Basejumper.com - archive

Hi, I live in Australia, just turned 26 and just getting bored with life in general.
I've had one tandem jump. I'm saving up to get my A licence/learn the ropes.
Hope to learn about base jumping and possibly find another alternative to spending a few grand getting licenced and buying my own chute.
Have a good one.

I voted-"What's a licence?"

I dont have a licence, never got one, I have enough jumps to get at least a "B" licence, just never got one.

Go for it. Good luck!

You are my favortie newbie to date. By the time you BASE jump, if you get there tat is, you will have dropped not a few, but many, thousands of dollars. In 11 years of parachuting I am in the $80,000USD range. (Incl. gear, training and travel). Totally worth it. As my roomie says:"BASE jumping is my retirement plan."

But please go skydive for a few hundred jumps, skydiving is fun, and is not a means to an end.

   I would say look at the skydiving experience as a valuable investment (of time & money) in regards to your lifespan/hospital expenses if you ever get into base. Getting into base before you're ready...well when an incident/fatality occurs sure it's a bummer for the rest of us to have the sport get bad press, but it sucks even more for the person that needlessly loses all he has; it's not nearly/remotely worth it.

Hi all, thanks for the replies. I'm a little bit disorientated from the mixed messges though
I suppose they're too oposing opinons of the value in skydiving. It isn't as cheap as other extreeme sports but there was nothing like jumping out at 12.5 thousand feet (I was ripped off a bit because I'd paid for 14, which is apparently the maximum here and being my first jump this meant a bit difference in free fall time).
I really just want to jump from outter space

do you really think it is a good idea to bypass skydiving?

jumping out of airplanes:
- teaches you survival skills
- teaches you gear skills
- teaches you vocabulary
- teaches you how much you really have to learn
- teaches you how well you deal in time critical situations
- provides a safe environment to screw up
- provides standardized instruction
- provides loads of time to figure out all the various ways you can fly a parachute.
- has friendly, easy to find people eager to guide you through the process and train you
- is fun
- frequently is cheaper than BASE road trips
- provides oodles of adrenalin for those "bored with life"
etc.

(most people learn to drive on quiet roads and then progress. they don't start as NASCAR drivers...)

why would you want to bypass these experiences? honestly. what is your thinking? how good is your judgment?

Well ah, wwarped, that's my thinking aswell. I need to get qualified with my A licence and then get my own gear. I wouldn't put myself in the situation where others would need to explain why I hadn't returned from the trip.
I suppose I really should have said 'sky diving was awesome, I love freefalling the most. I want to jump from the greatest height possible.
Thanks for the pointers, I can definately use them!

you do realize most base jumps have sub 10 seconds of freefall......

please understand, we have had a string of people recently who want to start BASE jumping, but would prefer to avoid the skydiving recommendations. it gets frustrating.

if you are not one of them, cool!

Thanks again,
I understand there's little to no free fall in base jumping. I think the allure's in jumping off a place that I would normally be afraid of falling from.

I wouldn't use a parachute which I wasn't 100% sure was packed correctly, or jump without having every essential skill for landing safely. I want the thrill to last in my memory, not be in a memory without any thrills.

i'm still afraid of falling off of an airplane...

I'm still afraid of falling off barstools.

you just need more practice...and a helmet!

I reserve judgment until I've finished landing, sometimes it's funny to tumble down the road.

Hi there, welcome to the forums. Whereabouts in Australia are you from?

Thanks kiki,
I'm in rural Victoria,
which part of California are you lucky enough to be?

If you live anywhere near Nagambie (victoria) it's a great dropzone to get started at. During your aff you'll probably meet jumpers there who you can talk to about BASE as well...

Orange County. Southern california. Ive actually been to VIC twice now. Ive skydived in Euroa (since Nagambie wouldnt let me), and I loved it. Will be there for three months in the fall, maybe Ill see you at the dz.

Yeah cool, I might see yas' at Nagambie some time

Why wouldn't Nagambie let you jump? Euroa is a shithole.