Basejumper.com - archive

General BASE

Faber
Shortcut
BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Any experience about beeing a BASE-jumper at a DZ?
I`ve just found out that im out in the cold.I have been a BASE jumper for aprox 5month,but have been quiet about it.Afther my accident 2 month ago,most of the DZ found out what im up to.Before that i were going to be a S/T-instructer and Tandem marster,but now they dont want meFrown
I concider changing DZ,but will have to move out of my region(will have to travel 100km for jumping instead of 25km).
I think this so sad,i like my DZ.But will newer go futher in my Skydive carere if i dont move...
Go Hard!!!
Stefan Faber
CrazyThomas
Shortcut
Re: [Faber] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Don't let the politics get to you. Sounds almost like you live in America. Some people don't like your life choices, so they what? decide to discriminate you in their own secretive ways. Too bad it is obvious what they are doing.
Don't give in so easy. Show them that you are not a quitter, and not so easily swayed by their comments or actions.
Peace,
Thomas
CrazyThomas
Shortcut
Re: [Faber] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Faber,
Not to sound too pessimistic here, but consider this:
Wait until the BASE jumpers you thought were your friends turn on you. Then, you see who really is a friend, and who was just pretending friendship while things were good.
Because real friends will and do stick with you through good and bad times. Happiness and sadness, I can count on my REAL friends to be there for me to talk with. Even if I am rambling non-sense, or threatening my life, my real friends will endure and listen. They may not like what they hear, or like listening to me, but they WILL listen because they know I would do the same for them.
So, if you just want someone to talk with, talk with a friend. I find good things when I trust someone enough to tell them about the not-so-sweet parts of my life.
Friends. What a great concept. I should thank somebody for that idea. Thanks Friends!
Peace,
Thomas
TomAiello
Shortcut
Re: [Faber] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
This is a major problem for BASE jumpers in some places. For example, I know of one national parachuting authority that will revoke skydiving licenses if the holders participate in legal BASE jumps in foreign countries.

After I took up BASE, I spent less time (and money) at my home DZ. Shortly thereafter, the DZO decided that I was not a positive addition to his DZ, and asked me to leave. While this was unfortunate, it is his DZ, and he is free to make decisions about who can jump there for any reason, including their off-DZ activities (he once threw a four way team off his DZ for drinking beer out of glass bottles).

I guess this is just a case of having to make a decision about what is important to you--this particular DZ, or BASE. I picked BASE, and this incident was pretty much the end of my skydiving career. Now, a few years later, I am thinking of picking up skydiving again, at a different (and more BASE friendly) DZ.

My advice is to move to the next DZ, hope they have better attitudes about BASE, and keep jumping. I doubt it's worth putting any more effort into your old DZ. They have made their feelings clear, and you probably won't be able to change them.
rfarris
Shortcut
Re: [Faber] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
okay Faber....I couln't pass on this one.

This has "Jerry Springer" all over it. ( SorryBlush ,just a little American humor.)

Sounds to me like something is missing from this episode, though. I mean, are they against you because of your BASE jumping, or is it that, plus something else?
I have a hard time imagining why a DZ would discriminate against you just for being a BASE jumper, who had an accident and got injured.

There are alot of BASE jumpers here in the States that hold ratings such as ST&A, Tandem, AFF, etc...., and are active in those postitions.

One thing I'd deffinately not do, is move to a different DZ. Stand your ground. Hang in there dude! You've got the best of both worlds going for you. You want to progress in the great sport of skydiving, and, you want to continue BASE jumping.
I know this does not help you much, but, I don't think anyone else but you knows the answer to your problem.

Rod
TomAiello
Shortcut
Re: [rfarris] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
I have a hard time imagining why a DZ would discriminate against you just for being a BASE jumper

I don't have trouble with that at all. The USPA is a bit nicer now, but historically, their attitude toward BASE has been far from accepting. Last I heard, the BPA was even worse. Don't even get me started on Finland...

I have been to several DZ's that openly discriminate against BASE jumpers. It's just a fact of life.
CrazyThomas
Shortcut
Re: [rfarris] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
 >> okay Faber....I couln't pass on this one.

This has "Jerry Springer" all over it. ( SorryBlush ,just a little American humor.) <<

Sounds like BASE board. Why even say that? Maybe he has no clue what Jerry Springer is, so how would he enjoy the joke? Or are we just being American and thinking we are funny?

>>Sounds to me like something is missing from this episode, though. I mean, are they against you because of your BASE jumping, or is it that, plus something else? <<

Wow, another good american comment. Always paranoid someone is hiding something from us.

>> I have a hard time imagining why a DZ would discriminate against you just for being a BASE jumper, who had an accident and got injured.<<

That is why you failed.--Master Yoda.
Why have a hard time believing this? People are people. Some are good, and some are evil. Do you believe also that every police officer follows the laws and rules in enforcing the laws? I hope you don't fall into that trap. There ARE corrupt police out there, and I hope for everyone's sake, noone has to run across one. They are not fun, nor fair to deal with. Phone call to a lawyer? Yeah, right. I tried that argument also, but it didn't work.

>>There are alot of BASE jumpers here in the States that hold ratings such as ST&A, Tandem, AFF, etc...., and are active in those postitions. <<

Aaahhh....America the wasteful. But those BASE jumpers holding those ratings most likely have to break laws to BASE jump. So USPA allows law breakers to have ratings? What a great double standard. Hipocrites!

>> One thing I'd deffinately not do, is move to a different DZ. Stand your ground. Hang in there dude! You've got the best of both worlds going for you. You want to progress in the great sport of skydiving, and, you want to continue BASE jumping.
I know this does not help you much, but, I don't think anyone else but you knows the answer to your problem. <<

How do you know that doesn't help him? What if that is what everyone is telling him? Another sticking point, here:
>>You want to progress in the great sport of skydiving, and, you want to continue BASE jumping.<

What, BASE jumping is not a great sport? Look at what forum you made that comment in. Not a skydiver's forum. Have you ever BASE jumped? I believe it is the BEST sport there is. One reason, is we are self regulated. Try that with USPA.
Sorry. I didn't mean to flame you Rod. Or seem like I was being mean. I just wanted both sides of the story out on the table.
Fair enough?
Peace,
Thomas
Jessica
Shortcut
Re: [TomAiello] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
I have been to several DZ's that openly discriminate against BASE jumpers. It's just a fact of life.

Then there's a DZO I know of who let a BASE jumper go up on a tandem backwards then unhook at 1K and hop off. Yeeha!
TomAiello
Shortcut
Re: [Jessica] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
Then there's a DZO I know of who let a BASE jumper go up on a tandem backwards then unhook at 1K and hop off. Yeeha!

Oooh. Where do you live? Can I come and play, too?
rfarris
Shortcut
Re: [CrazyThomas] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
No flame taken "Crazy Thomas".

And yes, BASE jumping is a great sport. Just as skydiving is. That was the meaning of my statement, had it been taken in context.

And true, I know this is a BASE forum, which before Nov. 1st, was predominately a skydiving forum board hosted on Dropzone.com

Wink Rod
cpoxon
Shortcut
Re: [TomAiello] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
I don't have trouble with that at all. The USPA is a bit nicer now, but historically, their attitude toward BASE has been far from accepting. Last I heard, the BPA was even worse. Don't even get me started on Finland...

It's not so bad these days. Two (at least, to my knowledge) of the current Council (equivalent of the USPA BOD) of nine are jumpers (one of whom I believe was there when "Frank was pushed"?). It's still a bit of a grey area. Officially, the two sports have nothing to do with each other but as a lot of fixed-object jumpers are also skydivers in the UK (and therefore a member of the BPA) they are technically at the mercy of the Council if in their opinions they have bought the sport "into disrepute".
460
Shortcut
Re: [TomAiello] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
At my old DZ, which is out of business now, they let me go up in an unterthered hot air balloon and exit from 1000' with a single parachute base rig!!! We even had pictures of base jumping on the walls near the manifest!

Ahh, the beer stories and body shots I could you tell you about. I wish they were still around. Unsure
PhreeZone
Shortcut
Re: [460] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
There was a place letting jumpers out of Balloons from what ever altitude they wanted out for a bit this summer. They were allowed to take any rig they wanted. I saw some Base and regular skydiving rigs on those loads. Some wingsuit jumpers on base rigs going out at 5k and flying till 500.
3fLiEr
Shortcut
Re: [Faber] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
I find the negative attitude from people at the DZ mainly steams from jealousy. Suddenly you are involved in something they can not do / wont do and they will focus negativity toward you for this.

BASE has been an eye opener with regard to friends and family. Amazing how a sport shakes your life up!

Take one step back and let it go over your head.

Be Safe........................Be Low

Sly
skymedic
Shortcut
Re: [3fLiEr] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
weren't you having problems with your DZ prior to you starting BASE jumping Mike?
CrazyThomas
Shortcut
BASE attitude, or BAD attitude?
I don't know Mike's story, but I was having problems with my DZ before I started BASE.
See, I pulled my reserve immediately after breaking off from a four way. When asked what malfunction I had, I said none. I just wanted to fly it.
WOW! The turds hit the fan at full speed then. They gave me the boot for a year or two.
I could have lied, and said I couldn't find my pilot chute, but I thought then that honesty was the best policy. Not so with some DZ's. So, a lesson in life I finally learned, is:
"Just tell people what they want to hear."
It doesn't have to be my opinion, or the truth. It just has to be what they want to hear, and they will think better of you, because what you said was pleasing.
pfffff... And they thought my low pull was a brain fart, or a loss of alitutde awareness. Really, I guess it was a loss of alititude awareness. I was so high still that I couldn't see the trees on my level yet. So, I pulled around 1800 feet just so it wasn't SO obvious that I was humming it, so to speak. They would have had heart attacks if I pulled where I wanted (aka: right around 500 feet).
but, I was trying to be a good guy there, and trying to keep people happy. So I told them a big fat lie. Yep, I lost altitude awareness.
HAH HAH! Fooled ya guys.
I don't know if USPA would even let me back in if I paid the money for a membership. Maybe they have read some of my posts.
And know that I just don't care anymore, about anything. Especially stupid rules like pull altitudes. I know, I know, meant to give us dumbies time to deal with a malfunction. Too bad I jumped a sorcerer a couple times. Now there is a slick rig.
Sure, pull by 500 feet, and still have time to cut away, if action is quick.
And in BASE, action is QUICK!
Peace,
Thomas

"BASE jump? OK, where? And what? And how high is it?"---Crazy Thomas
3fLiEr
Shortcut
Re: [skymedic] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
I had some trouble with being grounded several times for low pulls or low hooks. BUT they still allowed me to jump there when they could have easily banned me. I was even told by the DZO that BASE had calmed me and I approached skydiving more safely than perhaps I previously did.

But thats really academic as I dont really skydive anymore.Cool

Be Safe.............................. Be Low
Faber
Shortcut
Re: [3fLiEr] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Thanks for the input(evrybody).
I had some minnior problems before i started BASE.I do like pulling low(my Pro-track tells that).That was one of the reasons to start BASE-jumping.I dont think that my Crossfire 99 is the rigth chute to play that game.The chute Were/isw also a problem. i do have the smalest canopi at my DZ(this is a small old DZ).I also intruduced freeflying to the DZ. all thes were/is not good in the ears of thouse old pepole that runs it..
They didnt neew that i BASE`ed before the accident,and they were told by rumors.

Acctualy i just wanted input from some of all you guys and girls about what you did when it was public that you were into BASE.

Thanks again.I think ill figth for the new generation,of skydivers(and maybe BASE-jumpers)in this region.

Be Safe!!!
Stefan Faber
blair700
Shortcut
Re: [TomAiello] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Tom I too know a DZO who will let you do multi ways from 2000', he also invited me to an airshow where I did a 2 way with a skydiver from a Helo at 5500', I played with my buddy for awhile, videoed his opening, then turned and tracked over the runway and dumped around 600' (I know...a high pull:), but the crowd loved it...."hey man.....pull yure' strang!!!!!!!!!" Look us up when you come East.
3fLiEr
Shortcut
Re: [blair700] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Very nice!
suz
Shortcut
Re: [Faber] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
(will have to travel 100km for jumping instead of 25km).

Hey don't think that's a bad thing, I drive two hours to get to my dz...it's great. Because it's a big trip.I'll plan to stop at waterfalls on the way, or have a beer at this runned down old pub on the highway. I love shopping in a totally new town, and feel the different atmosphere, being in a different. I'll go once a month, and have a ball. stay there all weekend and run a muck. Otherwise, you miss out on too much, if your pissed that you had to "drive for hours"
mickknutson
Shortcut
Re: [CrazyThomas] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
>> okay Faber....I couln't pass on this one.

This has "Jerry Springer" all over it. ( Sorry Blush ,just a little American humor.) <<

Sounds like BASE board. Why even say that? Maybe he has no clue what Jerry Springer is, so how would he enjoy the joke? Or are we just being American and thinking we are funny?

>>Sounds to me like something is missing from this episode, though. I mean, are they against you because of your BASE jumping, or is it that, plus something else? <<

Wow, another good american comment. Always paranoid someone is hiding something from us.

>> I have a hard time imagining why a DZ would discriminate against you just for being a BASE jumper, who had an accident and got injured.<<

That is why you failed.--Master Yoda.
Why have a hard time believing this? People are people. Some are good, and some are evil. Do you believe also that every police officer follows the laws and rules in enforcing the laws? I hope you don't fall into that trap. There ARE corrupt police out there, and I hope for everyone's sake, noone has to run across one. They are not fun, nor fair to deal with. Phone call to a lawyer? Yeah, right. I tried that argument also, but it didn't work.

>>There are alot of BASE jumpers here in the States that hold ratings such as ST&A, Tandem, AFF, etc...., and are active in those postitions. <<

Aaahhh....America the wasteful. But those BASE jumpers holding those ratings most likely have to break laws to BASE jump. So USPA allows law breakers to have ratings? What a great double standard. Hipocrites!

>> One thing I'd deffinately not do, is move to a different DZ. Stand your ground. Hang in there dude! You've got the best of both worlds going for you. You want to progress in the great sport of skydiving, and, you want to continue BASE jumping.
I know this does not help you much, but, I don't think anyone else but you knows the answer to your problem. <<

How do you know that doesn't help him? What if that is what everyone is telling him? Another sticking point, here:
>>You want to progress in the great sport of skydiving, and, you want to continue BASE jumping.<

What, BASE jumping is not a great sport? Look at what forum you made that comment in. Not a skydiver's forum. Have you ever BASE jumped? I believe it is the BEST sport there is. One reason, is we are self regulated. Try that with USPA.
Sorry. I didn't mean to flame you Rod. Or seem like I was being mean. I just wanted both sides of the story out on the table.
Fair enough?
Peace,
Thomas

CrazyThomas, you obviously have not been to BLiNC lately. If you had, you would not be seeing the type of postings you are refereing to.
Not only that, this posting you have made sounds like the same type of posting you are ragging about.

The fact about this posting, is that Faber is looking for opions from BASE jumpers about why "Skydivers" are giving him a hard time at the DZ just because he has other activities outside of the DZ.

But Faber, you are asking "Skydivers" why they are hassling you at the DZ and what to do. You are mostly going to get snyde remarks like this from "Skydivers". When a BASE jumper replies to you, you will get the true opion. Liek TOm has replied, the cold truth. You are an outcast to Skydivers for the most part. The DZ just thinks you are too over the edge, and does not want to even know about BASE. They are easy to forget that Skydiving in the 60's to 80's was just as outlawish as BASE still is.


The USPA has come around, but other countries still have not. I personally choose not to tell them anything they do not need to know. And when I leave the DZ, they don't need to know anything about my life.

I would suggest that you try to post this same question on BLiNC, as you will get thousands of BASE jumpers giving you BASE-Jumper opinion about their experience at the DZ.

And the comments made by CrazyThomas are not prevelant as I have made great strides to stop it. Works very well also.
evilivan
Shortcut
Re: [3fLiEr] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Now. Mike, be honest to the nice people. Skydiving scares you since you took up BASE.
christoofar
Shortcut
Re: [TomAiello] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Not all DZs in the US are this way (run like stodgy old men's clubs). My home DZ has a very active BASE jumper doing TM work, and one of the pilots has also done BASE. I know off the top of my head 4 BASE jumpers, 3 of them in TX, working at other DZs and they don't hide their lifestyle, even from the DZ customers.

I don't think doing BASE makes you a reckless skydiver. And certainly being a skydiver wouldn't make you a reckless BASE jumper. The best quip I have heard yet about the diff. between BASE and skydiving is: "You know ping-pong, right? Well, is ping-pong like tennis?"

As generations change the attitudes and perceptions will, too.
Zennie
Shortcut
Re: [christoofar] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
As generations change the attitudes and perceptions will, too.

My experience has been similar to yours.

For better or worse, I've never really hidden what I do to anyone (don't say *where* I go to do it, but I don't hide that I do it). At the DZ, I've found that the older jumpers are far more likely to have a "you're nuts" attitude than the newer jumpers, who frequently say "someday I'm going to try that".

I've also noticed, for some reason, that the freefliers are far more receptive to BASE than the belly fliers. Not sure if it's the fascination with speed, the openness to trying new & different things or what, but that's been my experience. And I'm one of them. Wink

It's not terribly uncommon to see BASE jumpers packing their chutes in the packing area after-hours at both of the DZs I frequent.
TomAiello
Shortcut
Re: [Zennie] Rant: Freeflyers and BASE
In reply to:
I've also noticed, for some reason, that the freefliers are far more receptive to BASE than the belly fliers.

This is a trend that many experienced BASE jumpers find very disturbing. Freefliers tend to be the skydivers who are worst prepared to BASE jump (minimal flat flying skills, no "flat is safe" reflex, little or no 7 cell experience, tendency toward swooping canopies [which are as different from BASE canopies as Pargliders]).

There have been several funny/scary incidents involving master freeflyers trying to get into BASE (one swoop god broke his leg twice in his first ten jumps, trying to land a BASE canopy in a huge landing area, and the master of Freefly (TM) reportedly failed to make one stable exit in his two week stay in Norway [even though he brought along a camera crew to shoot footage for his video]).

There are definitely some freeflyers (especially the older ones) who are fantastic BASE jumpers. But if I had to pick a 200 jump skydiver to take up BASE, I'd take a CRW jumper first, an Accuracy jumper second, an RW jumper third, a Style jumper fourth... You get the idea. The only people who seem worse prepared for BASE than freeflyers are canopy swoopers, and most of them were freeflyers to begin with.
CrazyThomas
Shortcut
Re: [Zennie] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
I think freefliers ran into resistance because they were doing something different. Similar story with BASE. I found that the people who don't understand are the people who object the most.
"I don't understand, so I think you are nuts!" Not really, I just want to expand my horizons. And try new things. I like 3flier's point about Jealousy also. "i am green with envy, because I am way too scared to try that. So I will dis you instead!"
The DZ I trained at didn't like me because I wanted to do solo, screw-off jumps rather than be on a four way that I was obviously the worst on. I was thinking that I enjoy the falling, not the turning the points.
Belly fliers........pfffff....what's new about that? Really, boxman isn't that hard. let's see, relax, and arch?
Peace,
Thomas
Zennie
Shortcut
Re: [CrazyThomas] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
Belly fliers........pfffff....what's new about that? Really, boxman isn't that hard. let's see, relax, and arch?

True. But Tom has a good point about not instinctually going to your belly for stability.

It depends on the situation, but my instancts take me into about every position but my belly. I've long since drummed that out of my head.

I can see how that would be an issue if you're unstable and need to react without thinking.

He's also right about the tendency to swoop. I'm a swooper and those instincts put me in the water at Bridge Day. Blush

I've been doing practice hop-n-pops just to learn different canopy flying skills.
Zenister
Shortcut
Re: [CrazyThomas] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
i'm sure if we think a bit we could name a DZ that sponsers a team, many of whom are also BASE jumpers

(hint a number of them hung out in europe after the world meet.)

i have yet to run into anything resembling predjudice on my DZ, other than the "you guys are nuts" comments. In fact they build BASE rigs right next to the school

Smilei miss home...Smile
78RATS
Shortcut
Re: [3fLiEr] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
"I find the negative attitude from people at the DZ mainly stems from jealousy. Suddenly you are involved in something they can not do / won't do and they will focus negativity toward you for this."
______________________________________________

Spoken like a freeflyer


Cman # 260799
Faber
Shortcut
Re: [mickknutson] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Reply to Suz:
My local Antenna "lives"20km from me whit freindly farmers allaround,i think i just would stop skydiving and go for BASE.

I does think that BASE is the greatest,but i also love Skydiving.

Mick,i didnt ask at the Board,becours i didnt wanted to start one of thouse discus as you know.I hope that BASE jumpers on the Board will realize that they maybe scare (new)pepole as me.Maybe its becours i dont know the humor,the pepole or just my poor english so i misunderstand.Buttonline think i just felt me too much a newbie.Ill give it a shot.

Peace!!!
Stefan Faber
Faber
Shortcut
Re: [TomAiello] Rant: Freeflyers and BASE
Think you are rigth Tom,if i had used more time at a largder Canopi in stead of my Crossfire,i migth just were out jumping now..Lesson to meBlush

Stefan Faber
3fLiEr
Shortcut
Re: [Zennie] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
True. But Tom has a good point about not instinctually going to your belly for stability.

It depends on the situation, but my instancts take me into about every position but my belly. I've long since drummed that out of my head.

Sorry but none of my freeflying instincts are with me on a BASE jump..............

Different game ......... different approach..........

Be Safe
Zennie
Shortcut
Re: [3fLiEr] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
In reply to:
Sorry but none of my freeflying instincts are with me on a BASE jump..............

Different game ......... different approach..........

Just to clarify I haven't had to deal with unstability (other than the usual newbie head-downs... and those I just ride out), so maybe I would react correctly, but I think it's a legitimate concern to keep in one's mind.
Faber
Shortcut
Re: [Zennie] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
i wonder if Eddi Murfie went as a freeflyer afther Dropzone, cours i think it look a bit like a stand while he launce the building in The art of war.
Think this is for talk back forum,ill move it to there
skypuppy
Shortcut
Re: [460] BASE-jumper at DZ`s
Back in the old days I remember one of the jumper's was having a party at their place close to the dz...

Being recently returned from Bridge Day another guy and myself decided it would be alright if the pilot could just fly us over the party at Bridge height (ie. 876')...

It really looked like the ground was close and going by fast! But we figured we weren't used to spotting at 900' so it was bound to look low...

We exited - I had a pc hesitation but got open and turned around toward the party before landing...

Turned out it looked low for a reason!!! We hadn't realized the house was about 400' higher than the airport - we'd actually gotten out around 500'!!!

After the jump, figuring costs of $1.00 per thousand feet, we both went up to the DZO and gave him 50 cents...

Skypuppy