Basejumper.com - archive

Hey there, I turn 19 this year and i have almost 200 skydives so far. i started skydiving at 16, I have a huge urge to get in to base, but am I to young?
hmmm

*grimace* Oooooh shoot I'm sorry, but the International BASE Association requires that you be born before a certain year to apply for cool base jumper status.

The formula to figure out the cutoff year is this:

CurrentYear - (20 + (CurrentYear - 2009))

At the current rate, it looks like you'll always be just one year too young for our sport. Better luck next year

Seriously, though. I started when I was 19 and have several friends who started BASE when they were 18 or 19 as well. With 3 years in skydiving and 200 jumps, you have more experience than I had

You decide.

You wouldn't be the first 19-year-old BASE jumper. And if things go badly, you wouldn't be the first 19-year-old BASE jumper to break himself.

Actually, I had the old version of the formula. Luckily for you, the newer version offers you a glimmer of hope:


Now, if the Browns win the superbowl in 2011, you're in!

Tru dat.

Think about it this way:
Jumper 1 - 200 jumps over 9 months - high currency, low observational experience seeing how other skydivers handle various wind conditions, malfuctions and life at a dropzone.
Jumper 2 - 200 jumps over 3 years - definately not as current, but will have seen more shit happening at their local dropzone.

Personally, I had 600 skydives over 8 years when I started. I felt that being in the scene for a significant period of time gave me more confidence, learning ability and decision making abilities. Although I still made many mistakes!

By being in the sport longer you may have a better chance of evaluating the serious risks your entering into when learning how to BASE.

If I am honest when I was 19, I was a lot more naive and reckless than I am now. Each persons level of maturity is different, but hanging around skydivers and ground crewing for a significant period time can only add to you as a BASE jumper.

How about doing another 200 skydives, waiting another year and doing some groundcrewing?

Being young just means you'll heal faster when you fuck up

If you know how expensive (in the US) healing has become, you know health insurance is a good idea.

At 19, you may no longer be covered on a parent's insurance policy. If you are, will it cover a BASE accident? Something to consider so you can make an informed choice.

(The same can be said about skydiving, but the injury rate BASE jumping appears to be higher...)

i was covered by my parents' health insurance until the age of 24 while I was in college. i started skydiving at 19 and started base at 20.

One thing to consider beyond experience is your own maturity. I'm not a BASE jumper, so I can't say either way, but the fact that you feel the need to ask others if you are age-appropriate tells me that you don't feel quite comfortable yet, and should hold off and get some more experience. And as others have said, ground crew, get involved. At 18 you've got plenty of time. No need to rush!

Good luck!

Part of me really envies people who
found jumping early in their lives...
I was 29 when I did my first tandem.

Of course on the flip side, I was really
probably not ready to handle it at 18.

everyone has the 'urge' to BASE. there is a difference between seeing it on youtube and thinking 'that is cool, i would be awesome if i did that' and standing on the edge and wanting the void.

I started as a teen myself. but when i did, it never crossed my mind i might be too young, nor was it expressed expressed by my mentors. Maybe the fact you asked 'am I old enough'? is a good indication that you are not.

Gnothi Seauton

I've never wanted the void. Ever. When I'm standing on the edge, the only thing running through my head is "what the fuck am I doing this for?".

The edge fucking terrifies me.

Ever figured out what your doing it for?

I like to fly. I just can't stand that first step.

Nice! I definitely feel you on the "I like to fly".

Not True. I know hundreds of skydivers that think Base is crazy and have no intention of ever making a Base jump.

...and I have met many whuffos
who think jumping from a bridge
is way safer than skydiving

Just because they have no intention of jumping and think it is crazy, doesn't mean they don't have the urge.

I would agree with everyone with its not the age that really matters, its the maturity level. That being said, i started skydiving at 17, and started BASE at 18. Sometimes i feel that i should have made some more skydives, but then again i never put myself in a situation where i am not comfortable with my abilities and making the jump. I am by no means an expert with my whole 14 BASE jumps, just more of a skydiver that ventures on the dark side, but whatever you do make sure you think about all of the possible outcomes and make sure this is something you REALLY want to do. It wont hurt anything to wait until you are completely comfortable with it. And taking a BASE course would be a really good idea.

Nugget.

Fixed

Your situation is pretty unique. Most 18 year olds I worry about what they've told (or not) their parents.

Assuming you're male and suffering from merely average levels of testosterone poisoning, you're more likely to have learned good judgement by 25-30.

Women often get sense younger. Usually the first hospital visit is enough to teach guys so many end up with wisdom before they get old. Some manage to survive in spite of themselves - the BASE jumper I met with the lowest brains to balls ratio had grey hair (led to a wall strike on a 2700 foot cliif and probably contributed to his amusing plane crash annecdotes).

You might be OK but you're probably not unbiased enough to make that call.

maturity and skills assessment. you are numbers qualified, but are you really qualified.

Im still 19 with 99 BASE jumps, and just over 500 skydives.

~Jake

I'm glad you brought up that point Drew because it's been bothering me. Males typically dont fully mature until around age 25 when they frontal lobes are done being fully formed. I know a lot of people started before this age and are still jumping. I am curious though as to how many people started jumping before they were 25 and then decided to quit after they matured more and/or their personalities and thought process changed.

Yea i guess my parents would have known considering my dad took the course with me, thanks again Tom

yeah yeah yeah, it's all the same "i want to fly", etc. etc. 'wanting the void', dreaming of freefall.

I don't think there's an age limit or even maturity level in base like there is in skydiving. In skydiving it seems you have to be older to fit in. Think about going to the bars with the skydivers or fitting in with the clicks and dropzone social groups.... Its not like that in BASE. I would say with 200 skydives you have enough parachute time so go talk to a course and get started.

-18 with 250 Base and 1700 skydives. (in yo face jake)

I've always been after the noid myself.

your call. i started skydiving at 19 and base jumping when 25. i had 2000 skydives when i made my first base jump. the only reason i didn't start earlier was lack of interest. if you are compelled to explore it now and feel confident then there is no reason not to explore further.

your profile states you have base jumps already, so why ask now?

Now I'm confused...200 skydives or 47 skydives? or 47 BASE jumps...and if BASE jumps, why this post?


~Jake

I've taken quite a few younger (let's say under about 25 or so) students in my course. Some of them are even posting here. I also learned from a younger jumper (I remember shooting video of my mentor's birthday jump for his 21st birthday--I think I had a couple of hundred jumps by then).

Some thoughts:

1) On several occasions, I've seriously considered creating an age cut off (of about 25) for my FJC instruction.

2) You know those guys who show really bad judgment all the time, and you're basically just cringing and waiting for them to go in? I'd say that my under 25 students are about twice as likely to be "that guy" as my over 25 students. And I think that understates the number in the total population of under 25 BASE jumpers, because most of those guys aren't going to take a course anyway.

3) The younger jumpers are, in my opinion, and on average

(a) more likely to get themselves into a nasty situation because of poor judgment or over-eagerness,
(b) more likely to get themselves out of it due to faster reflexes and/or better physical condition, and
(c) far, far more likely to shrug off accidents that really injure older jumpers, or to sustain much more minor injuries.

This is both good (because they're not getting hurt so much) and bad (because it tends to reinforce the bad judgment by making them feel bullet proof).


4) Because younger jumpers are generally closer to being "kids" they tend to have bigger parental issues than older jumpers--I think it's very important to address those issues openly and clearly from the outset.


5) I've encountered some younger jumpers who have really impressed me with their maturity, judgment and (yes) skill and willingness to practice. The youth and eagerness can produce a very high skill level if enthusiasm is turned to practicing things instead of recklessness. The best example of this was probably TJ, who is unfortunately no longer with us (thewalrus is also a standout there).

Kungen, I'd urge you to find some of those guys and try to follow their example (and get advice from them). I realize it's hard to tell from where you're standing who is who, so if you want to PM me I'll share my thoughts on who, specifically, I'd recommend you talk to at greater length. I'd also recommend you find someone who is now an older jumper, but who started when they were very young, and get their advice on what to avoid doing.


Bottom line: I think starting young can be ok--if you are careful not to get too carried away, or you are a naturally cautious jumper to begin with, and if you are very clear with your parents about what's going on.

That's the best part!

359

Am i to young?..... It's always good to ask questions....... any one can land at a nice groomed airport landing area......most times there is no such thing in base.....your fist question should be how accurate am i with a canopy......I'm sure there will be people who disagree but to me canopy skills are one of the biggest deals

Never had the pleasure of landing at ASC, eh ?

i agree. once you have a few friends die or fuck themselves up really bad skydiving, and witness it in person, you're views on "risk vs reward" change dramatically. if i started basejumping before those experiences,i'd surely be dead. of course now that i'm thinking about it.....i might have turned into a big wet pussy.

I agree with another that stated your asking is a good first step, but what you choose next is what can make the real difference. What are you willing to do now?
Are you willing to spend the money, time and effort to learn how to judge each type of situation in a way that will save your life. There are no reserves and contrary to some early thoughts, BASE jumping is expensive.
Are you willing to take a first base course even if it requires you to wait until you can afford to spend money to get to Idaho or elsewhere to do it? Are you willing to find a mentor in your area or travel to one with the assistance of this forum or other jumpers/manufacturers recommendation? Are you willing to learn about and buy or rent decent gear, not the kind that is on it's last leg cheap? Are you willing to look honestly at the conditions present and do what is hardest for me even to this day and climb/hike down even if from a large mountain, from an extended climb or it requires you to go back through multiple levels of building security if it is not right or doesn't feel right when on the exit point. It was hard for me to BASE jump with any kind of real maturity when I was 19, but that isn't a real issue because I'm still immature, but it was hard for my mother after being kept in the dark about my jumping to be called on her birthday by a stranger to tell her I was in a hospital in Colorado after two helicopters were used to deliver her son to the emergency room. All this happened because I wasn't willing to do what I needed to.
You're going to do what you want to, but if you are willing to learn from others you might survive with your limbs and life intact to your next birthday. This is a beautiful sport and it's given me experiences beyond my imagination and it's also one I've let cloud my judgment way to many times.
Really, I have no interest in guiding you one way or another, I don't know that anyone can, but thanks for asking because it reminded me to take a fresh look at myself and my own jumping. A friend of mine told me that "A false sense of security was better than no sense of security at all", but think before you leap because most objects and jumps can be revisited when the conditions are right if you wait.
Take care and I look forward to meeting you with a rig on your back one day.

i like big wet pussies.