Basejumper.com - archive

The following quote stuck with me.


I found it odd seeing this is a BASE site that someone would lead with skydiving.

While the two activities obviously share many traits, I think their are significant mindset differences.

Skydivers depend on others to supply the necessary infrastructure. They can pay others to sort all the details to the point they do not even pack a parachute. Sponsored jumpers then can honestly say that they "help" others by enabling this infrastructure of packers up to dzo's as they only focus on the jump itself.

BASE jumpers depend on themselves, or on the kindness of others. Aside for the Swiss Landing Card and Stavanger's nominal charges, no one pays to jump. There really is not a significant infrastructure to support, or provide guidance. It thus becomes difficult to link how people paid to jump actually help anyone else.

The person who made the above quote may actually think more like a skydiver than a BASE jumper. I actually do not know, nor is it that important here. I am interested in how people rate themselves and why.

I really think how someone answers this question is one of attitude rather than jump numbers. Let's be honest, 20 jumps only made a BD may not mean you are a BASE jumper. A non-jumper may consider themselves a virtual jumper if they do lot's of scouting, ground crew, PCA'ing, distraction techniques, etc. It's up to them.

As always, feel free to elaborate on your choice.

You forgot a category for "I'm on injury leave".

I made ~200 skydives and 100+ BASE jumps in the last 12 months, so I guess I must be a Skydiver who BASE jumps (as I voted).... But then again, 100 BASE jumps takes a lot more effort effort than 200 skydives.....

how about "i'm another bullshit poll" ?

600 base jumps and 140 skydives. i don't consider myself a skydiver... i just don't care for skydiving, never have.

i don't care for rules. never have. thats why i love base. no rules other than those which are self-imposed. i've always tried to do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do. not because someone else says so. damn the man. i'm a base jumper. uspa pusies big!!

You did not list my "choice" so I will state it:

I am a parachutist. I engage in multiple activities that require a parachute.

BASE jumping is a subset of parachuting. So is formation skydiving, CReW, freeflying, swooping, blade running, ground launching, style and accuracy, skysurfing, tandem parachuting, military parachuting and wingsuiting.

Each subset has it own gear, training, infrastructure and attitude requirements - and sponsored participants.

I've done a few (skysurfing) to many (FS/CReW/swooping/tandem) jumps in each of these subsets except blade running, and been periodically "paid" to do jumps in all of those subsets.

So am I a skysurfer, a BASE jumper, a freeflyer, a swooper, a wingsuiter. a...?

Yes and no. I do all of those things but not one of them exclusively and that is what makes me a... parachutist.



44

I'm just trying to have a good time. Sometimes I like to fall off fixed objects, and sometimes I like the altitude that skydiving affords me. I didn't realize that the order in which I state my interests was so important.

Michael

Edit: Although the above is mostly directed at the OP, I responded to Robin's post because, for the most part, I agree with him here. I don't think my interests are strictly limited to parachuting, since I really get a kick out of the falling part, too. But I do think that our interests are more important than the words we use to describe them.

I think the way we describe our interests says a lot about the value we place on them.

Yup, I'm a parachutist.
I prefer to use a wingsuit before I use my parachute,
and prefer to use a rock rather than an aircraft.
In lieu of rocks, other objects will suffice,
and if the objects are not so tall,
not using a wingsuit is fine.
Aircrafts are great fun.
Gravity is awesome!
Avery

+1

+1

Robin is absolutely correct in my book! I get boners from any and everything PARACHUTE..... with that said, i need to go pack