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Hi everyone,

I've finally decided to go ahead and follow my desire for more extreme sports, starting of course with freefall. Truth is, I'd go for skydiving but I really couldn't afford 250+ per jump. Anyway, I've always found BASE jumping to be way more awesome (especially wingsuits).

A couple of problems though: First, it's pretty obvious that I can't just go jump off a cliff from day one, I need practice first. Can anyone give some insight on this? What do I have to do before I can start jumping?

I'm also wondering if I'd need some kind of permit to be allowed to jump, and if there are any legal restrictions on BASE jumping.

Finally, I'd love to know where are some good sites in Montreal if anyone would be able to help? Maybe in PM if it's a controversial site...

Thanks in advance :)

$250+ a jump is only if you keep doing tandems w/ video or AFF level 1's.

as of recently BASE jumping has gotten a price tag on it too, and for some people it costs $260 just to spectate on the ground.

I see, so if I passed higher level AFFs it gets cheaper. Is there an estimate you could give me in that case?

I'm not sure I get why you have to pay for BASE... don't I just need my equipment and a jump site?

Lodi California is the cheapest place on this hemisphere for skydiving. Save your money and wait for summertime and travel down there for a month and get it done. You can stay on the dropzone for free so long as you do the odd project or two for old man Dause. A few thousand bucks can go a long way down there.

Dude, you forgot to include the
monthly costs for goggle insurance

I finally decided to learn how to drive, starting of course with Grand Prix. I'd go for driving lessons, but really can't afford to actually learn how to that gas thingy, and brake button work. Anyway, I've always found 800 horsepower to be way more awesome

Can anyone give me some insight on this? What do I have to do before I start to drive? Are there any legal restrictions if I learn in someones back yard? Where are some good spots near me if anyone would be able to help me?

Seriously, if you can't afford to skydive first, go buy a bunch of dvds and enjoy. Otherwise you WILL die!

You Canadians always had a sense of humor

I realize I have a LOT to learn before I can be able to go jumping, I'm just not sure if there's a specific route I'm supposed to take, even if I can't bypass dozens of tandem jumps first. Lessons here are about 1000$ which I'm assuming is AFF1 so I dunno if that's enough.

In other news, I just became an uncle. woot!

Although there is some humour in Lonnie's post (made me laugh), there is also a whole bunch of reality. I do know several people that got into BASE without skydiving but they have always had some sort of crossover experience such as competition acro paraglider pilots or that mixed with a gymnastics background that brings body awareness.
It is not as easy as the videos look. You don;t just step off and pitch and hope for the best. "The List" is full of BASE jumpers with more talent and skills than you or I will ever have. It is complex, unforgiving and just plain stoooooopid when ya come right down to it.
Over the winter, save some $$ and start skydiving. If that is too much effort then BASE will be way tooooo much effort, trust me.
I have people asking me to help them get into it quite often and these days, they all want it easy and cheap. That gives me zero inspiration to help them.
Skydiving is a blast, try it out for a few years. BASE will always be waiting when you are ready to get hurt.......

I'm sure you've found some of these responses a bit abrasive; I'll tell you why.

First. A week doesn't go by without someone starting a new thread nearly identical to yours. What I am implying is this(and I could be wrong). You didn't do any research before you posted. Are you required to? No. However, the more proactive you are it will show you're serious. This will give you a higher chance of someone taking you serious. BASE isn't a sport where folks will hold your hand. You're not going to get a power point presentation before each jump. Nor will you get a formal critique after each one. It'll be more like this, [if you live, you didn't mess up too much]. Be PROACTIVE; do your research...the search block at the top right of your screen will provide you hours of reading.

Second. Saying you'd like to get into BASE without having done any skydiving isn't a great thing. Are there folks who BASE without having ever skydived? Absolutely. Will that work for you? I wouldn't bet on it if I were you! It's like this. You're trying to get into BASE and asking for help so you can skip any skydiving that might be recommended because you can't afford it. You're also saying that you don't need it. Do I have that right? Think of it this way. Most everybody that just read your post had hundreds, if not thousands of skydives before they started. People could take that as you saying you're too cool for school.

Third. You don't have a single skydive or BASE jump and you're already talking about wingsuits? WTF? SLOW DOWN BRO!

I'll recap. Most of the questions you've asked can be answered by using the search function. Do your research and after you've read and answered your questions, press on. People aren't being mean to just be mean. What they're saying, even if you can't see it, is they don't want another fatality.

Abrasive? Yes, but I certainly don't take that in a bad way. On the contrary, by voicing your concerns you guys are helping me a lot more than if you sugarcoated your answers.. and I really do appreciate that.

To answer your question, I did attempt to use the forum search tool to find an answer for some of my questions but didn't think too much of it so I opened a topic.

Now, believe me, I was never in any way suggesting that BASE jumping was an easy sport, nor am I implying that I'm too cool for school...more like I can't afford to go to school But if a bunch of experienced BASE jumpers are telling me that it's important to start by getting comfortable with skydiving, then that's exactly what I'll do.

And about the wingsuits, I think of them more as an "ultimate goal" than something I'm gonna go out and try in the near future. I mean you have to admit, it does look incredible. I'm just giving myself something to look forward too.

But thanks for the input guys, I really do appreciate it. Gonna go figure out how to use the damn search function now. haha

I just did a search of newbie and found over 42 pages of useful info. I'm shure everyone of your questions is in there. Also if you really want to get into wingsuit base just ask travisjones.

 I bet Travisjones will give him a heck of a deal on a brand new wingsuit.

ha ha ha

Skydiving will put BASE into perspective.

I had a similar attitude to yours, but after skydiving I've put BASE on the backburner for the next few years... because I didn't fully understand what I would have been getting into.

Everything is difficult.

Freefall, canopy control, rigging your gear.

It would be beyond terrifying to go straight into BASE with no skydiving experience and you probably don't know why till you spend a bit of time "parachuting", it's messy business.

Or perhaps I'm just a pussy

No, you're 100% correct. It is a messy business...but you're a big pussy too!

fully agreed...jump 500-1000 skydives, then come back here...see you on 2011...

FTF !!!

this is a common topic, here are a bunch of similar links. anyone interested in starting in the sport should read these posts.

mentor in TN???
I'd like to get into BASE
starting BASE ???
BASE fast track ???
Advice for a new jumper
BEGINNER
I WANT TO BASE JUMP!!!
Deciding to enter BASE
Advice!!!!!!!!!
begginer

do not miss the article section of this site.
Getting Into BASE

This is a phrase I came up with when I
first started BASE jumping 2 years ago:

Skipping Skydiving and BASE jumping
is like skipping beer and pot and just
going straight to shooting up heroin!

I noticed that you seem to be coming
around to the common sense idea,
which shows you can learn, good!

PLUS Skydiving is a lot of fun!!
And of course a little bit safer

Speaking of which, what's your opinion on smoking up before a jump? lol. Just curious

I shattered my femur on a BASE jump that gives me trouble even 12 years later, and only because I was did not have the necessary canopy skills that I could have learned and honed in skydiving. That injury nearly cost me my life and I lost 60 percent of my blood from it.

Almost every weekend I strap scared whuffos onto
the front of me and then jump out of a plane...

I distinctly notice the different levels of coordination
between people who are hung over, fat, clumsy, etc.

So NO, people should NOT be impaired before doing
an activity that has no 'time-outs' or 'do-overs'.

Skydiving and BASE are sports that look easy while
sitting in your chair and watching them but when it
you who is putting your body into a situation where
one small fuck and you can become permanently
disabled or die things get real serious quickly!!

I know your cheeky comment was a joke, ha ha,
but please keep in mind almost everyone on here
has lost a friend to jumping and seen others get
really hurt so try to take our input accordingly.

At the same time Greeny, and with all due respect. That is the thing i love about BASE.

I can have a few beers thinking the weather is bad and it clears. Half impaired i can climb a tower and go jump the arse out of it. No one can tell me what not and what to do.

FYI - There is a very accomplished BASE
jumper who goes by the handle GREENY.


Andy, I am totally with you, many times out at Twin Falls
I have climbed out, gone to Outback, had a big beer, and
then go pack and do another jump.

However, while that might be okay for us it not what you
tell some kid with zero skydives who wants to BASE jump.

Very true and i agree with that. Just saying

Completely unrelated, but I once read a story about some guy smoking DMT before a skydive. Now THAT is fucking retarded. But wouldn't the AAD kick in if something went wrong? I mean I'm not condoning that shit in any way but just saying.

P.S. for those interested here's the story: http://www.shroomery.org/...Skydiving-Experience
I warn you, do not read if you're allergic to stupidity.

I jumped from a flying pig the other day from 450000000 ft, i was drinking beer all the way down and didn't pull the "line" till 10 ft.

What a rush

Sorry but i have never seen such BS!

peace

The poster of that story has been called out multiple times, both by non jumpers and skydivers alike, nobody believes that post in the slightest.

The Shroomery is an interesting site, there's some very smart (albeit bizzare) people floating around.