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NEW JUMPERS. PLEASE BE VERY SELECTIVE WHEN CHOOSING A MENTOR OR BASE JUMPING COURSE. PLEASE USE CAREFUL JUDGEMENT WHEN LEARNING TO BASE JUMP.

THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE NOW, WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY AND THEN TEACH YOU VERY DANGEROUS TECHNIQUES- WITHOUT EVEN THE PROPER PROGRESSION.

I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE EXISTS A SINGLE COURSE OUT THERE THAT TEACHES BASE JUMPING PROPERLY. PERHAPS THE ONLY ONE I CAN GIVE CREDIT TO, IS THE COURSE OFFERED BY PRESSURIZED.

IT IS UP TO YOU AS A NEW JUMPER TO DO A 'BACKGROUND CHECK' ON YOUR PROSPECTIVE TEACHER OR FIRST JUMP COURSE.

MOST MISTAKES HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE IN THE PAST. PLEASE LAERN FROM THE PAST AND DO NOT REPEAT THOSE SAME LETHAL MISTAKES.

NOW- MORE THAN EVER, THERE IS GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE. PLEASE FILTER THROUGH THE BAD INFORMATION. DONT BE IN A HURRY. READ ALL YOU CAN. READ THE GREAT BOOK OF BASE.

BASE JUMPING HAS PROGRESSED VERY QUICKLY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. THIS IS A GOOD THING. PLEASE DO NOT UNDO ALL THE POSITIVE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CHANGE NEGATIVE PUBLIC OPINION ON OUR SPORT.

I BELIEVE, WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING, PROGRESSION AND ATTITUDE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO JUMP SAFELY FOR A WHOLE LIFETIME.

THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION THOUGH. PLEASE LEARN TO FORM YOUR OWN.

+1

Great read, thanks for the heads up!

i can't hear you, can you type louder?

If you're a UK wannabe, and not lazy or impatient, the course offered by BASE229 is the most detailed, supportive, and extensive course I have ever heard of.... its a shame that impatience seems to be a very dangerous habit across the board with doing FJC or first building or first WS or first Proxi...

It would seem that choosing a FJC/mentor is picked on ease rather than quality, and being a BASE jumper, BASE WSer, WS proxi flier is more important than the journey and achievements to these...

BASE should enrich your life, not define it...

 

That may be true, but I'd support the previous poster's assertion that their course is good. Similar in structure to the one I did with some well known guys that I trusted.

My personal opinion is that the quality of a BASE course can be judged in part by the subsequent actions of the people that go on the course in question. I can happily say that the Andys have turned out some fine jumpers, unlike some courses I can think of!

However, as you say there are others...

Maybe someone could create a separate thread/posting area where people can rate and talk about their experiences with certain courses. It could be kept anonymous, and would be of great value to new /prospering jumpers AND for the instructors as well.

I know personally that every site i've looked at, are all essentially the same in saying what they cover over the duration of the course, and that their course is the one to choose.

Just my two cents

this is one reason I recommend chatting with potential instructors. the more that people click, the more "extra" information will get revealed. if you do not click, then you might only receive the minimal amount of information.

I took Tom As course. I thought it was great. It is by far the best course I've experienced.

Apex is the best first-jump course i've ever taken.

Tom As is def the best. After his course, since there were no jumpers in my area, I went straight to solo, opened a 300' pegged A for my first A. I did SL it though, Tom instilled a conservative measured approach in me. I've never had a mentor, except when 1313 started jumping Antennas shortly after me we would jokingly trade off on who gets to be the mentor based on who had the most jumps. 212 jumps and 39 objects later, I have no injuries and only three tree landings, not counting intentional tree landings, small trees.

+1

Post hoc. It tells us more about you than the course. :)

I'm just saying that I'm an example of the fine students his course produces.

I am not suggesting anyone should start jumping without a mentor. It worked out for me, but your mileage may vary.

It does seem that all too often the new kids want the quick easy in. It seems in my area patience is all but forgotten by most of the new jumpers. Everyone wants to go the Twin, do twenty jumps, and then they think they are ready for Moab... Mostly because some of the "not quite as new kids" seem to think this is an acceptable progression. Then branching from there, they all want wingsuits and want to take them to LB to LEARN to fly them... What is the rush people? The objects will be there. I also know a few people that "don't believe" in the fatality list for reasons I still don't understand. I ask those people, why not take a step back and look at the true nature of this sport and how many amazingly skilled jumpers it has killed. Then ask yourself what makes you think you are better than them? Reiner is exactly right about one thing in particular, CHOOSE WISELY. Do your homework, ask around and remember that there are people out there willing but have no business teaching. People that take this sport for granted, people with a lack of respect for life in my opinion. When people are willing (and pushing their teachings on others) to teach others with a lack of experience and a lack of skills, it makes me wonder the motive. Some are looking for recognition/fame from teaching rather than trying to evolve this sport into something safer than it was. Each new jumper that learns the wrong way will pass that style along, even taking on there own students at a ridiculously low level of experience. Eventually, or most likely, it will culminate into some terrible tragedy and sadly it will take that for some to learn. It is aggravating that there are such people that are so arrogant they think they know better than a community that has about thirty years of knowledge built up. Respect people, this sport WILL kill you and you need to take every step necessary to make sure that doesn't happen. Don't let anyone convince you this sport isn't as dangerous as everyone makes it out to be. I have met nine people who would tell you different if they could...

 

I took the same SE Texas base course - one of my instructors was always drunk tho...

+1

I'm starting an 8-day FJC next week. I've waited nearly a year just to find a reputed course to accommodate my work holiday/vacation schedule, so patience is a virtue that I know all too well.

Just as many of you guys have wisely suggested, I have done a background check on the FJC & the person hosting it & I'm satisfied with the feedback. The local jumpers over here have given their approval to my course selection.

I have to agree with "Kiss The Sky", it would be very beneficial if someone could start a thread/poll where the different FJC's were anonymously rated to assist potential jumpers with making further enquiries/investigations. Cheers.

can you give me an example of such a thread?

BASE jumpers are a cantankerous lot. serious threads degrade quickly. when jumpers disagree, it can turn nasty very quickly. most people only take 1 course and thus struggle to offer valid comparisons.

I fail to see the problem with interested prospects having to put in some effort. people really can't be given knowledge. it generally must be claimed through effort or error.

Could a section be created on the site where FJC's can be added and users can rate and review in the same manner as the gear section? Not sure how to make them anonymous though.

I can't actually refer to an example, it was merely an idea. I do see your point though.

feel free to write a review! while I'm not particularly knowledgeable about that area, I believe any user can write a review. if enough interest is shown, surely we can establish a new category.

remember, content here comes from users.

The general reviews of FJCs that would appear are pointless. Most "skydivers" having done one FJC (without comparisons of others) will say it was good if they got to make some BASE jumps. More experienced people reviewing their FJC looking back at what they now know, is out of date.

Valid points indeed. The FJC that I'm signed up for comes with a big thumbs up from my peers, which is an excellent way to make enquiries (amongst many).

FJC reviews don't have to be pointless, but it needs to be the right person providing it, which has to be the "mentor" or experienced BASE jumping friends of the person who has just done the course - as only they can comment on whether the individual concerned came out with a good understanding of what they were doing and, equally as important, good ethics

Such "reviews" are already out there; the interested party just needs to ask their future mentor and jump buddies. I agree that talking to newbies who have just done their course is not particularly helpful.

On that basis, if someone was asking my opinion, from what I've seen / experienced with the jumpers coming out of those courses, I would advocate the Pressurized course and suggest steer clear of the Spanish one out of Lillo / Ocana in Europe... but that's my opinion.

Yeah, that's a fair point.