Basejumper.com - archive

Hi All

We are putting a log together of all the people who have done BASE in South Africa.

SA is slowly getting on the world BASE map and we would like to start a log containing all the names and dates of people who have completed BASE in SA. Because of our limited sites this is not a small feat.

I know a couple of years ago some guys were here filming African BASE. I also know there are a couple of SA legends out there to whom we owe most of our objects today.

Please send me the info about your jumps (dates, locations)especially the "qualified" jump.

All the information will definitely be strictly confidential but you can, in a few months time, request your SA number. Note that this number has no significance other than pointing out your number in SA BASE history. I doubt 30 has been broken...with to my knowledge only 2 ladies

Hope to hear from you all soon and better yet to see you all here doing some jumps the African way

Best Regards

gloei

Use either my email:
base1206@basejump.com or
gloei@cilliers.com

Since nobody is stepping forward then I guess the Cincy Crew has South Africa BASE #1, 2 & 3. So there you go Beeotches!!!!!!!!!!!

Please form an orderly line right behind us.

Hey Gloei,
if I´m not wrong you must the guy who jumped with me from Ponte, South Africa last year in october ?

wioletta
wiolettaroslan@yahoo.se

the founder of the South African BASE Association John V. S. has South African BASE #1, earned several years ago.

Things weren't so easy back in the day.

Here's a letter I received and printed in The Fixed Object Journal in March of 1992 . . .

"Hi Nick,

I really appreciate your magazine. BASE jumping is not very organized here in South Africa for two reasons. The BASE community is small, and there's a two year grounding for any skydiver caught BASE jumping. There are some great sites to jump here, but to my knowledge no South African has done all four objects here. To our shame a visiting Aussie did all four within a month of being here. Unfortunately, the Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA) discovered his activities and banned him from skydiving here. Well, I'm hoping to change things before the end of the year. I've made bridge and antenna jumps and I'm planning several building and cliff jumps. Believe it or not, we do have a 600-foot building here in darkest Africa. I was particularly impressed with the Nigel Slee article and the Jean Boenish interview. Cheers from down south!

Steve Marshall
Edenville, South Africa"

NickD
BASE 194

I'll have to ask my friend when he gets back into the U.S. from doing mercenary work.

John is quite a legend down here still.

When I started BASE I would ask Karl (Hayden) about a few jumps I thought were possible around here and his reply most of the time would be: "Oh that, ja John jumped a few years back..."

He got his wife to film him jumping an E in Natal. He jumped, OH, cliff strike and was left hanging on a rock by one cell. Instead of waiting there to be rescued, he hopped until the cell was free, turned out and landed in a tree... His comment: "ja, I shouldn't have jumped"

I still havn't seen that footage though.
Then there was the time when he filmed Jeb breaking his back at the Howack falls; he was pissed off because the American show that bought the footage subtitled his comments though he was speaking English

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the response and keep them coming.

Wioletta: That is me great hearing from you.

Deacon: Will you please send me more detail of the Cincy crew and their jumps here.

Mate I reckon we have half of the SA BASE jumpers in the world here in Aus right now, although you wouldn't know it with the lack of Africans I'm hearing at exit points ;)

John is amazing, an all around great man, and still has such psychological and physical strength.

Can't believe the guy took a 90 foot fall while solo free climbing to assist with an endangered student climber. John had to have a full body laser tattoo like surgery to remove the permanent bruising. And then when he jumped into the elephant grass and had his taint penetrated by a 12 inch limb that nearly perforated his liver. He had an epidural for 6 months to deal with that. I'm delighted he's back to near full strength and occasionally makes a jump!

Mmm, PM sent.
Did table mountain 23121998.
Ronald

maybe the Africans are just keeping quiet at the exit point and not speaking Afrikaans...

You ever heard South Africans keep quiet at an exit point??

Hey Gloei my boy!

Have you ever tried to herd cats? Well, this is basically going to be like that . Besides the SA boys and girls usually don’t like to kiss and tell too much. We’ll get together at the Heli Boogie and I’ll pass on what I know. Trust me, things date way back mate. John is a good man and built me my BASE harness and there are others before his time. ADK springs to mind and of course Mr Pete Zam. Getting info out of these boys is going to mean visiting them and having a few beers. It’s great to see you putting the effort in. I think it’s freaking fantastic and about time. I’m missing the Burg mate, but see you in Norway.

Hi buddy. Very much looking forward to the heliboogie and getting together for some jumps again! Already in contact with Pete who also liked the idea and will be doing some digging in his old log books but beer with him sounds like a plan
Who is ADK?
Si hi to Lynda and Arno for me!

ADK - Andy de Klerk. A Legend! Ask Pete, he will put you in touch.
Others are:
Julian B
Karl Hayden
Nick Good

Pete will do a better job at giving you all the names. He at least records this stuff .

Hi All

thanks for the great response. The SA BASE log is about 90% complete. I realise I will never capture everyone but I'll be happy with 99% :)

There numbers are still only in the low thirties! With an Ausie currently in SA persuiting his SA BASE :)

If there is anyone out there who is yet to get in contact with me, drop me a mail.

"he who live longest and have the most fun wins" - i like that :)

Hey Freaks,
I will be back in your beautiful country in December for a couple weeks over Christmas and New Year. First to Johannesburg area then down to Cape Town. Looking for a tour guide for some cliffs. Thanks.
Shane McConkey

Hi Shane!!

will be great showing yo around! PM me or see our website for contact details of local jumpers both in cpt and jhb.
www.sabase.net

The crazy ausie that here curently has done B,A,E in a week si far!
gloei

After 6 months the South African BASE log is nearly completed! We will distribute the numbers soon. Thyere fore I please need postal addresses of all those that qualify and dates from those that might not have replsonded yet. See www.sabase.net for more.

keep having fun

can you share how many numbers you plan on issuing?