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Hi there fairly new to BASE I have 31 jumps 12 in twin falls the rest off A's around my home town and went through the Apex FJC. I was just wondering when ppl generally start doing aerials? I'm headed back to the Perrin this weekend and was considering attempting my first gainer. I have a little gymnastic's experience and have been practicing backflips off a diving board(tho i imagin the bridge is quite different then a swiming pool). I have also sent an email to Jimmy and Marta asking the same question but thought I would get more then on opinion on it.

You will know when your ready. I don't mean to be a dick but why are you in such a rush to do aerobatics anyways? Are you trying to impress some hot piece of ass or something.

Look for Dwain's article on aerials.
I think he was recommending 200 base jumps first.

I'd suggest doing your first aerials of a suitable slider up object before moving on to slider down aerials.

Not sure if you are headed to bridge day, but that is a pretty good object to try one out. I did my first last year there, then more over the winter, and did my first antenna gainer on jump #100.

Be careful!

Depends on you, your experience, and the object.

My first gainer was Perrine at jump 44, my first double gainer was NRG at jump 60, and my first triple gainer was NRG at jump 61. These were legal jumps and very forgiving environments. I didnt do aerials on a cliff until jump 74 and an antenna until jump 85. Saving the building gainer for jump 100.

Don't worry about being a new jumper, how good are you as a pilot?

aer·o·bat·ics [air-uh-bat-iks] Show IPA
–noun
1.
( used with a plural verb ) stunts performed in flight by an airplane, glider, or the like.

Not to argue semantics all day, but I think 'Aerial' is the preferred nomenclature. :)

Anyways, are you trying backflips, or gainers? I would practice gainers into water off a fixed ledge or wall of some sort. (off your roof into your pool) and see how that goes. For me, it all boils down to air-awareness; knowing what your body is doing in free-fall. If you have it, you can pull off aerial base jumps with ease. If not, it will take a lot of work, and might even be a bad idea. Just ask yourself what is motivating you to get into it so soon, and approach these jumps with the respect they deserve.

I'm not in any hurry that is why I'm asking ppl's advice if I was in a hurry I would of just gone and did it just trying to get an idea of what others have done. No worries bout being a dick it seem no one can put a post up with out atleast one of them pop'n up

I don't think you should get so caught up on numbers. It all comes down to how you are feeling at the time of the jump and how comfortable you are with what you are trying. but for me practicing gainers off of a platform dive into a pool helped (way different feeling than a spring board). Just remember you have a lot more time off the bridge, don't want to over rotate.

I can’t do aerials mainly because I don't feel at all confident about being the right way up when I pull. I can only just do back loops from an aircraft, hate being upside down and struggle with spatial awareness.

Why am I saying this? Because aerials are not for everyone and my view is unless I’m 100% confident of pulling them off, I’m not doing them; Base is exciting enough and has enough inherent dangers as it is.

I might be rattling on a bit but there are two things that always come to mind:

1 – I remember a few years back doing a front loop out of a chopper and could not stop the rotations for a total of three loops. I agree I’m not a great skydiver to begin with but it worried me how easy it is to lose control and over rotate in still air

2 – The second thing that always comes to mind is the video called something like “Pull Higher” where two dudes jumping an “E” continue to over rotate until the POV jumper almost goes in. Can anyone link that video?

I think Jordan's comments are pretty much on the money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRSlGTGWTPk

Does anyone know who those jumpers were and if they had any injuries?

that was SO close...

my first gainer was my 380th jump...next one was my 590th jump or so...but im just too scared :)

Good points, John. And don't pretend to lack experience... (This, from a guy (John Scher) who is one of the few practicing jumpers in east africa, and learned in some pretty severe circumstances.) But yeah, good advice... I like.

I had planned on doing a gainer for my 100th
but that particular jump was from a 350 feet A.

101 was at BD spreading ashes so 102 turned out
to be my 1st gainer, it felt and looked awesome!

Since then I have done several single flippy-do's
but from the NRGB, KL Tower, and Perrine only.

Single flips from tall objects or bridges are fun
and not that sketchy but... I have watched people
poorly throw multiples that made everyone cringe.

I did my first gainer on my 18th jump. It just all depends on your air-awareness. People that have backgrounds in other sports involving aerials seem to learn them quicker in BASE. Ive seen a gymnast throw a gainer on his 1st BASE jump, and then throw a triple twisting double on his 20th or something. Just remember that subterminal rotations dont just stop on their own.

Well slam me a Kotex cuz I got 518 jumps and no aerials. Honestly, it scares the shit out of me and I'm perfectly content and get off just fine face to earth!

A base jump is a base jump dude. Flat and scary is exactly that: scary! Its all personal preference.
Props for living in Kentucky. I spent the last 4 months there. Fucking humid!

well, i did my first gainer on my 8th base jump at bridge day last year. it went really well, so i did a couple more at perrine, and i've done one nice antenna gainer since. next up, doubles and barrel rolls...

go for it dude...its a bridge with water underneath it. Just step off and dont get dead