Basejumper.com - archive

 

it really wasn't a question of IF.
it was always more a question of WHEN.

as someone once said, hopeless.

This saddens me, to know that our sport has come to this. Next year we'll be paying $80 to the USBA to own a base rig.

you left out the option HIDGAF

This is the ultimate future, base wingsuittandem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcN_1i8HHKk

+1

 

+1
Life is change...Change is inevitable and it's the only ever lasting thing...

+2

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

 
Terrific post Tree; huge...powerfully valid points and well said.

I don't. But I do enjoy legal jumps in Idaho. I enjoy bridge day once a year. I look forward to the possibility of more scenarios like this in the future. I would like to see jumps from El Cap take place without attacks from the NPS and jail time. My concern is not what other people are doing, it's the consequences that everyone will suffer as a result of failure.
At the perrine, if something goes wrong it is a possibility that could be an outcome. Why risk it?
So we all preach about not taking short cuts in BASE and now thats OK?
I know this was expected and nobody can stop it. I just fear the consequences for all of us when something goes wrong.

And as far as comparing this to skydiving, when a student freaks the hell out and completely blows the jump you got 2 minutes to fix it. Whats gonna happen when that happens from 500' and you get a bridle wrapped around your arm cause the passenger freaked out and tried to grab the rail putting you in a tumble? A lot can go wrong with this completely out of the instructors control, then you got 6 seconds (at most) to fix it and get that big ass canopy to open. It's just a matter of time, and I hope I'm wrong, I do.

 

Don't or can't? (nice pic BTW) I hope so man, I wish the best of luck to those involved, but I am skeptical.

I am just wondering how many of you guys have access to this account Dorkzonehero. Your statements and opinions is quite contradictory.

Should be taken very light

Your right so I changed it to better suit my true personality.

It is bad for the sport as we know it.

But whatever, it is hopeless.

BASE has turned into skydiving.

Maybe that is not that bad.

I don't really have a problem with it, it just doubles the amount of muppets getting into the sport.
Now people will say "I went BASE jumping" just like people say "I went skydiving" when all they did was a tandem.


Abbie- I''l be your video flyer.

Yes some will, but so what? Some will also say they did all sorts of shit that they didn't even remotely do.

Besides, making a BASE jump is really not that hard. There are objects, especially low bridges over deep water, that require little or no skill.

Rather than worrying about the watering-down of BASE, two questions need to be addressed.

1) Who gets to be a tandem BASE master, and who (if anyone) will regulate?
As it is right now, few people have a tandem BASE rig. But at $300 a pop with nearly limitless students, buying a $4000 custom "tandem" BASE rig will be quite affordable. One good weekend could recoup all the costs, followed by very lucrative profits.

Will Apex or Morpheus regulate to whom they will sell tandem rigs? Or will Twin decide who gets to be a tandem master?

2) How will the public at large react when a BASE tandem goes in or is badly injured?
My hat's off to Abbie for having the nuts to be first to commercially offer tandem BASE (more or less). If others follow, some non-jumper will be injured eventually, especially when more people get into it. Think of normal tandems, even with the most rigorous safety people die every year.

+1 to about the last three posts, thats all i am saying, it's not the care of anyone doing it, it's the result when something bad happens. Are my reasons selfish? You're damn right. Will I hold those doing this responsible when the bridge gets shut down because some 18 year olds ass clown wuffo's parents sue the shit out of the Ohio government for some guy throwing there son to there death...yep.

What does the Ohio government have to do with the Perrine Bridge?

Oops...my bad, whiskey taking its toll... Wisconsin...no...Montana! Shit! Idaho! Potatoes! Tater Bridge! Yay! Excuse my stupidity...

I made my first jump in Ohio, somehow the two got confused...

the selling of, Tandem BASE is pretty illegal off the Idaho bridge, (don't think) that any commercial operation off that bridge is legal ? . So Tandem BASE is an 'outlaw/bandit jump' & that is BASE @ it's finest .
.

I can't argue that, first fee-sable point I've heard.

 
Is it illeal? If that is the case what about all the first jump classes going on out there? Can any one elaberate on the facts of this?

Lee

You're a little behind the power curve on this one, Matt; that happened back when BASE-specific gear became available.




I'm sure that's very comforting to the loved ones of the people who died "when all they did was a tandem."

And please correct me if I'm wrong, but you must also think it's inaccurate of people to say "I went flying" when all they did was sit in the passenger seat.


44

 ( Technically ), maybe Yes, but it is not so visually violated like (for example), Bungee Jump operation that advertises and camps-out on the bridge for the whole day, hucking people off it for money.
BASE student jumping instruction that is sold to a customer . It is flying so 'Under the visual radar' & almost no one can visually see it or distinguish between a normal BASE jumper that is fun-jumping-off & a paying BASE Student, being put-off the bridge. It just looks and falls in-line with the normal legal BASE activities going on there on a daily basis .
Same goes for the possible Tandem BASE jump. BASE jumping is legal off that structure & also legal from the County that owns the landing area below, town-side of the bridge. The Wuffo Passenger is also playing & willing participant In the state of Idaho. & so far Idaho says that 'You alone' are responsible for your life in the games you play in legal sport. I think so far there have been @ least (?-what-?) 5 fatalities off the easiest & non-technical & probably most jumped object in the world . but-All were jumping under there 'Own Power'. I think the closest Litigious action against BASE in Twin so far was the family/father of one BASE jumper fatality but I think he gave up and got worn-out as he & his legal parasite finally came to the conclusion that in the end, his son was responsible for his own actions. But you never know. & that is the key words, " you never know" As anyone can fall under the thumb of some professional blood sucking parasite lawyer.
.

"As anyone can fall under the thumb of some professional blood sucking parasite lawyer."...........

Fuck yeah Ray, after all this is the United States--the most sue happy country in the world.

Definitly one thing for a jumper under their own willing power to go in, but a married housewife with 4 kids on a tandem BASE.......holy shit watch those fucking lawyers come a runnin'.

Good luck Twin crew, props for havin the steel down there to move forward on this....Godspeed!!!!

Beside the pilot jumper, It would be the city and county and state that would also be sued if a major accident happened.

Supposedly with the Idaho Fair Access law (Tom A. could explain that better) sueing the state would be waste of time. While the law gives citizens fair access to state property(bridges, state parks, etc.), it also covers the state's ass in case of misuse.

And Ambulance-Chasers will go after everyone involved. No matter how small their involvement. The companies that make the subcomponents nessacery to make a complete rig will also be sued just as they've been in skydiving cases.

It's sad that you could sue a place for allowing you to jump off a bridge.

Looks like tandems are already being taken to the next level:

http://tinyurl.com/3y3vayt

My inner snowflake has just melted.

I witnessed a tandem base jump today. It was pretty cool. It worked well too.

Tree, where do I send my application to be a Tandem Master? I'll have to make it out soon to see you clowns. Miss you guys. Kick Abbie in the nuts for me please.

 

Tree,
What are the odds that I could be the pax if I pack it up?
For free of course!