Basejumper.com - archive

For those of you who've attended Bridge Day in the past, what changes would you like to see for 2008? Are you happy with what we're offering, or would you like to see something new this year? If you have a complaint, we're happy to address it as well.

Keep in mind that some things are out of my control, such as making it a week-long event. However, if that's what you want, please let us know as we might pass your comments on to the Bridge Day Commission. We'll always try to improve the event each year and your ideas will help us immensely.

Bridge Day Website

Toplees girls on the jump platform and bottomless girls in the landing area.

Thanks Jason . . .

Here goes!

A Fayetteville locals Adopt a BASE Jumper Program. The biggest expense I have at BD is that crappy ass Holiday Inn. And I can still smell that carpeting in December. Locals could sign up to home stay visiting BASE jumpers, drive us around, feed us home cooked meals, and we'd bring the host family to the launch point to watch us jump and kind of counter-adopt them. After a few years of this the bonds between us and them would be as strong as the steel in the bridge. "Aunt Emmy, please pass the mashed potatoes, and oh what was I saying, oh yeah, those Rangers . . ." When the showdown comes, and it will, we need the townies firmly on our side.

A dedicated media relations person. We still have print reporters wandering around BD aimlessly. This person would stay with them all the way and educate them to BASE jumping while steering them to jumpers who are prepared and knowledgeable enough for interviews. Right now the quotes they get are hit or miss as far as making us look as good as possible. And left alone they will naturally gravitate to the guys in the pig masks again . . . Today's media is used to being hearded around so lets control them. There should also be a small area at the rail reserved for the Press so they can rotate in and out to get their photos. "So you work for the local student newspaper, that's great, oh what was I saying, oh yeah, those Rangers . . ." They would also receive pre-prepared media kits and made to feel welcomed and appreciated.

A BASE Booth. This should be amongst the Funnel Cake and Girl Scouts booths that line up on the approach road to the bridge. Manned by a few good looking BASE jumping girls and guys they could hand out flyers to educate the public to the problems we are having. Jason, this would be all the things you've been saying all along. The arguments for an expanded BD, the rising NPS induced costs, the whole nine yards. "And oh yeah, those Rangers." We'd also have BASE rigs for folks to try on and have their pictures taken in them, packing demos, and cool BASE videos and music playing. We should be selling t-shirts too and if I could get Marta or Anne Helliwell to sit still long enough a BASE kissing booth. "Kiss a BASE Jumper for Luck" would sell a lot of t-shirts . . .

We could also raise money for the cause (lawyer money) in other ways. How about a BASE tandem raffle? Chances are whoever wins won't come to collect, but if they do, so what, they’ve been done before at Bridge Day before. And once under canopy you could tell your passenger, ""And oh yeah, those Rangers . . ." Okay, that one's a stretch, but I'm just thinking ahead . . .

Jason, you know I've been to Bridge Days under every organizer since the Jean Boenish days and I know for a fact you've done the best job overall. So the above is me just thinking outside the box. And I'm willing to help with any of the above except for sitting in the BASE kissing booth – yeech! . . .

NickD

A larger packing area

Vending Machines that Dispence water beer
Bags of cociane extasy and Zanex

just think of the possibilities

How's about a rope swing exit?

Hookers that are ready to let us do blow off their ass when we land.

Now that would rock!

What about a stunt man launching pad?

Jason, I like Nick's ideas enough to volunteer myself for any of those jobs as well.

a couple of these, next to the diving board & rope swing . . .

Music/D.J in the exit point and the packing areas.

An organized way to send packing tools to the packing area at the bottom and have them brought out at the end of the day.

Hey Nick,

Wearing a pig mask is cool. You should try it. In addition to easy camera time with the press it usually gets me a few fat chicks Saturday night!

I'll be happy to loan you an extra.

With that said I really like your "Adopt a BASE Jumper Program".

Jason: Keep up the great work. As for the rangers. I like them. They scare the amatures off our bandit loads.

RickHard

GREAT ideas so far....please keep them coming. I'm already planning on implementing several of your suggestions. Many thanks.

Yes... Or even a pile of rocks for container weights... It was amazing how the packing area was perfectly rockless and all the sticks were too soft to hold any pull against your rig.

to add to NickDG's booth idea...

can you find someone artistic to paint a sheet of plywood? create a jumper in freefall, with the bridge above and behind. then cut out the face so all the spectators can poke their heads through for a picture. (Im sure you've seen something like it at a carnival.)

maybe add a phrase like "Only in West Virginia!" help get the locals to feel like they participate.

http://apexbase.com/...iew.asp?idproduct=66

All you need... now when can expect my free stuff, Triax?

1) Since I skydive with Pope (he works video, I do AFF), I think I know the stuff he makes.

2) I really don't like the idea of jumping with a 6 inch metal spike on my body. I rather jump with a 6 pound round rock. Round rocks don't puncture your heart.

Oh, and sorry pope.... If I was going to use a spike (which I often do), home depot sells them for about $0.15 each, and with the way I lose things, that is the correct price for my needs....

How'bout a raffle for a "FREE" pass, or for "HEAD OF THE LINE PRIV'IES"?

What about going off from the cat-walk or the edge of the steel?

What about legal night jumps?

What about a human cannon ball shot off the bridge?

Or a stack of ones and a cab ride to southern-X on amateur night

I attended Bridge Day a couple years ago. The gear inspection standards was the most bothersome part of the event. I brought three rigs... I didn't even both bringing in or jumping one of them since it's an old velcro rig from 1984. I had a K20 round packed into it. I have made about 250 jumps on it (most with squares) without a problem, with jumps ranging from 250 feet to 2000 feet. Anyway, the gear inspectors made me go back out to my car to make sure I had a 42 inch PC, which I did. I then I was told I might not be able to jump with a pilot chute with a handle. And that I might be told not to jump once I got to the exit point because I had a handle on my pilot chute. OK, that year I did freefalls from the bridge with delays > 7 seconds. Would I want a 42 inch pilot chute? Obviously not... The standards make no sense. For example, letting Brian Schubert jump after not having jumping in 40+ years but hassling experienced BASE jumpers about using pilot chutes appropriate for the intended delay. I didn't enjoy much of the 2006 Bridge Day because of this. I don't think I want to return there since the jump policing ruins any legitimate BASE fun to be had. I would actually prefer a little less organization... I think Nick's idea of being hosted by a local is a great idea. It would be cool to meet some of the local people in their homes.

460,

I have struggled with the 42" PC rule for years, so I'm interested in hearing what others think. Obviously, there are people using 38" PC's, but there is also a lot of history behind the 42" rule (fatality - 1987). If I lowered the rule to 38", will we see people with 32's? Believe it or not, we find jumpers arriving with 32's and even 28's in past years. If you want less rules, then expect a fatality every few years because there is always someone who hasn't a clue about BASE gear. Bridge Day has always had a short list of rules and it always will. It's not a normal BASE jump, but a BASE jump nonetheless. With 450 jumpers (100 of them making their first BASE jump), we have to have rules. If you want less rules, there is a great bridge in Twin Falls that you can jump anytime you want.

We have never had a "no handle" rule for pilot chutes. I have plenty of 42" PC's with handles. I'm not sure why anyone on my staff would make it an issue, but I'll check into it further.

As an advocate for less rules, do you think it was wrong for me to implement a currency rule last year in response to the Schubert fatality? No one knows the date of Schubert's last skydive, so please don't speculate that he hadn't jumped in 40 years. We're all big boys and girls here......I'm not going to call your mommy and your DZ to verify you are capable of making a BASE jump (especially when Jean Boenish, Johnny Utah, and a handful of other big name jumpers trained you).

Thanks for your comments 460, but what things should I change?

...which reminds me, last year on my first jump (HH) I was told by the staff to fold and hold my PC "this" way, on my second jump last year, the staff (two diff people) told me to fold and hold my PC a diff way?

I am thankful for the staff and the job they do, just a little confusion on what was going on. I was comfortable with both ways, it was just contradicting to what was taught in the FJC's in the past.

Thanks 428!

 
At first I took issue with this rule, but now feel it's OK. Afterall I'm sure you have people dragging in any old raggedy beater PC with at least 500 jumps on it, then lightly extracting it from the pouch while falling headdown. Probably the 2 biggest reasons I didn't go were the lengthy, inconvenient and extraneous administrative requirements along with # of jumps available (perhaps 8 hr window is possible?).

With the trouble with trying to gain access to the Catwalk or multiple days, why not try to get more time if you already haven't?

8 hour window could allow a couple few more jumps

I'll ask, but I'm pretty confident it'll only raise the blood pressure of NPS rangers, DOH, and local cops on the Bridge Day Commission. When the rappelling coordinator proposed a "bridge to bridge" (New River Gorge Bridge to small bridge) 3500' high line last year, Gary Hartley (NPS) nearly had a heart attack when I told him I'd need to make some practice jumps before BD to see if the ropes weren't in our way.

On the other hand, there is one VERY interesting positive thing that I'll let you know about this summer. Stay tuned....

Great idea, but what happens when the jumper lets go when the rope is swinging back?


Working on it.


Too much work. Do you really wanna bunk with a group of West Virginia rednecks? I doubt the rednecks would want us in their houses.


We'll have staffers handling this and we'll be handing out media kits per your comments, Nick.


Already in the works. We'll sell T-shirts, have rigs for the kids to try on, postcards, videos playing, literature, etc. Now, who wants to work it for me?


Now that'll get the NPS's blood boiling. Unlikely to happen, unfortunately, unless we use it as a bait-n-switch tactic at the vendor booth


I just ordered 180 packing clamps and we'll keep your ID badge while you pack with them. This will be a free service with donations accepted. How's that sound?


Sound like stretch, but we are investigating hot air balloons, helium balloons, helicopters, and tall cranes for pre-BD activities. At the exit point, it's difficult to come up with a new launch platform that pleases everyone. They won't let us use a trampoline, sliding boards and rope swings are too sketchy, and catapult's are rare.


We'll have music at the exit point. Not sure about packing areas, but will investigate.


We'll have something heavy for you this year. Using T-stakes might leave about 250 holes in my expensive tarps.


Someone else already has this in the vendor area.


We are thinking about doing this, stay tuned.


Already tried this. Bridge Day Commission says no. Permitting us to jump from the catwalk or edge of steel on BD might further our cause to jump from the catwalk off season legally.


Working on it.


If you find the cannon, then'll I'll consider it.


Yes, there are many methods and they all work fine.

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Things are looking positive for an exciting Bridge Day as well as expanded legal jumping at the NRGB. Cya.

Great follow up Jason, what about the following?




Can we jump from the ballons on BD? What are the issues with trampolines/ sliding boards (what are sliding boards)?

will there be a vending machine that dispences COKE and zanex and extacy at Bridge day this year or do i have to bring a massive pile of drugs again

I'm looking into the helium balloon concept. About 5 years ago, I got some prices on a French one-man helium balloon that cost about $5000US. Just tether it and the jumper releases at 800' or so.

Trampoline issue: NPS objected to this concept at Bridge Day 2003. They said it was unsafe and then they educated ME on the physics of why my concept wouldn't work. I don't think they knew my background at that time. Of course, they also forgot that everything we do is unsafe.....

Sliding board: I'm worried that friction will extract a PC or a cutaway handle during the sliding action.

I do have a concept for a "walk the plank" contraption where a spectator pulls a handle and the end of a 20' long plank drops away. But it's costly and I'm worried that $4.25 gasoline will reduce registrations this year. I already maintain a 15'x10' storage unit year-round just to store my Bridge Day ramp, diving board, etc.

TB, we're gonna have to provide.....AGAIN!!!!

Would this be cheaper: What about a dunk tank with no bottom that spectators pay a dollar to toss a ball or pull a rope to drop the jumper (er faller)

That's essentially the concept that I'm researching, but costs are the same for each. We started with a dunk tank idea, then simplified it by having only the floor drop away (spring loaded, rotates approximately 110 degrees out of the way). Remember, I have to store this thing all year long. Ideally, the "trap door" portion needs to extend at least 10' from the bridge since the jumper will be dropped straight down. Headwinds would be a problem as well. Lots of logistics. We plan to give most of the money we collect to charity. If BD registrations are strong in July, we'll build it.

Letting go of the rope on the back swing eh never thought somebody might do that....well I guess at that point it's kind of natural selection. however not really the place to test that theory though.
Maybe a minimum base jump number could make this a safer exit toy?

how about a rope lone enough where it will drop below the steel and letting people ride it down and just let go ?

and if the rope guys do get their 3500' highline, it would be cool as hell to ride it out and jump at some safe altitude.

Very good idea.

The HERD boogie used to have a Gong show that was awesome why dont you have one of them and those of us with specail talents could show case are skills

>>In reply to:
Adopt a BASE Jumper Program
Too much work. Do you really wanna bunk with a group of West Virginia rednecks? I doubt the rednecks would want us in their houses.<<

I do!

Bridge Day Night, 1988 . . .

We were packed and just high enough to make one more. There were six of us, two I knew, and the others not. We got us a ride to the rail and without much ado went over. I believe we still have the night way record there.

Anyway I wound up low and in a major line twist and crashed into the opposite bank. I limped down to the smaller bridge and crossed over but when I reached the other side everyone else was gone. I walked up (the longest walk of my life) and stuck out my thumb every time a car came by. A pick-up truck stopped for me and I hopped in the back.

That night I bunked and dinned with the Simmons family. Roger and his wife Emily and there 19 year old daughter Sue. I know it sounds like a traveling salesman's joke, but those people, and yeah okay Roger worked in the coal mines, we're anything but rednecks.

Emily's mashed potatoes were to die for, but Sue's mashed potatoes were to die for too . . . and I helped myself more then once . ..

Come on Jason, your little kid is showing. If there was a 870-foot bridge in Harlem would we be jumping with niggers?

NickD
BASE 194

Vertical Visions has only one employee most of the year - ME. My wife helps when she can, as well as Bill Bird and the other 75 Bridge Day volunteers (THANKS to all of you!). I'm pretty swamped with other things like Bridge Day Commission meetings, website updates, phone calls, hassling the NPS, etc. It seems like there are more things added to my plate each year. And lodging isn't something I'm too interested in right now. Heck, every year I somehow get involved in some kind of "BASE jumper didn't pay his lodging" or "BASE jumper damaged my hostel" issue.

Nick, I am taking your advice on other things, so THANKS for your valuable comments.

not everyone stays at the HI. I have camped with the rafters, day-tripped it, shared a cabin, and crashed at the HI. all worked (although not like NickDG's story). different people seek different atmospheres.

I do NOT consider BD an all-inclusive package deal. I see NO reason why ANY organizer must fuss over participant's accomodation. we are correctly left to our own devices.

that said, maybe a local on the BD commission might be willing to help? they conduct events few jumpers attend. I had fun talking to "Miss BD" and her two associates down in the landing zone. they sure seemed happy to chat. what if the commission added the "adopt a BASE jumper" to the "Miss BD" crowning event?

heck, it might look good on the BD commission website!

or interested jumpers can place an ad in the Fayetteville paper?

adventurous people ought to be able to sort this one out on their own...

Yes, on re- reading that I was making my point the hard way. Way too hard . . .

Sorry!

Nick

Perhaps lower the age limit by a year or two? I know a few excellent 16 year old base jumpers.

first and foremost :
a styxx cover band.

and a nacho cheese fountain. 6 different cheeses. cheddar. havarti.......gouda? gouda.....