Basejumper.com - archive

Ok, unless you're living in Europe with a big cliff in your backyard, or live in Twin Falls (or something similar) most of us don't get to BASE jump every day.

So while actually jumping is the only way to get actual jump experience, there has to be some wisdom in finding supplemental training that can refine certain BASE skills with more regular frequency and safety.

With this in mind, I'm investigating the possibility of platform dive training. I have no aspirations/illusions of being the next aerial exhibitionist, I just thought it may be a good opportunity for developing/mastering dead air maneuvering skills. Maintaining/regaining stability as a priority, some simple aerials as a secondary goal/interest.

This article confirms the validity of this idea:
http://www.basejumper.com/...Preparation_803.html

So I've been trying to find an accessible diving program in Los Angeles. No one's returned my calls so far, but I'll keep trying.

But then I found this site:
http://www.hollywoodaerialarts.com/

From a personal interest level, trapeze is much preferable to diving into pools (I've been curious to try trapeze since I first saw a ClubMed commercial as a kid), but I'm more concerned with what will most benefit my BASE skill set. I realize swinging from a trapeze isn't directly analogous to launching into dead air, but there must be some crossover benefit in enhanced body-control and sense of spacial orientation. Plus, I imagine at the trapeze gym, they've got all sorts of apparatuses that can be used to simulate BASE exits (with the nets/mats to fall into - don't have to get wet).

I plan to try the trapeze thing (for fun if nothing else) and still look into diving. But it's a slow work day, so I thought I'd throw this out there for general discussion. Anyone here follow the diving path and how useful was it really? Any trapeze artists here who can chime in?

Have you heard of a Pendulator?
It's rope rigged between 2 trees
for the purpose of practicing exits.

Also...

http://www.bungeetrampoline.com/

I have done this and it was a
lot of fun & actually a workout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hro6OPnaNo

The local gymnastics place has
one of these foam pits which are
great for practicing new tricks.


In my opinion martial arts, yoga,
tai chi, dance, or any exercising
that requires body awareness
and coordination can only help.

it will be a while before i start base jumping so i decided to look into things to do besides skydiving that will prepare me for it. I went around looking for gymnastics places to practice at. The problem i found is that there are very few adult gyms and none of them want to let you do stuff on your own cause of liability reasons. I thought about taking one of their classes but i'm not so sure how well that would go haha.

Me and Alex had full reign of out local mountain Rec/gymnasium (after hours, we had the keys). it had a foam pit with a 60' ceilling and a balcony about 40' over the foam pit. balcony was for spectators at gymnastic events, but it was right above the ball pit. there was also a super-tramp or whatever they are called about 5' from the foam pit. damn that place was fun.


It also had a swimming pool, no high dive, but the pool area was a vaulted wooden structure ceiling, and there was a HUGE ladder for replacing the full spectrum lights in the back room. so, not only did we have the foam pit from 11pm-7am whenever we wanted, but the pool with our own sketchy, dusty 40' exit point.

we got the keys because Alex worked maintenance (janitor) all of high school. He would get off around 11, I would show up, we would swim and jump until we were tired then Alex would lock up. a few times a week for at least a year.

getting comfy with twists and flips is a really good thing to do.

pic is of a two way gainer when i was 18, Alex 17.

I'm a lifeguard and we have a 3m board at my pool. What should i be practicing? My belly-flops?

I never really thought the body "orientation" mattered for exit practice as long as it was the intended position and controlled. the more practice one has with jumping off of things the better. this includes anything from dirt bike jumping to cliff diving to bungee jumping.

We've been going up to a local gymnastics/trampoline gym every week. It's mostly kids training but they have an adult night.

They've got four Olympic trampolines and a foam pit (...and a ton of other cool stuff).

Not only is it a ton of fun, it's fantastic for your spatial awareness. We sat and practiced exits into the foam pit with a fast rotation gainer to get the timing down for pitching your pilot chute.




*edited to add a couple of photos...*

Trapeze is fun... did that in China It was a 2-way routine we did!
Check it out!

Picture by Clem!!

I wish i had a place like that to practice. I checked every gym with in 20 miles from me and i only found one that does like an open session but its on a day that i work.