Basejumper.com - archive

The Snake River BASE Academy will host Spring Death Camp 2008 from May 17th to 23rd, 2008, in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Death Camp is offered twice each year, at Memorial Day (the 3rd week of May) and Labor Day (the first week of September). Death Camp is free, and admission is highly competitive. Typically, we receive approximately 30 applications for 5 places. Admission is offered based on evaluation of student applications, reference checks, student preparation and class composition.

Death Camp is the most comprehensive introduction to BASE available today. The course will focus on fundamental BASE skills, with an additional emphasis on the history and ethics of BASE, and the teamwork necessary to many BASE jumps. In addition to standard First Jump training, the course will cover appropriate brake settings, advanced packing techniques, object avoidance techniques, object evaluation, and landing skills. Time and jumper aptitude permitting, we will also cover unpacked jumps, particularly as used for emergency situations, and multi-way jumps.

The Death Camp curriculum assumes that students begin with no previous BASE jumps. However, applications will be accepted from anyone having fewer than 20 BASE jumps.

To Apply for Death Camp, please provide the following information, or submit the answers to these questions via email to tom@snakeriverbase.com or submit the answers to these questions via mail to us at Post Office Box 2493, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83303, USA. Please do not send private messages via the forums. All answers are optional, but providing more information will improve your chances of admission.

(1) Name:
(2) Age:
(3) Place of Residence:
(4) Number of BASE Jumps:
(5) Primary Skydiving Disciplines:
(6) Home Dropzone:

(7) Number of Skydives:

(a) Number of CRW jumps:
(b) Number of Accuracy jumps:
(c) Number of Demo jumps:

(8) Any rigging certifications:
(9) Other relevant experience (paragliding, climbing, rescue, etc):

(10) Name and telephone number of any BASE jumpers who know you:
(11) Name and telephone number of a BASE jumper who has agreed to mentor you:
(12) Name and telephone number of any instructors from other related disciplines who know you:
(13) Name and telephone number of your home dropzone S&TA, Chief Instructor, or both:

(14) Mailing Address:
(15) Telephone Number (mobile preferred):

(16) Emergency Contact Name:
(17) Emergency Contact Telephone (mobile preferred):
(18) Emergency Contact Address:
(19) Emergency Contact's relation to you:

(20) Are you married?
(21) Do you have childred?
(22) Have you discussed BASE jumping with your family?

(23) Explain why you want to BASE jump:
(24) Tell us something about yourself that is unrelated to parachuting:


Admissions decisions will be made with many criteria, but be aware that a recommendation from a BASE mentor whose judgment I trust will be weighed heavily in favor of applicants able to provide it.

More information, including a course syllabus, can be obtained by emailing tom@snakeriverbase.com. Course application and syllabus can also be found at SnakeRiverBASE.com.

Admissions decisions will be made beginning January 15th, 2008, and continue until all spots are filled. Applications completed before January 15th will receive priority consideration.

Students who participate in the course will be asked to make a $100 donation to Magic Valley Safe Kids, the local chapter of Safe Kids Worldwide.