Basejumper.com - archive

Hello all,

This sort of serves as my intro post as well so, HI, I'm Nick :) I have been skydiving since 2004 and have 510 jumps give or take 5. I have been reading about BASE for a while, and wanted some opinions on FJCs. Are they worth the money? Any suggestions on which are good? Apex seems to come up a lot. I'm just testing the waters so to speak :)

Thanks for any advice,

Nick

FJCs are great. Take them all. AND get a mentor.

Take them all? lol I'm not made of money :) But thank you for the advice

Defiantly take one. It is a cheap way to gain tons of knowledge and experience. And way cheaper than hospital bills! They are pretty fun as well!

How much is your life worth?

In all seriousness though, one would do you fine probably. But my whole outlook on doing multiples is that there is a possibility that you could learn one specific little something from a second fjc that you didnt learn in the first one. And that little thing could possibly save your life.

In base your learning process is never complete.

How many courses did you take?

I haven't taken a BASE course yet, just wanted to see if anyone had opinions on any specific ones out there.

Participated in two. Would like to more as well but $$

when you ask for opinions on parachutes/containers/FJC's/etc., be aware most people will rave about what they know. for many, it will be ALL they know.

thus there tends to be a built-in bias.

Do you teach a FJC course hookit? If yes, can I pay you in alcohol from my place of employment?

I would recommend Johnny Utah's course. Johnny has been teaching BASE for years and knows his shit.

I found that the Apex course is too short. Starts on a friday and usually done by Mid-Sunday. It doesnt cover enough stuff.

I never took Johnnys course but I was there when my fellow jumper did and I was impressed. He really focuses on how to deal with malfuctions and drill dives.

At least give him a call

Kevo

hi,

i know tom with snake river base is running a FJC on may 21-24. he had 3 in the class and 2 cancelled. He is still running the class and there is space. i know of a guy that took both toms class and another popular fjc. toms class is excellent. if u need more info PM me here.

p

Yes, take a FJC, and that will help answer many questions and help get you ready for BASE, But thats just the start. After the FJC, if you still want to pursue this sport, Finding an Experienced Mentor and spending several months in an "in-depth" one-on-one training program is going to serve you far better.

FJC's are a good start, but not long enough or in depth enough to have you out scouting/ opening/ and jumping objects on your own. Spending solid time with a experienced mentor will prepare you for all of the other elements in Base.

Thanks for all the replies, good info. I am still reading a lot of articles. Any thoughts on whether I should wait on buying gear and use "rental" gear for the FJC as some of them offer that? I guess I'm not even sure I'll stick with it, but I have a feeling I will, seeing how my skydiving went :)

Rent for FJC......

Fair Enough....

Why do you say that? I bought for mine and thought it was kinda cool to learn on my own gear during the FJC so that when I got home, I didnt have to get aquainted on new equipment on an unfamiliar new object.

I rented for my FJC and soloed my first A after on my gear. Getting acquainted on new equipment is no big deal, so long as all equipment is BASE specific and similarly loaded. I went from a Prism/ Dagger 280~ to a Apex DP/ Flik 293. Buying or renting for your FJC is a personal decision and I don't think it matters much one way or the other. I did hate having to wait for gear after my FJC, though.

Plus many people take the FJC and decide BASE isnt for them. A lot of times you'll find like new gear on the classifieds that was bought for FJC then sold. This also happens every year with BD.

Wow that sounds kinda dumb to buy gear if you're not sure the sport is right for you. I bought my gear because I knew I would stick with it.

at least they bought appropriate gear and didn't try to shortcut it with a wonderhog rig and a unit canopy. sometimes people are surprised by their emotional reaction to the base environment.

interestingly, the reason i think base is addictive for novelty seekers is that it's traumatic and pleasurable. trauma causes the event to repeat in one's mind, and the song jingle stuck in your head of a great jump will bring you back for more, forever. it's addictive.

Not picking on you, just curious, but how did you know?

I mean I am sure most people thing they have a pretty good idea of whether they will like it or not but how can you know for sure until you really do it? I've talked to a few people that made a few jumps or took a course and decided it wasnt for them. Their reasons included: unexpected reaction to the groundrush, unexpected exit fear, didnt like the canopy flight, didnt like the legal aspect afterall, unsupportive family, and unexpected reaction from watching the fatality video.

Basically they thought they would like it but once they experienced it they starting viewing it differently. I believe the best way around this would be for potential jumpers to educate themselves more BEFORE they buy gear and start learning. I mean I know the majority of people think FJCs are great and the way to go, but it also makes it easier for unprepared people to get into the sport. I think if someone does the proper research, initiates discussions with the right people, lurk, and ground crew a couple times then they would be far more prepared to select equipment and an FJC or mentor.

how can you know for sure until you really do it?

The truth is a person will not. They might think
this or that but Knowing comes from experience.

Plenty of people want to get married and freely
say till death do us part while others get tattoos.

Since the USA has a divorce rate over 50% and
tattoo removal is a growing industry I think we
can safely conclude that what one thinks is not
permanent and that is good because over time
we change, plus Fonzie is no longer my hero.

Indeed. Very well said, even if it is written in green. :)

Its hard for me to say how I knew, I just did. It was the same thing with me and a lot of other sports, its just my style. I think it might be a little ignorant to suggest I had a better idea of what I was getting into but who knows. I understand that a lot of people are unable to predict themselves in certain situations but I can with confidence be sure enough with myself to know when or when not to invest thousands of dollars into something. Sorry if that sounds retarded, I just don't have a scientific answer for you. Just boils down to knowing yourself well.

People like you made a lot of incorrect assumptions about me. So i can understand why you say this. Its for the most part true of a lot of people.

People like you....

We are ALL different in person than in 1's and 0's.

People I have wanted to punch in the face online
have turned out to be really cool in person & vice
versa for others when they meet/jump with me.

 

I feel like punching you in your green vagina right now.

I understand what you guys are saying, about just having a feeling and knowing. I understand because I had that feeling too. However, the point still stands, there are many people in the world who are just as confident about their assumptions only to be proved wrong later. GM's example of marriage was a great analogy. I have several friends that tied the knot young "because they just knew" and are now divorced.

So far we have been discussing someone trying it and voluntarily leaving. There is another option, and that is they just cant cut it. Many people think they can do this, but we all know it isnt for everyone. Some people try it and wisely decide they dont have what it takes. It's also not uncommon for an FJC instructor to say "maybe you should stick to skydiving."

i took same approach, although i went thru FJC, then hooked up with some good knowledgable jumpers and learned all i could. i had gear ordered before my course, knew in my bones that it was for me. whether i jump or not, it is and always was / will be in my blood.

www.pressurized.at runs courses. even though it´s in europe, especially the 10 day course in combination with their exit trainer is a pretty good option.

pm or e-mail for more info!

andY

fwiw i bought all brand new gear before doing it b/c i saw that kiki could do it, and so i knew i could do it!

Give Brandon at Badseed a call. badseedbase.com.

-Harry

You dirty jewlemming