As I said I want to end as a healthy and alive former BASE jumper;) Right now I'm very glad to see that there is people who are willing to help, that i appreciate very much. Gives me feeling that I'm not all by myself. For Tom: I think I could get easy on one of those ACE's so that is why I ask. Got recommendation from Robi for cheap and good ACE with velcro container. And as you said, I'll look for a vented canopy and better container ASAP. That should do for start (bridges, and maybe some of the cliffs), before MY buildings;) Depends on what Robi might think of that. I think I finaly find my menthor;) For now I should do some of skydives (approximatly 40) and FJC is here:) Will inform you of my progress;) After all you're all my menthors now:))
Thanks again
Majki

P.S. And one more thing, that I think I didn't get too well. What is exactly diference between vented and unvented canopy? And difference between sliders (mesh, big mesh, sail slider) How does it feel on the canopy, and openings? (Link to some of the articles will do fine, I couldn't get them by myself).

P.S. I have some more of "stupid" questions, so if you're willing to answer, and point to links...;)

it is vented fox Majik. I check it out today

 
I am surprised that Robi would recommend an Ace. This canopy flies with more forward speed than a Troll. I distinctly remember James B. telling me the story of when he jumped an Ace how fast the canopy was. Fox, Flik, and Troll are slower. Tom A. has also said the Ace is high performance if my memory serves.

Vented Fox, and not unvented Ace...Maybe I shoud quit BASE already? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ;) Looks like i have more to learn;) Tnx Robi;)