Basejumper.com - archive

 

you should add already have a base number so you can see how many with base number see your poll and can vote.

Id put those into"I want a number"as they already have a number.

If you want to be counted, you're not free.

I don't care about the number but I want one

that sounds like something someone who's been excluded most of their life would say.

Excellent answer..

That's KO.

Hope all is well with you and yours,

Joy

Probably the right pool should let you choose between the following:
- you are a base jumper and you got the #
- you are a "complete" base jumper and you didn't ask for the number
- you are not a "complete" base jumper and you will ask for a number as soon as you will complete the word
- you are not a "complete" base jumper and you will not ask for a number when you will complete the word

In this way you can estimate hao many number are missing and the percentage on the total amount

Hard to get that building aint it?
take care,
space

BASE813

B was my second letter. A was my last I think Im afraid of heights.

S was my last letter. E was my first.

All mine are X's cos i can't even spell real good.

"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose" to quote Janis J. Anyway, I'm glad I have my number since it really meant a lot to most of us when there were only about 50 of us in the world. I realize with today's much safer gear, newbies getting into the sport, You Tube, etc. the numbers aren't as special as they once were, but I've always thought to be really into a sport or an activity, you should know the history of the sport and the BASE numbers are about the only original link there is to the beginning of this wonderfully crazy sport. Then again, I may be biassed since we issue the numbers to keep Carl's memory alive.
Rick H
BASE 38
Night 13

GO RICK!
i was happy to get my number, and even happier that you got to tell me what it was in person with a hand delivery of my card!

Thanks!

Right on, Rick. My BASE number represents one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. When I glance at the clock and it's showing 4:28PM or I'm driving on Rt. 428 or when my daughter was born on 4/28, I get a little adrenaline rush......

i was supper stoked to get mine too 1306,night207 !!! thanks rick and joy !! my base order is S.A.B.E AWESOME SPORT TO BE INVOLVED WITH AND LEARN FROM !! THANKS TO ALL !!!!!

I very much enjoyed Rick's hand-written note accompanying my card. We had jumped the same object 20 years apart but I felt connected to him as an adventurer seeking the same goal.

Thanks guys for the support. Keep the spirit alive!
Rick and Joy

Exactly... It's worth it if only for those moments of seeing it somewhere and having a smile produced....

Just because you aint got no building doesnt mean that you aint no BASEr
If you took a B scoop, the same amount of time spent polling on BJ.com as scoping you could have your building jump.
Building jumps are just too difficult. I understand. You are not a lesser person becazse of. Building jumps are for talented jumpers. ;-)
take care,
space

My order was: S A B E
Florida has 0 mountains

Getting BASE was a big accomplishment for me.
I am glad I started this journey, earned the #,
and got my #.

I even tattoo'd the number on my lower left leg.
That I would not do again, because here in the
Sunshine State we wear shorts about 11 months
a year and too many people ask me what it is.

My 2 stock answers depending on person & place:

1. Oh just something I got in prison.

2. I am the one thousand, three hundred, and
sixty-sixth person to jump off of a Building,
Antenna, Span, and Earth with a parachute.

To My Haters: Yes Playboy gave me my first B
but before getting an E in Malaysia, I opened a
Building solo, without kicking, & now have 6 B's.

Then again... That really isn't the case. You are the one thousand, three hundred and sixty-sixth person to jump off a Building, Antenna, Span and Earth with a parachute and send in an application to register teh accomplishment and receive a number for it. The real number, as we all know, is of course much higher.

Would also be interesting to see how many are:
"I am an American and think the BASE numbering system is awesome".
and:
"I am not American and laugh everytime another Youtuber spouts off about how cool their BASE number is".

P.S. For the record I completed the acronym in just over a year of jumping. Never bothered with the number thingy.

i am american and think the base number is a personal endeavour.
if you dont care about carl boenish, then why would the number mean anything to you?
i suspect most newer european jumpers dont care about carl boenish, maybe cause he was american, and think that the newer generation of american idiot jumpers reflect his intentions. therefore, it only makes sense that they wouldnt care about the base numbering system created by Carl.
So the europeans can continue to be oblivious to BASE history, just like many new american idiot jumpers. Makes no difference to me. I know why i got my number, and i know what it means to me... and oddly enough, i dont have a single video on youtube...
-1315

I too felt a sense of achievement after completing the acronym. But i didn't need anybody to validate that achievement for me. It would also be interesting to see how reguarly people continue to jump all the objects after receiving their number and how many complete the acronym only once.

that would too be interesting
i have heard of people trying to get their number in 4 jumps. i know at least 1 person got their number in as many.
i also wonder how many people quit jumping after getting their number in a small amount of jumps, as if that's all they were in it for.
My order was ASBE
i could have it qualified 26 times, (number E's), if it weren't for lack of E's, i could have it 37 times , (number of Bs)
i still want more B & E's
its a distant goal to one day have 100 off each type...

These threads crack me up, they seem to pop up more and more and seem to be newer (not total newvies) jumpers with a few jumps under em who are just too cool for school. They wanna rebel against something, anything.

Fledgling: respect your opinion for sure. I never looked at it as the need for anyone to validate my achievements. Did it more for the memories, similar to why I have a log book. Something to reflect back on when I'm an old bastard and cant even remember where the shitter is.

Folks if you dont wanna a number, cool, dont get one. Bashing on it by starting these silly threads over and over seems like a waste of valuable time. Just jump.

I wear mine proudly!!

I too find the topic amusing more then anything and would not normally consider commenting on it. But it's been raining for a week and I'm bored shitless.
Back to my original post though. I bet you will find that the vast majority of BASE numbers have been issued to North Americans (yes that includes Canadians). Maybe Rick or Joy could verify my suspicions.

Hey man, what did you think Carl wanted to leave as "souvenir" : BASE numbers or freedom and liberty . You say european don't care?? Here in france we have no base numbers, no FJC, no base - TANDEM, and our cliffs are legal. It s our way to save the first ideas of the pionners. Think about it and ask yourself if Carl would have spent his week end counting who have (or not) a base number, latter than being tazzered by rangers, OR, jumping whithout any thing else in mind that fun FOR FREE.
Your welcome here anyway, but base number will never help to save the base from his origin...

lately only about 1/3rd of the numbers come from the US.
More are coming in from foreign countries.

You should add the option: I kinda want a number but don't care enough and am too lazy to mail off an application.

Jesus...I try to avoid my long drawn out useless opinions anymore, but this thread is killing me too. I achieved my number in 6 jumps, then again before 50, I still jump on a weekly basis when not overwhelmed by laziness or alcohol...alcohol usually not stopping me. My number was a personal accomplishment that I am proud of to this day and am glad i have it. I also still enjoy looking at my card with the memory of Carl Boenish and respecting the brave men that birthed our amazing sport and progressed the sport to give us a better chance at survival today as far as gear and technique go, not the dumb ass shit we do today that they would have never dreamed of. People that get there number and quit suck. People that lie to get numbers suck. People that are against numbers for the publicity of it our WAY TO IN TO THE JAMES BOND COOL GUY FACTOR OF THE SPORT. Your probably the same dudes approaching an abandoned long lines tower, in the middle of the desert, at night, wearing all black, army crawling with your face painted like a mohican warrior, and dive bombing into a ditch when a plane flies over head. Base numbers don't hurt anything, it's a cool accomplishment if your into it, go for it. If not don't. It's a personal decision. Who gives a damn what anyone else thinks. My gay two pennies.

Freefliers have this same conversation about AD numbers. Haha.

haha, that's funny. I'm proud of my AD # and if I'm ever lucky enough to get a B I'll be proud of my BASE #! :)

Good comment. Another poll that would be interesting is to find out how many years of experience some of the BASE number critics really have. Some newer jumpers who start for the wrong reason, and this is to be cool, don't want a number likely because they are well over 1000 and not as cool as the old numbers. So instead of wanting one, they bash it. The sport of BASE jumping is more than just the You Tube generation. Good friends die doing this. There was a spirit of adventure and discovery that permeated the early BASE world, led by the visionary Carl Boenish. This man was the most famous skydiving photographer by far in his day and began this out of love for the rush, and films, not for the glory. Believe me, it was a lot more dangerous before BASE gear. As most of you know, I'm a lawyer. When I read posts by some of the more arrogant or brash newcomers to our sport who poo poo the numbers or act in otherways that show their just too cool to fool, I often think of a one of my greatest law school professors who use to say;
"First year lawyers know all of the rights of being a lawyer, but none of the responsibilities."
BASE stands for more than just going out and raping a few objects. There is the ethics of sharring your knowlege and passion, not screwing up the environment, not burning jumps, not defacing the object like some bolt climbers do, and not pissing off normal people if you can help it. Carl always believed in "take only memories and leave only footprints". I think he stole that from John Muir, but it's the correct sentiment regardless. If you don't want a BASE number, so be it. Plenty of experience jumpers have resisted labels for years, but for newcomers to bash the numbers tells me they really have another agenda. Given the history and sacrifices that have been made to get this sport to where it is today, there is no good reason to bad mouth the concept of the numbers. Like I always say, keep the BASE spirit alive. That spirit is more than just parachuting off of objects. A little reverance is called for. The older some of these guys get and the more friends they lose, this meaning will hopefully become clear.
PS, CYA Pete, you had the right spirit.
Rick

Not at you Rick. I was so stoked when I got my first "E." called up Jean B. right after. I was as a BAS jumper
I do want to say that BASE is a deadend sport. If you are bad, you die. If you are good, you see your friends die and then you die. Nasty, but I wouldnt trade it for anything.
New Orleans #1
take care,
t.

agreed on all counts. Thanks for keeping track of the maniacs Rick.

-1309

ps. I can't wait for Bridge Day, this will be 8th consecutive, and intend to let "the spirt" flow freely, and those who are in the know will too.

Cheers -b

It's also funny how everyone from out of the U.S. naysaying the BASE #'s ARE JUMPING AMERICAN MADE BASE GEAR!!!!!

Mine isn't ;-)

P.S. Ooops. Just realised that my PCs are.

just kidding anyways. never let the facts stand in the way of being a dick!!

edit-BASE #637, I was pretty fucking stoked to get it, mostly for historical reasons.

do you think that is ironic from the 0p?
take care.
space

 

Man, were you frozen for the last ten years??? Did they just wake you up ??
Europe have his own base gear. US ones are really good to but please, just open your mind and agree that us is not he center of the world...
Don t missundertstand my post, i did visit US and really love it , i did jump US base gear and love them to, but honestly man, wake up...

are you really in the bahamas?
i have a nice object here in the exumas..
care to come jump?

anyways, hank was joking about the US gear comments, so cool it.
the base numbers are definitely not an 'american' thing either it was started by an american, but so was repeatable base jumping.

Good post Rick. I remember how stoked I was the night I qualified, calling and texting everyone who helped me along the way. The handwritten note with my card is something that I cherish to this day. I have nothing against people who decide not to apply either. Thats what is awesome about BASE, you can do whatever you want. Now that i'm feeling all nostalgic I think i'll go read my BASE application that I wrote the night I qualified.

-1384

I've already sent in my paper work for my BASE Number. My "30" Days should be up next week. I too feel like it was a huge acomplishment that I am proud to have.

My Order was:

S. E. A. B.

The B was the hardest, and the best!

Rick... You sending me the number next week??? :)

I'm 572. I did S B A E in 8 jumps with my Buidling on #3, Angel Falls on #8. I really like the number being written on a flourescent orange card with silver ink!

My number means loads to me. Even if I'm not the 1251 BASE jumper in the world, and I know for sure I'm not, I can say that my number represents the time and effort I put into every jump.
I also dont care if you dont want a number.
I've jumped with the most AWESOME jumper in the world and he is SO different to me but he hates all that shit and I love it.
DZH is number 1 as far as I'm concerned.
Each to their own :)

Who is keeping track of the numbers these days? It has been forever since I last did a jump and can't remember my numbers - BASE and Night BASE. I would like to retrieve them!

Trivia - My daughter actually has BASE jumper blood in her. She has emergency heart surgery in 1989 and Jean Boenish called all the locals with the correct blood type to come in and give her some blood. More trivia - I used to be a rigger, guess I still am but Waaaaay out of date - anyway, my first save was Jean Boenish! How about that?

PM sent

Hey all,

Clouddancer22, thanx for giving me a good opportunity to post the application again. It hasn't changed much in the twenty three years we've been keeping them except for the part about emails, even our address is still the same.

Email either one of us, we will give you our phone number so you/we can confirm your #'s (I already think I know who you are). Also can make you a replacement BASE Card if you want one. Although they are not from the original batch, they were Jean approved.

Love to all,

Joy


Rick and I issue the original World BASE Numbers and Night BASE Numbers which were started by Carl and Jean Boenish in January 1981 when the first BASE number was earned. Carl always believed that BASE jumping would catch on, and he was right. Your BASE number is your link back to the beginning of our sport.

To apply for a BASE Number, we need the following information:

1. Name, Address, or a self addressed envelope. Phone number is optional.

2. Name and/or location and altitude of each of the four objects.

3. Date of each object, especially the date and TIME of your qualifying jump. The time of the qualifying jump is important in case someone else in the world qualified on the same day.

4. Any descriptions of the jumps, or jump stories, will be appreciated as we enjoy them. Of course, they will remain confidential.

5. On the subject of donations, we ask for $10 to issue a number to help cover our costs for postage and supplies, totally voluntary. If you want the plastic card with your number and qualifying date and Carl Boenish's signature embossed, there is a $5 fee.

In respect for privacy of individuals, and integrity of the BASE Numbers, we will not be issuing them by email. Our original BASE Constitution requires confidentiality. We will take the information about your jumps by email in order to lock in your date until we receive your letter.

We wait thirty days after the date of your qualifying jump to issue your number to make sure the rest of the worlds mail has time to get here.

KEEP HAVING FUN, ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL!!!

Rick and Joy Harrison
7316 Houston Drive
Hitchcock
TX 77563
USA

Email: Joy Rick

 

Where did she say you had to apply again? She just wanted to talk to you and verify, then ship you a new card. At least thats how I took it.

Donkey Shit

 

"Jeanie doesn't owe you JACK SHIT."

I probably shouldn't have posted this....

Sweetie,


Call 409-655-5317 and we will give you all your Ninja Info

Huck,

Love your post, made me think about generations....

Hey "Clouddancer", if you really do have a number, let us know. Believe me, the record keeping is perfect and we have everyone from BASE 1. Might be nice to PM us with your real identity to give you numbers, or else, you may be just BS.
Rick
38

How about your own "half-assed record keeping"? If they are so important to you, how did you manage to forget them yourself? Rick and Joy do a wonderful job that MOST people appreciate. I know I do.

Thanks Rick and Joy for your efforts over the years!

BASE921

Rauk, great post, 99.9% of us totally agree with you!

Clouddancer22, take a breath and re-read Joy's post.

We are all on the ball... you seem to be slippin'

No dought. What the hell happened to this thread? It was good reading then this cloudforbrains comes on bitching about um what is she bitching about??

Thanks GreenMachine, I did re-read Joy's post as well as my own. I do apologize for my unkind remarks and have deleted the posts.

Not only did I misunderstand (at the end of a very long day) but my attitude was intended to be flippant (altho irritated) but I see that it came across as harsh and mean spirited. Again, I apologize to all.

@the person who called me clouds-for-brains or something, I just want to say thanks. That was actually very refreshing. If you knew me, you would understand why.

Thanks guys - the good part of this mistake is that I am back in touch with Mark Hewitt again, which is kinda cool. I have been retracing my past lately - fit of nostalgia!

bsbd

 

Damn, I don't go online for a couple of days and immediately miss all the good stuff...

No thank you... without this post I was going to turn my back on a BASE number. Being discouraged by all the poser BASE jumpers I see these days, Hearing about battling BASE crews... Not my thing.

To me BASE is solitude, not about doing what everyone else is.

Too all the HATERS, I got my B solo!

Now I look forward to getting an E to link myself to the past and the greats who have paved the way.

She's referring to your base number, and the info you provided to obtain it.

i am in the planning process myself. have a bit of recon to do, and i aim to go do this with me, myself, and i and one ground crew..........soon.

ive been jumping for over a year now and the 2 times ive been on a B rooftop i was deterred by wind once and massive security the second time, and i evaded those bitches like a ninja

Hate to admit it.... mine was too easy... I got in. happen to find blue printd which I read like a ninja and was off stair hiking... shit dreams are made of....

. the less people involved the better.

Is it solo with ground crew? Whether solo or not, good luck on your first B.

Awwww drats! I just spoke with Joy - what an absolute DOLL she is!!!! And crap, I forgot my number. I gotta remember to take that stuff more seriously in life - think it was Base 221 and I totally forget the night base #. Joy, can ya help me out?

I don't know who laughed more, she or I!!!!

Hugs!

Hey all,

Yes, clouddancer22 just had a nice conversation with me on the phone.

We kissed and made up, her card goes out in the mail tomorrow.

Thanx to you all for your support, you know who you are!

Don't really care if you get a number or not, you're still a part of the family.

Later,

Joy

..and I'm claiming Jock BASE 1..Got all 4 in Scotland in 2009..If anyone has any knowledge of this already being done, I'd love to know about it?

Hello internet. I have a number. I had lots of fun getting it. I also log my jumps. I also check to see if my shoes are tied before jumping... every time. It makes me feel slightly better to know that if I go in, my shoes will probably still be on my feet. True story. Please judge me now. kthanx. bye.

Wuss. Real jumpers don't care if they land barefoot.

There's no such thing as an object too difficult. You're just not trying hard enough

Spot on. Maybe one just doesnt want it enough.
Take care,
space