Basejumper.com - archive

    I'd like to go to the heliboogie in Lysebotn in June, but getting good information is proving tough. Between the cabins and hostel and b and b, it looks like there are maybe 60-80 beds to rent in the whole town. The limit for jumpers is 120, and with the increase in base interest I have no doubt it will fill. Couple those jumpers with spectators and media, and I bet there will be 300 people there. I'd rent a car and drive, but the closest town is Sirdal, pop 1200, and the road looks rough plus there isnt much for hotels there either. If you've attended the boogie in the last year or two, it would be nice if you could chime in with some logistical advice. And do they ever have a helicopter out there other than for the boogie? Thanks.

I think you can chill til june, last year only 60 or 80 jumpers...

I wouldn't worry about it too much. 2008 was fully packed, but because of the economy and a bad weather forecast there were only about 70 of us in 2009. If you register ahead of time for the event and show up a day or two in advance you'll have a slot, no problem. A lot of the Scandinavian locals wait until just a few days before to decide if they'll come...if the weather looks like shit, they go someplace else.

If you're coming all the way out to Kjerag anyway, I recommend you spend a week or two there (four days of heliboogie and the rest hiking to the top).

Regarding housing...you can camp, stay at the B&B, or stay at the hostel run by Lysebotn tourist camp. There's also another hostel run by Hosteling International that's popular with jumpers...you can find it on the Hosteling International website.

Oh yeah, and there's no food source in Lysebotn except for the pricey tourist camp pub. The tourist camp pub will feed you well, but you'll pay an arm and a leg for it. Nearest supermarket is a good drive away (30 km? 40 km?)

as allways, check tEH old pages of the this page...GET the cart...take the food...get it into tEH ferry and be well my friend...
no worries about the expensive food or vodka ;)

Thanks for the info Posters. So while I was looking up my options to jump off Kjerag, I thought it would be a shame to haul my ass all the way out to Norway and not see more of the country or not hit a local DZ. I looked up the DZ at Voss, and lo and behold, they have an extreme sports competition going on. Looks like a cool event, but I wouldn't go just to watch. My questions are, is there anybody out there whose gone to the competition, can a newbie with maybe twenty-five base jumps get some jumps in, is the dropzone open, and can I get around the town of voss without a car? This is shaping up to be an excellent vacation.

Voss is a great dropzone! During ExtremeSports week in June they have a porter and a Beech99. Loads of space to land and good facilities. They have plenty of packers and a friendly staff!

Also during the extremesports week, they arrange a heli day at Gudvangen for BASE jumpers.. Pay for a slot and get a ride to the top, great atmosphere and tons of spectators at the LZ!

If you stay at the DZ at Voss there will always be people going back and forth from the city center. Which is 5 minutes by car.

The tourist hostel across the road from camping has really good food.

Damn, dam, dame, DAMN! I just got an email from the extreme sports people, and they're doing it one week later than normal, due to a national norwegian music and dance competition in Voss. I don't think I can take that much time off of work, not to mention the continued expense of staying in Norway for three weeks. Maybe I can catch just the first few days. The heliboogie goes from June 17-21, and the exteme sports week goes from June 27-July 4th. I guess I'd still wait to see it if I think I'll have a good time.
So for you people who've been in Voss for the extreme week, is it worth it? Another worry of mine, is it going to be traveler friendly? Or is the town going to be so full that it'll be a nightmare to find a hotel and to get around? Also, do Norwegians often speak English, or am I going to communicate by pantomime and dumb looks?

I haven't been to either event, but I have visited Norway.

The locals speak English. I seemed to blend in with the locals. I even had an American speak to me in Norwegian. When I apologized and told them I only spoke English, everyone seemed happier to talk to me.

They seem outgoing, friendly, and enjoy being outdoors.

Relax, be friendly. Bring duty free. Stay within your jump capabilities. You'll be fine.

I also heard that you need a aad to skydive in Norway now.

Nope! its not required as long as you have an RSL!

If you go to Voss, you won't have any language barriers... Most locals and shop clerks speak english. Besides there will be sooo many athletes there and they probably all speak english! There will always be basejumpers going to the local cliffs.. Many of them camp at the premises of Skydive Voss..

You`ll need a ADD from 1st of april 2010. exeptions is jumps with water landing.
cheers

The dates you are looking at for the Heli boogie are from last years event. No details for this years even have been released as of yet. There will also be no Spectators or Media to worry about...that is unless you plan on doing something stupid.

The Beaut

    I just received an email from Stein Edvardsen saying they are planning the heliboogie from june 23-26, and are just waiting on government approval for the helicopter. This is working out slick as hell. Heliboogie for four days, then straight up the coast to the extreme games in Voss. Now if I can just find a place in Voss and a way to get around. In the words of the late great Peppard, I love it when a plan comes together.

I also spoke to Stein a couple of days ago and can confirm all of this.

I am currently looking to share a ride or car rental from Lysebotn to Stavanger. Would share costs both ways if this was the only option.
Someone to share accommodation with is also a possibility if anyone is interested.

I will be landing in Stavanger on Friday 11th of June and leaving on Sunday 27th Of June.

I need to be back in Stavanger by 9am on the 27th which presents me with a problem. I don't want to miss 2 days of the heliboogie getting the ferry on Friday and the Sunday Ferry is too late for my requirements.

Also is it possible to catch a taxi from Lysebotn to Stavanger as a worst case scenario?

Thanks for the help!

Anyone going up north to the big valley after the Heliboogie? Whats the best transit there from Lysebotn?

Unless you have someone to ride along with, you can fly to Molde with Norwegian. Then you would fly from Stavanger to Oslo, then to Molde. From there its about one hour on a bus to Åndalsnes. From where you can more or less just go right, straight, or left. To whichever valley you want :P

If you fly with Norwegian they have tickets for less than 180$

You can get train tickets for less than half the price. But the total travel time is about 13(!) hours! Because you would have to go all the way to Oslo to transfer to another train!