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EVENT DESCRIPTION - Bridge Day is an annual legal BASE jumping event held on October 16, 2010 at the 876' tall New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Over 450 BASE jumpers and up to 200,000 spectators are expected to attend. For most jumpers around the world, Bridge Day is a chance to make legal jumps, see old friends, and meet new ones.

For 100+ jumpers each year, it's the chance to make their first BASE jump. For those interested in BASE training, Apex BASE will be teaching a 3-day long course shortly before Bridge Day and a 6-8 hour Introductory Course on October 15. If you're new to Bridge Day, please read our Frequently Asked Questions. Last year, jumpers from 10 countries made 871 jumps (average 2-3 per person), drank six kegs of beer, and consumed 150 pizzas. Jump slot purchases include as many jumps as you can make in six hours, pizza, beer, soda, T-shirt, shuttles, water rescue, seminars, video festival, etc.

Jumper registration begins on July 1, 2010 around 2pm EDT (18:00 GMT). Refreshing your browser around 2pm will allow the "ADD TO BASKET" button to be enabled. You will then be able to fill out the questionnaire and add a single jumper to your basket. If you have multiple jumpers on one order, please add each jumper's information separately to your basket.


The new camera angle at Bridge Day 2009

CHANGES FOR 2010:
1) Cabins, RV slots, and tents on platforms at River Expeditions as well as 30 hotel rooms at the Comfort Inn New River can be reserved immediately after your jump pass purchase. The auto-reply email you'll receive after your purchase will include a code that will permit you to reserve preferred lodging, first-come, first-served. Of course, there are numerous other places to stay in the Fayetteville area. More details are located on our Lodging page.

2) Apex BASE will be teaching our Bridge Day BASE Jump Course and Introductory Course.

3) BASE jumping headquarters (River Expeditions) has allocated more cabins for jumpers. They also built deluxe and luxury cabins that hold 8-10 jumpers, although these might not be available to jumpers for a few months.

4) Tri-State skydivers or skydiveWV.com will have skydiving opportunities near the bridge.

5) We welcome Red Bull as a main sponsor of Bridge Day BASE jumping.

6) We've begun the design of a new piece of equipment that will "launch" you to new heights next year....


OTHER IMPORTANT INFO:
1) Late Arrival Option - You can now complete the Bridge Day waiver, 2x2 photo, and video waiver prior to the event and simply show up at the exit point on Saturday morning to retrieve your Bridge Day jump pass and ID badge. This option is intended for experienced Bridge Day jumpers who may have difficulties arriving in Fayetteville, WV by Friday at 4pm. Click here for more info.

2) We're going to have a large BASE vendor booth near the upper packing area on Bridge Day. You'll be able to purchase basic BASE supplies, T-shirts, etc. We'll have BASE rigs in all sizes for people to try on and have their pictures taken in front of a simulated exit point. We'll also promote our sport, show videos, brainwash future NPS rangers, etc.

3) We'll continue the cool contests at River Expeditions such as:

• Stash Bag Contest - Simulate a BASE landing, remove full gear, and put in a stash bag in record time. We'll have a junky old rig available for you to use. Prizes go to the quickest stashers.
  
• Craziest ID Badge Contest - We see some insane 2x2 photos every year at Bridge Day that are used to make your ID badge. Now, you can win some cool prizes by having the craziest 2x2 photo. You'll still need to have an identifiable picture of yourself to comply with Bridge Day Commission rules, but feel free to wear a pink wig or shove a pilot chute in your mouth during the photo.

4) There are exclusions to most of our rules and we're pretty accommodating to jumpers who have special situations. We are not the BASE police and we want you to have a great time at Bridge Day. If you have a special situation, don't hesitate to contact us.

ABOUT US - All BASE jumping activities at Bridge Day 2010 will again be coordinated by Vertical Visions LLC, owned by West Virginia BASE jumper and skydiver Jason Bell (BASE #428, D-16725). Jason will be assisted by his wife Jennifer, Charleston native Bill Bird (D-6977), and over 50 staff members.

MORE BRIDGE DAY EVENT INFO - Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event in the world held on the third Saturday in October every year in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Bridge Day is unique in that it is the only day visitors may walk across the bridge, BASE jumpers can parachute from the railing, and rappellers are allowed to descend and ascend fixed ropes. Vendors line both ends of the bridge selling stained glass, crafts, shirts, photos, and refreshments. Bridge Day is West Virginia's largest one-day festival and is rated one of the top 100 festivals in North America.

Jumpers from all over the world will be lined up to take their turn leaping from the world's second longest single arch bridge. Most will fall from the bridge for 3-4 seconds before deploying their parachute. Then they'll spend the next 20-30 seconds floating down to the designated landing zone located on National Park Service property at the edge of the New River.

BASE jumpers have jumped from the New River Gorge Bridge every year since the first Bridge Day on November 8, 1980 (the only exception being the cancellation of Bridge Day 2001 shortly after 9/11). The first Bridge Day saw five skydivers making BASE jumps from the bridge in the early days of the sport of BASE jumping. Over the years, Bridge Day became the place for thousands of skydivers to make their first BASE jump. It is also the largest gathering of BASE jumpers each year, complete with first jump seminars, packing classes, and a BASE gear trade show.

The popular 16' commercial aluminum diving board, first introduced in 2003, will be returning to Bridge Day this year. BASE jumping aerialists from countries as far away as Australia and Russia will again travel to Fayetteville, WV to amaze the spectators with multiple flips and twists from the massive diving board before deploying their one and only parachute. The Vertical Visions team plans to have a BASE jumping film festival and some special jumps that should make for an exciting Bridge Day 2010 for both jumpers and spectators.

CONTACT US - For questions regarding Bridge Day BASE jumping, please contact Jason Bell (jbell AT vertical-visions.com), reply to this thread, or visit www.bridgeday.info. For further whuffo-type information on Bridge Day 2010, please visit the official Bridge Day website located at www.officialbridgeday.com.

ADDITIONAL LINKS
Schedule
First Timers Page
The LZ
Hotels/Camping
Shuttle Buses to LZ
Our Main Staff


-------
Vertical Visions LLC
Jason Bell - Owner
6 Point of View
Bridgeport, WV 26330
Phone: 304-933-9330
Email: jbell (AT) vertical-visions.com
Bridge Day Website: www.bridgeday.info

5) We welcome Red Bull as a main sponsor of Bridge Day BASE jumping.

THE MAN welcomes you to corporate BASE! Make sure you take lots of photos with your Red Bull can in hand.

Will they be cutting down trees or painting their logos all over the bridge?

Red Bull has been a Bridge Day sponsor four times since 2003. Congratulations, you're the first whiner in eight years.

For your information, Red Bull's sponsorship actually improves our event and we're able to offer more to jumpers (new ramp systems, improved fencing, long-sleeve T-shirts this year, etc.). Perhaps while you're at the Perrine enjoying all the sponsor-free fresh air they have, you should take the time to chat with some of the Red Bull guys. Most of them are pretty cool.

For those who didn't attend last year, one jumper actually did this for his ID badge photo and won a free harness/container.

Said jumper also tried to snort a small garter snake
into his nose at the visitor's center in Twin Falls and
got bit doing it, it was hilarious & we got it on video.

LOL...I could care less about your little bridge day or that Red Bull is now "the main" sponsor.

I am enjoying the joke of people on this forum going from "Fuck Red Bull", "Boycott Red Bull", "tar and feather the Red Bull jumpers", "manufacturing t-shirts with a play on the Red Bull logo" and then Red Bull waves the almighty $$$$ and off you go running.

To quote one guy from a thread:
Jay Smith
BASE359
Fuck Red Bull...and all who suck it's tainted teat.

Oh, boy, maybe I can get an autograph photo and a free long-sleeve T-shirt too.



Silliness...all of it.

You're the one bringing it up

Lemme guess.....you've got 80 skydives, two BASE jumps from your local antenna using a PD 9-cell, you just bought some Walmart knee pads for protection, and you're not quite sure if a smokestack is really a "B"?

Close?

Seriously though.....Bridge Day might be too much for you anyway. Red Bull has sponsored us since 2003 (long before any tree-cutting incidents) and they're pretty low-key. Red Bull won't make you hold a can or wear a jersey when you jump (unlike other energy drinks). But they will be providing free drinks to jumpers at the event. Personally, I think you'll find it quite difficult to find anyone who'll complain about them at Bridge Day because we simply give them some space in our exit point to hang out and fly a banner or wind blade.

In years past, jumpers kept asking for more fencing to separate themselves from the crowd along the railing. We were able to provide this last year ($3500 cost) thanks to our sponsors. Back in 2003, we paid for the diving board with sponsorship money. Big events like Bridge Day normally work best through sponsorships, like it or not.

So, if you don't like Red Bull, then feel free to call them and complain. However, yelling at me behind a screen name won't get you very far.

Jason You Suck
[__________________]
Red Bull Sucks
Bridgeday Sucks
Sponsers Suck
Organized events suck
Image ownership sucks
Jeeze get over yourself Jason really!
If you don't like bday or what it stands for just shut the F up and don't come. Its fun event for everyone that comes.

There always has to be some sort of JACK ASS. Cya at the log cabin at registration!!!




edited to remove one of the sarcastic comments. it inspired one reply that I've removed. I'd prefer keeping the thread from spirally out of control. -- wwarped

I think Red Bull are a better sponsor match than the "Just a Drop" people...

but, hey, what do I know?

I've now removed his classless post, twice. anyone want to get back on topic?

Bridge Day anyone?

Good job man I certainly did not mean for it to go that route. I am looking forward to bridgeday and praying for some good weather and catching up with old friends. I will be pounding Jasons server at 2! Sorry Jason! Oh and some freaking red bull in had while I am doing it!

Just'a Drop is owned by a skydiver/BASE jumper.

 

he can't respond here until tomorrow.

so, again, anyone want to get back on to the topic of BD?

I'd suggest people attend. Jason, Jennifer, Bill, and a bunch of others work hard and do an amazing job.

we should be thankful to all those who wish to contribute to the event. sponsors. volunteers. EMS. campground ownership. etc.

this year won't be perfect, but it will NOT be from a lack of effort, or too much sleep. (I don't know how Jason survives the weekend...)

'nuff said.

sounds fun, any chance we can get more details?

I don't want to give too much information out right now, but here's a preliminary design (see attached)

I got your back lane.

OK, here's a hint.....this part weights 550 lbs.

oh boy... i am excited for the carnage!

+1!!!!

SWEET!

If that is what I think it is then i strongly recommend some good shin guards

Need any test dummies?

It's almost 2pm. Let's rock......

will the servers crash this year?
(I know Jason keeps trying to smooth things out...)

Seemless invoice 5064! I love sucky bridgeday since 2002.

I'm 5065 ha

edit: Jason, I was rushing and forgot to add my mentor in the comments. Sent you an email :)

I thought I was fast to register, but I'm 10 spots behind you. Nice job with the rotating "not yet" screens, funny stuff.

Looking forward to seeing (some of) you folks in person.

-Shakey

5141 at 2:10... damn

No server crashes this year!

Registered 5087!

Thanks Jason for all that you do for the sport and all your hard work and efforts to further NRG bridge access.

I'm going next year. That's all there is too it.

I know thats right! Besides, Red Bull taste much better than 'just a drop'. It seemed like the more I drank that crap the more mine smelled. Go figure?!

Its actually a very big bridge.

hopefully that's a good sign for the rest of the year.
you monitor too many crashes already...

5139 at 2:09 haha, how many jumpers is that? 139 or 39 or what?

are the operators of this website really going to allow this

Nope...

Bringing out the banhammer as we speak.


Edit: I've hidden all the non-topic related posts from the thread to get it back on topic and also disabled whatshisface's account.


Line -> | X <-him

thank you
Jason and Jen are undeserving of such insult

we have a policy that we ban/disable users, not usernames. thus once you wear out your welcome, you have worn out your welcome. thus I have banned you for 30 days, and xmesox can disable this account.

I have also removed the various responses to this re-incarnation.

as far as the rules go...
- the only hard and fast, no tolerance allowed rule is the "no Pedophilia" rule. all others, discretion is permitted.
- complain if you want (wait, you can't). that too is against the rules, but I do tolerate some criticism. it seems like the right thing to do.
- some, like Jason who visibly give back, DO get treated better. (even though he has been annoyed at these forums as well.) if our acts encourage someone to give back and not just take, cool. his wife is the person who ensures injured jumpers at BD get the appropriate medical care, and DOES post occasionally. she is viewed with warmth and affection by many besides Jason. (fwiw, base75 actually received far better treatment than others would have gotten. he just showed zero restraint.)
- you also miss the point that we are human, make mistakes, and hopefully learn. personnel changes occurred over the last year as well.
- instead of "monitoring" previous other members getting maligned, why not step up and defend them? why not PM someone with authority? why not post in the "Suggestions and Feedback" forum, where your thoughts will stand out? I guess you did not really care about the community, until now.

to all
true, this individual can not respond. I put it out there for all to see. the hope is that others can learn, or point out where I'm wrong.

lost in all the garbage above was this comment:

Whoops, I just noticed your question from July, sorry. We've got around 410 jumpers registered as of today. Since we have several Bridge Day jump slots left, I wanted everyone to know that jumpers can also show up at River Expeditions on October 14-15 by 4pm to register and pay onsite. However, online registration is the preferred method of obtaining a jump pass for Bridge Day. Thanks.