Basejumper.com - archive

A common post that comes up here from all experience levels are those looking for the help of a mentor to get them started in BASE. Some of these requests are by experienced skydivers with a knowledge of BASE, others are by people without an ounce of experience.

In an attempt to filter out the some old posts from the forum, we are dedicating this thread to the process of finding a mentor, in a way that will be easiest for all parties involved, and aims to help potential mentors know who to spend their time on and who would be a waste to message.

Any post that is seeking a mentor outside of this thread in the beginners forum will be deleted.

If you're seeking a mentor, post a reply IN THIS THREAD and make sure to post your reply in the following format, posts that do not specify this information will be deleted:

Location:
Skydiving Experience:
BASE Experience:
Motivation:


Based on your reply, if someone finds that you are worth potentially being mentored, they will contact you via private message.

Location: Tampa, FL
Skydiving Experience: 400+ jumps, video, RW
BASE Experience: none
Motivation: Life is too short to not experience it.

Location: Phoenix, AZ
Skydiving Experience: 1200 jumps, swooping, freeflying, wingsuit, Tandem, IAD, and Coach.
BASE Experience: 3 jumps from 300' Antenna in NC
Motivation: Experienced it once before and absolutely loved the feeling! I am attending the FBJC in June.

I am currently in Afghanistan and will be returning in June for 17 days vacation then back in towards the end of December. I recently moved to Phoenix and didn't make it out to Eloy or any of the other surrounding DZs to meet anyone.

 

Please read http://www.basejumper.com/...g_into_BASE_660.html. Maybe you made some calls but maybe you did not try hard enough. Keep skydiving, talk to people, meet people and build the connections you need. The UK base scene has some of the most experienced and active (urban) jumpers you can find and if you can hook up with them properly, you´ll have a great future in front of you.

Listen to Dwain : Hang in there and don’t be discouraged by the knockbacks. All things of great value are difficult to obtain. It took me two years of trying before I broke into the sport which has given me some of my life’s greatest experiences.

Salamanca Spain till 16 may
Skydive experience: 24 jumps
Base Experience: 0
Motivation: Living in fear is hardly living. Facing fear is when one truly lives. Base jumping has always been a dream of mine. I have skydived and had to stop because I was unable to make it to the drop zone and it is really expensive especially for a student. If anyone is interested in getting coffee to share info let me know. I'm happy with what I can receive.

learn how to pack tandems for money. In the USA we get 12 US dollars (equivalent to 9-10 EURO I think???) per tandem you pack and you can pack one in 10-20 depending on your skill. Its how I plan to make 100-500+ more skydives (whatever it takes) to get to a place with canopy control that I feel comfortable base jumping again.

Skydiving also gets a whole lot more fun the longer you stay with it (for me at least). You might find you dont even want to jump off bridges or cliffs once you have found a niche in skydiving. Its more than enough for a lot of people.

Becoming a packer is how I paid for alot of my skydives. Hell I still pack every now and then, not as much as now since getting some ratings. That is how you can also get more experience. While getting paid to jump! Start out packing until you can get enough jumps and experience to get started on some ratings. Jumps are important but experience is where it counts.

to concur...

lot's of pack jobs will make someone comfortable with nylon. try different techniques, and make each one as neat as possible. it is a skill that transfers well to BASE.

Perth, Western Australia
47 jumps (sky diving) another 50-60 more by 15th may
No BASE experience, still researching
Ha, I was born for this.... I'm a true blue thrill seeker, Life is too short to let fear control what we do! I've always wanted to B.A.S.E. jump since the first time i ever saw it, just had many hurdles to get into sky diving etc.
I LOVE to Travel & also Sky Dive, I've done a lot of research into B.A.S.E. & think it's for me.... I'm keen to do a FJC in the States in Sept after i accumulate more jumps but would be awesome to meet some awesome experienced BASE jumpers for a mentor, I've met a few people that Base jump but am unsure about the roles of a mentor besides teaching me proper. My friend flies Wingsuits via BASE so is difficult to learn as thats what he prefers... I'll travel every month to learn different locations if theres anyone keen to be my mentor....
Can you have multiple mentors or just 1? Mulitiple people offer different experiences / advise etc..

Cheers

Stop... Think... Take a deap breath... Relax... Think about it.... Close your your eyes... See it?.... Think!.....

Yeah i get the point.... Better to have just 1 but what about if i have a few mates that jump BASE?
I'm keen to learn all aspects of jumping but isnt it better to hear and learn or just keep my mind open to multiple persons experiences or advise???
No one knows everything and if they do they are surely fooling only themselves as this is an unexpectable sport and all advise is welcomed.... wheter its considered or not is your own opinion but being new myself i'm only asking

You are answering your own question and don't even know it. You are the only one responsible for your decisions. YOU need to make your own decision. If you want to live, you better make sure you made the right decision. The experience is out there, they are all individual. Some people make the wrong decision and they are dead. Answer this...What would be the wise decision? Gather as much information as possible, or not? Your mentor isn't going to hold your hand the entire step of the way, that's impossible, because there is no end to the learning process. I'm willing to bet that if you do find a mantor, that he will expect you to start learning on your own, he is there to show you the basics and guide you through your own decisions, eventually you will start jumping with other people, you can learn something from them as well, you can even learn things from people you haven't met yet. Listen to everyone and what they have to say, then you decide.

Good luck.

I agree with gauleyguide, but also consider the ego of any mentor. some will welcome the involvement of other mentors, some will resent it as if you do not trust them, and others will find it difficult to teach you in progressive manner if you be-bop between multiple people.

in BASE, learn how to identify the risks, and then minimize them. they can be technical, emotional, social, etc. start the process now. as Perth is rather remote, your options (and best course of action) will be far different than a Swiss wannabee!

Stick with the one mentor.The one you feel comfortable with ..

I think i know the boys your talking about in perth...

Maybe ground crew with em more to get to know the one you respect more and is a better mentor , information, jumps, someone who does give a shit...

There is quite a large group starting there now in the llast few years..

Brain hurts...

Cheers all for advise.

When you say ground crew for them, what is it that grond crew does? does it mean pretty much to try tag along prior to doing a jump course or after i've done a few jumps myself at a specialised course?
The guys i know are top blokes to jump with (sky diving) and great for information on gear etc, but thats as far as i've got yet... Isnt too openly talked about as i understand why...
Is there any other great ways to learn more or tag along for a local antenna jump etc to see it first hand?

hello mate... based in brighton and starting to jump ( from scratch) very soon... let me know if you need someone to ground for you... as i would apreciate any involevment... learn from your mistakes so i dont make any... ha ha... peace...

you have not tried that hard. There are a few jumpers in your area!!!!

www.basejumper.org

At best you will find a few people to jump with who will steer you in the right direction and help you along the way. Depending on your definition of mentor.

new here :)

Location: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho (we travel in those locations)
Skydiving Experience: 0
BASE Experience: 0
Motivation: ofc
People: 2 or 3
Dates 28.8 - 22.9

i have no idea , what i am doing , we want to base jump somewhere, take a course if needed, rent gear

Corpus Christi, TX
320 skydives
18 BASE
I had/have an excellent mentor when I lived in Pennsylvania, but now I live in So Texas. I know there are a few BASE jumpers in San Marcos and Spaceland. Due to work I haven't been able to get up there as much as I'd like, so I haven't really met them. I'd like a local (San Antonio, Houston) mentor to help me continue my BASE career in safest most intelligent way possible. I love BASE jumping it is such a rush, but I want to be smart about my progression.

Just a thought. Why not ask your Mentor? There is a major diff between a local and a Mentor.
Take care,
space

Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Skydiving Experience: 200 jumps, coach rating
BASE Experience: None
Motivation: BASE was one of the reasons I wanted to get into skydiving and now that I have a little more experience I want to do it more than ever!

Hiiii everyone. I'm not a fan of this format but ok, I'll try to follow rules...

Location:(I'll get back to that)

Skydiving Experience: 41 jumps, did my AFF course and all my jumps in Brazil, and some wind tunnel. Spent a few months living in a tent in the airplane hangar (slept in the plane actually when there were too many mosquitos). I started with the intention of quickly getting into BASE, then realized it's not so simple, then I discovered "freefly" and decided that jumping from higher and higher is just as fun. Spend all my money on skydiving (it's expensive in Brazil)...I started thinking of prices of things in terms of jump tickets instead of reais (like, "I'm not going to that bar, that's half a jump ticket just to get in" or "Why the hell would I pay rent, that's like 8 jumps a month").

BASE Experience: Saw a video yesterday on Youtube. Just kidding. But seriously, I'm looking to start BASE in the next half year maybe, I've wanted to for years now.

Motivation: Some years ago a friend sent me a wingsuit video and I thought, "That is fucking awesome, I will do that." Did the research and learned it's a long process. Then I started highlining and working with slackline and I have this terrible urge to highline without protection and BASE jump from the middle of a line. And jump off of things in general. I spent about a year and a half hitch-hiking through Brazil, one day ended up at a dropzone and thought, perfect, I'll do my AFF finally. After spending some months living at the dropzone I traded a slackline for a bike and started biking to other dropzones in Brazil.

So the location thing, I'm totally down to go anywhere in the world really, especially a country I've never been to before. Not at all joking. I know I need some more skydive experience (which I'm getting, no problem) but I seriously dream about BASE and have been for years now. It just took my wallet a bit of time to catch up.

Alrighty, thanks and looking forward to meeting some interesting people here :-)

Location: Cebu City, Philippines
Skydiving Experience: 0
BASE Experience: 0
Motivation: I just recently moved to the Philippines and up until now have been unable to pursue BASE Jumping. My schedule in the states before was extremely busy but I found time to Rock Climb as often as I could. For some reason sky-diving doesn't really appeal to me so I've never really actively pursued the sport. But Base Jumping, all though similar to sky diving in a few ways, has always really tugged on my heart strings. I can't quite explain it. I will say that considering my knowledge of the sport is only based off of readings online it certainly has a promising future to become a deep passion in my life similar to my rock climbing addiction. I would love to learn the lifestyle and maybe one day implement that into my future rock climbing expeditions!

As someone who spent approximately 500 days trad/ice/alpine climbing before my first skydive, I thought it might be helpful for you to hear my thoughts.

It is without a doubt in my mind that experience in risk mitigation and stress management are the weakest skillset of skydivers moving to BASE. They learn to jump at a dropzone which is a rather controlled environment and jump or no jump decisions are made for them or as part of group consensus. A background of life in the mountains (or similar pursuits) is invaluable in regards to developing these types of skills and the self-reliance needed to correctly approach BASE jumping.

That being said, it is in no way (not even close), to being an adequate preparation for BASE jumping. Its like saying because you are a good long distance runner you are ready to swim across the english channel. You wont have the most basic skills necessary to safely BASE jump the most forgiving objects.

So if you really think you want to BASE jump someday, go learn to skydive and spend a few years doing it. If you are not excited by skydiving then you probably arent the type of person who should be BASE jumping.

Good luck!

You really do need to spend the necessary time making out with ill-tempered sea bass before you can proceed to shark fucking. Believe me, you DO NOT want to take short cuts.

Location: SW Wyoming and Northern Utah
Skydiving Experience: 200 jumps
BASE Experience: 30 jumps
Motivation:Been out of it for the last year and a half due to having a kid and now wanting to get back into it....miss it!

I have recently moved from Kentucky to SW Wyoming. Since i know no one out here in the scene, I thought I would ask on here to see if I could get some people to show me around.

I consider myself conservative and extremely safe.....have taken two FJC (bridge day and perrine) and am not a hotdog. With that being said, I love the challenge of each and every jump. (plus I have inconspicuous cars... :) )

Location: Northern (or western) Germany
Skydiving Experience: 180 jumps
BASE Experience: 32 jumps (A, S, E)
Motivation: Want to be a part of the German base scene. Looking for new experiences and challenges. Completed FJC as well as safety skills course in Twin Falls.

Hey dude!

You still got my torch? Ha!

We had some fun times aye? Keep up the good work bro. See you over here some time.

"Porty 'til impuct"

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Skydiving Experience: 590

BASE Experience: 14

Motivation: Took a FBJC in July 2012 with Tom and gained a plethora amount of knowledge. Really would like to find someone to have a few drinks with on the weekends, gain some knowledge, be ground crew and simply would like to approach this amazing sport in the safest manner possible. I'm American/Thai and also speak the language, but look almost full Thai so I can blend in with all the other Asians well (we all look alike anyhow ) and show you around some great places!

Location: south western virginia
Skydiving Experience: 51
BASE Experience: 0
Motivation: Motivated? i'm down right dedicated. i've been working since i was 14 saving up so i could get my skydiving license as soon as i turned 18 with the sole intention of getting into base jumping. i got my A license last summer, now this summer i'm looking to start base. i'm balancing jumping to get experience and saving to start base.

Hey there, Just trying to see if there is anyone in the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area with experience and knowledge to introduce a few good spots to newer jumper from Cali. I just did my FJC in August and currently have 25 jumps at the Perrine and will likely have a few A's before departing for

Name: Jarid
Location: Harveys Lake, PA
Skydiving Experience: 1 tandom
BASE Experience: 0
What I would like: To meet some locals whiling to talk about the sport. Maybe allow me to be a ground crew.
What I can offer: training in 1st aide, rappelling and rope rescue ( no gear as of now).

I know that I'm far from jumping myself. But still want to learn till I'm comfortable under canopy. Any input would be helpful. Thanks.

the people you want to talk to jump at the three/four local DZ's near you. To talk with them, and have them give you any real information requires that you start skydiving and show that your head is on your shoulders well. It goes from there.

Pensacola,FL
200 skydives, still jumping so the number will rise
No base expierence
I want to expierence all that life has to offer.

Location: Denver, Colorado USA
Skydiving experience: 272 jumps
Base Experience: some ground crew
Motivation: since I was a little kid Ive wanted to skydive b/c my dad was a skydiver. My first jump was a tandem while my mother was pregnant with me! I had cancer when I was 17 went through a year of intense chemo therapy and surgery. When I turned 21 i chased my dream and began skydiving. Then I began working at a drop zone doing ground crew fuel and loading. I was the student who knew everything and thought he was a skygod. Then I saw and
experienced some crazy things that gave me a reality check. I love everything about skydiving and the community. I know a few base jumpers from the Texas area but I recently moved to Denver and I'm looking to find friends to jump with, drink beer and share the love of jumping!

They don't drink beer anymore there. Not since they legalized marijuana

Beer, marijuana same thing!

hi...mi name is george..and i live in GREECE!!!!!We need your help ....!!i am love with skydiving and basejumper..I've done seven jumps from plane to take a.f.f.But in the last jump i cut...!!!!!!Now in GREECE are difficult things to financially!!I want to go from GREECE to find a job and do what you love..(skydive basejump)!!!!!!if you can help me I will be very happy and obliged!!!!!!!If you can not.. I again thank you!!!!!!and Candy a jump for me ...

Hey guys! Looking for a mentor to do my first jump!
I'm not a rushing into things kinda' guy. I've seen my share of deaths in skydiving and I'm pretty keen on safety so I wont be your average problem child that wants to throw himself out of a bridge without any guidance...

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Skydiving Experience: 215 jumps, already started wingsuit

BASE Experience: None

Motivation: Skydiving has been my life and everyone else's Im sure... But BASE is the next step for me and I'm certain that this is the time for it...

I hope to meet an awesome mentor!

U.S.
175 skydives
0 base experience
want to take some OCOUNUS leave to try my fate at base jumping

*OCONUS

Morning Marine,

The USA is rather large, you and all other
BASE virgins are more likely to find local
help if you better identify your area.

I personally only teach/mentor people who
live within 4 hours or less of my house, so
they can drive to visit on a regular basis.

Things to do while waiting for assistance:
- draft your WILL
- fill out ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
- sign up to be an ORGAN DONOR
- buy and break in a pair of BOOTS
- practice CANOPY DRILLS on a large 7 cell

Right now I am at Quantico VA. I will be headed out to 29 Palms CA in August.

I spent 3 years stationed at 29 Palms! Joshua Tree National Park is right across the street. Great rock climbing, hiking, and backcountry skills development land! Then you've got a 10-hour drive to Moab for the 96-hour weekends that happen once in a while!

And you're only 3 hours from Vegas!

Thanks for serving, Marine!

~ Chris

Gotta love the stumps. Who will you be with out there?

I will be at the air defense school, but I should have every weekend off.

Ah yes, nothing like MCAGCC in the summer time. So you'll be at MCCES I presume? 29 Stumps is great, but your best bet on finding other jumpers, I would think, would be Elsinore or Vegas.

Location: Barstow, CA.

Skydive experience: 210 jumps.

BASE experience: 0 jumps, FJC in October 2013.

Motivation: To see some of the most beautiful mountains and landscapes in the world. Then jump from it

This a personal atttack on all who
post on this thread including myself.
If you are not knowledgeable enough to
seek your Mentor, then guess what? Do
you think that Mentors hover over this
page looking? Get a life. Tip, Stalk
your Mentor.
I would like to ask also if anyone got
something from this thread. I would not
want to speak with you if you posted on
this thread looking for a Mentor.
Kudos for this thread for filtering out
the trash. Peeps that want everything
served on a silver platter because of
they have interests and think Mentors owe them.
We owe you nothing.
Tip: Research. If you have no clue, why
should I mentor you?
Get a massive amount of knowledge
beforehand and show the Mentor that you
are (should be) stalking that you are
serious.
I feel that this thread is a silver
platter want. Almost as bad as the
youtube gen wanting to do gopro vids to
show how cool BASE jumping is to get laid.
The reality of the sport is nasty. If
you are bad, you will die soon. If you
are good, You will see your friends
die.
Is this what you want? Then do the
research and stalk.
take care and understand that you and Mentor
your will fight.
space

When I posted on here that I was located in Japan, I had 2 seasoned base jumpers give me advice about jumping in japan, then I ended up jumping with one of them on 5 different bridges over hear. I didn't find a mentor, but I don't think I would have been able to jump those bridges without the advice or encouragement. I'm all by myself in northern Japan.

i m sorry about this but even if you are right on most of the things i dont agree on this one . YOU OWE US . you are the past and we are the future and unless if you show us which path to avoid then things will be learned the hard way or the slower way( and life is not that long) . i would have been making calculations in paper just like my grandpa if my mum hadnt bought me a calculator and then i thought of buying a computer to make acquisions and i would probably be a millionaire if i had at a least a business person in my family . many people have skills or talent but never had a mentor in their life to guide them . From personal experience i would say that i grew up watching what other daddies and mummies were advising their children cause mine were not present . i see many children reaching in much earlier age what i achieved much later . thats progress and innovation and anyone who comes in here and seeks for help has already done a first step and deserves a chance .

with respect
your stalker !

I agree with you Space, too many things these days are done online..Unfortunately that's just the way it is.. I honestly did not expect a reply but I guess theres a small chance that a veteran BASE jumper in my area might actually want to share. Want to pass on the joy and knowledge. Just taking a shot.... If we ever get to the point where noobs can pay for online mentoring... God help us all hahaha

Not at you, What is so bad about showing some effort, Rather than expecting things to be served on the silver platter? I feel that this thread is fundamentally wrong even though it was probably started because of my ranting. And you have an unsolvable rubik's cube as your avatar ;-)
Shalll I give in to wannabees who dont have the energy to stalk? 30% of the bfl i had some doing with. 2 were my students the rest just couldnt listen. How much more do I owe? How nice do you think it is to see some ignoring your advice and dying at the same exact place and way you told them if they didnt heed your advice. It has screwed me up for life, so now you say I owe. Hmmmm, I dont know who is more screwed up. I owe nothing! Though I figured outhow to BASE mostly on my own I dont see why others are whining about lack of Mentorship. Where was my Mentor? Unstowing your toggles on an evil low building jump and thinking that it was a bad decision would be the best Mentor you could have if you survived. which I did.
I am getting angry so I will stop this rant for the moment but will still read it for hope of mankind and myself.
Take care,
space

I agree with you completely here, mentors should not have to seek out the mentee, the mentee needs to initiate the relationship and be the driving force. The mentor should not feel pressured into the role and only accept it if it is what he/she wishes as well. There is a great load of responsibility on the mentor and if they are not involved willingly then bad things will happen. However, when it comes to this thread I personally don't have a mentor and in doing everything to find one I posted here as well. It is not the only thing that i did, just one step in hopes of finding someone. For the most part I would like to think that others are doing the same.

Luke

there are no BASE jumpers in vegas

true...other than the BASE COMPANY thats there! I'll fight you right now, Wilson!

im on my way up, REI boy!!!!!!! its on

Name is Keith
Location: Toronto
Skydive EXP:1 Tandem jump
BASE Exp: Do dreams count?
Motivation: Have been drooling over jumping an antenna near my house. Curious to know if its high enough..... possible, or how I would not get arrested because its beside a police station. LoL nothing like setting yourself up to fail.
_____________________________________________
"The best time to leave is when everything is perfect".

I DO NOT WANT A PM NOW. I simply want to help myself fulfil something I cannot explain. Wing suit flying and proximity flying are what I am most interested in. I read some posts by gauleyguide (not to pick on you) and realized I have a big commitment before I can look for a Mentor. I am only posting this today to prove to someone in a year or two from now that I was and am serious about this. My wife and I decided not to have kids, now I know I can start this and never have to choose...... I can't miss what I don't know, and once I start I'm sure I'll never stop.

Location: Denmark
Skydiving Experience: 300 and going up
BASE Experience: 0 only 6 balloon jumps
Motivation:I've always wanted to B.A.S.E. jump since the first time i ever saw it on youtube

Buy beer and hang around the DZ campfire and listen to to the stories, the drunker folks get the more BASE stories you will hear, those drunk fuckers are your mentors, buy more beer!

 
Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Skydiving Experience: 125 Jumps, B License, Packed tandems at Midwest Freefall in Romeo, MI for 2 years

BASE Experience: 5 jumps with 2 mentors. 4 PCAs and one hand held - all jumps from a free standing 360 ft antenna. If you're interested in speaking with my past mentors I am happy to put you in touch with him and her. I've also packed 4 canopies that were jumped and had on-heading openings.

Motivation: Eventually progress to wingsuit base. I am a calculated risk taker. My most memorable moment in my skydiving/base experience is climbing down from a tower because I did not feel confident about the conditions.

I'm moving to OKC June 26th. I'm not looking to begin jumping ASAP but would like to get connected with jumpers in the area. You can email me at brianemling(at)gmail.com

I am 18 and live in Phoenix,AZ. I am doing my first jump in 18 days in Eloy,AZ. Please reply with what I should do if I'm about to do my first skydiving jump soon and if I am aspiring to base jump and wingsuit some day. What should my following actions be. And are there any of you who live out here in the grand canyon state that I would be able to meet with?

Location:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Skydiving Experience:
280 skydives total, 250 in the last 9 months. Of that 5 are balloon jumps, 56 wingsuit flights, 180 tracking and angle dives, and the remainder are belly.

BASE Experience:
No BASE experience. The 5 Balloon jumps I've made are the only experience I have with dead air.

Motivation:
I want to fly. I want to proximity fly. This has been an obsession since I saw my first wingsuit base jump 8 years ago. At that time I had never skydived, I had never even contemplated it and I didn't understand the risk reward of base jumping. It just seemed too dangerous and not worth it. But once I saw that man dive off a cliff and fly so far and for so long I started to see the appeal. I spent a long time researching how to start wingsuit base jumping. I read the base fatality list to see if I could accept the risk, I read anything I could find and eventually worked my way backwards into skydiving. I read more, I researched skydiving fatality stats and finally decided to take the plunge. 4 years ago I flew to Perris Valley for two weeks to learn how to skydive. I had never jumped out of an airplane and I had just put down 3k for an AFF a-license package. I didn't even care if I hated the sport because I was only in it to get the training needed to fly a wingsuit and start base jumping. I put in 27 jumps in those two weeks. when I got home I had a new outlook on life and decided to go back to school, which put the base dream on hold. I made 6 skydives in the next 3 years. I graduated in April 2013 and 4 days later was living in the bunkhouse at Perris Valley. I jumped every day, trained hard, and in 6 weeks I was flying a wingsuit. I spent 8 weeks at Perris and made over 200 jumps in that time. I fell in love with skydiving and the 5 balloon jumps made me very excited for BASE jumping.

I have made quite a few friends in the community and with their help I have picked and ordered BASE gear. I have also signed up for an FJC in Twin Falls in May. I would like to find a mentor in my area before I take the course so I can be better prepared to continue jumping once I get back. I want to stay current and continue to grow my skill set, but I wont be able to do this without the help of local base jumpers.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Emerson

Just to check

Has anyone actually got a mentor from this post?

also... why does everyone want to proxy fly so bad? this just reads like a lot of really ignorant people to me...

Maybe I just need to stop drinking and posting, but I think people are getting into base for the wrong reasons far too often now.

Because it looks cool on youtube/epic.tv

Location: Colorado/Utah areas.
Skydiving Experience: (please don't judge till you've read entier post) 7skydives.
BASE Experience: none.
Motivation: I'm not necessarily looking for a mentor, moreover someone who I can follow on jumps, observe, and take mental notes on for now. I'll film ya or whatever you'd like as payment! I would like to get into base at some point, but again I'd like to tag along and learn from someone, I know a fair amount about base, so if you feel like you don't want some idiot following you I understand and am not one of "those people" although you'll make that decision yourself. I may not of been a member to this forum for long but I've "lurked" on it for some time now. I'm not expecting you to teach me to base, just teach me about it! The things I can't learn online... Anyways, I'm sure this is a long shot and no one will reply because of low skydives, but I want to point out many people have started base with little or no skydives and many are amazing today, again, I'm not saying I want to go jump off a cliff tomorrow! I just wanna watch you do it for now and learn from another open minded, free living person ! Hope to hear from someone.. Thanks

Hahaha!!! So you don't want a mentor, you just want to learn all you can about BASE from some fellow free spirited human, but you aren't going to take the shortcut and jump. YAWN.................

Maybe you need to refer to the "read before posting" section In the beginners forum? After all, it states that this section of the forum is not for "butchering" other posters based on experience. (If I said I had 5000 skydives I'm sure you'd be singing a different tune with me stating I'm not wishing to jump directly into base, no pun intended) and it also states that all criticism should be constructive. Your comment was not constructive, just belittling. So, my constructive Critisim to you is re-read the forum rules, be polite to others intrested, and as thumpers dad would say, if you don't got something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

I have to agree with Merlyn238 here. When I made my first post on BASE beginners forum (essentially asking the same as Merlyn238) I wasn't trying to fast track or to take short cuts.

There are HUGE benefits to engaging the BASE community even at such a low jump number. They might give you specific advice based on the site near where you are, they can see you fly the canopy at the dropzone and know how good/bad you are and you can ask them specific questions like what exactly should you work on.

Time to get on a soap box here. As a newbie, if I met someone like you, I'd be inclined to rush into BASE. From what you said, it seems like skydive requirements and stuff is just a checklist I have to get through as quickly as possible.

If, on the other hand, I met someone at the DZ who takes an interest in my learning (even if he doesn't take me along), who tells me that I should fly a F-111 7-cell, work on accuracy, deep brake approaches, opening heading, etc... and answers my questions, I see that such person respects and understands the sport. If such a person says I'm rushing into things or I'm not ready, I'll actually believe him.

Props to you Merlyn238, you've shown a sense of maturity that others have not.

I didn't think I was being harsh at all. I was merely taking the content of the post on face value. And after seeing a lot of the 'im special, I don't need to skydive' attitude make it's way to some exit points around my parts, I thought it was definitely constructive. I'm not about to make any apologies for my sarcasm. The 'well, plenty of people with no skydives go on to make amazing jumpers' states the intentions perfectly if you ask me. People cutting corners is trouble waiting to happen, as anyone with an idea worth anything already knows.

It's not about being harsh. Your point is legitimate, and Merlyn does seem like he's rushing, but I feel the best way to deal with such issues is through education and not snuffing them out, cause they're just gonna shut up but still rush anyway.

It's like in driving when everyone thinks they're better drivers than average. Saying "you're not" to their face, no matter how true, is not going to change things. Showing them objectively where they fall short is going to be better way as it causes them to understand and learn.

To be clear on the statement I made, I added it to make jumpers such as yourself think for a moment, not about rushing into base but maybe to make them see that they're not all high and mighty because they have 50 BASE jumps and 1000 skydives. All to often, even someone like me who knows little about base can see that many people think that having 100, 200, 500 skydives or whatever makes them a good base jumper. It dose not, the two are different disaplenes, and if you want to learn about BASE, you must observe BASE, and talk to people who are helpful to you, In your area. And the simple fact of the matter Is you live in Australia (I'll give you that I hear the exits there are thecnical at best) have a picture of a chick whipping her tits out as your Profile pic, named garry "good time" and your Intrents include turtles, I don't see who you've posted on my add. I'm interested in base, not turtles, live in a different country, and am aware that with a display name like yours along with such an amazing GIF no one would take me serouisly in a forum where giving the wrong information could mean someone's life.

So going off your info, Merlyn238, should I assume you are a wizard or that this is your World of Warcraft screen name?? I'll stick to what I said earlier. If YOU did your research you'll see that posts about wanting to learn about BASE with near no skydives never get taken seriously, especially when you see the real world result of what happens first hand, so please, forgive me. A handy bit of info I was given was to do heaps of skydives and make connections at the dropzone.

Good idea, I know base jumpers at the dropzone already but they are amateur, but still good advise. I also have seen no one taking low experience jumpers serouisly which is a shame, and I think we all need to take any further talks to the general forum as to not dilute this forum, which is ment only for finding mentors/students. (As for the other commenter)
My advice to whoever says harden the fuck up over the internet, is to grow up, following rules and being polite is a part of everyday life, and funny enough, is a big part of BASE jumping. But oh well.

kind of seriously disappointed in the lack of memes in your post

Not trying to be harsh, but I think you are way off track with this statement. Replace "many " with "some ", and "many are amazing today " with " most are broken or dead ", and you would have a more accurate statement

It is true that everyone has to make a first jump of some kind if they have BASE as their ultimate goal. The ones who are "amazing " and even the odd one who might have made a BASE jump first, quickly realize that it takes a lot of Parachute landings to remain in one piece in the BASE environment.
I wish you the best in finding jumpers that will let you join them. The best place for most people is meeting the BASE jumpers at a skydiving DZ, but you are in a little better spot to watch BASE live because you are close enough to go to Moab or the Perrine and meet many, many jumpers, and there are plenty in these places that will let you hang around if you are polite and respectful.
Regards,B.

Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Skydiving Experience: 260 jumps
BASE Experience: 19 jumps from the Perrine with Tom @ SRBA, ordered new gear which should arrive in Aug
Motivation: Flying, living life, meeting new people, overcoming fear, being awesome. BASE(and skydiving) has been a dream of mine ever since in can remember, I started skydiving in order to one day start BASE. But now just want to be off the ground as much as possible.

Matt its Andy. Do a tower solo on a day wind conditions line up perfect.

My advice to people in this thread is strive to be the guys nobody has heard of. Strive to be like Stealthy B who quickly humbled me when I thought we were going to open a ski base, but was actually informed the cliff was jumped in 2008 or like wasatchrider who has done one of the gnarliest things combining skis and parachutes that nobody has heard of.

Ask yourself the question often that if nobody could see what you were about to do, would you still do it? If you couldn't make it your profile picture on facebook or add it to your youtube account, would you still make the jump or even BASE jump at all? If the answer is yes, then you shouldn't have a very hard time finding someone to bring you along on some amazing adventures. There's people out there with endless amounts of knowledge, I just jumped with one of them today on a 1,000 foot wall that none of you will ever see or know about :)

I'm sure this falls on deaf ears because it probably would have on me at some point too. It's funny how we strive to learn little from people who have been in our exact position because we all feel we are special and unique. History teaches us valuable lessons if we are humble enough to learn from them.

Good advice.

bragging about doing a jump that no one else can then telling people about being humble doesnt really add up, but that is just me

Sorry what I meant was nobody else will know about it because we didn't film it. Not that nobody else can repeat it, we didn't open it.

Thanks for addressing the brunt of the issue though.

you guys are silly

Your mom mentored me

I laughed out loud when I read that part of your original post!

Location: Charleston, SC
Skydiving Experience: 115 jumps
BASE Experience: None
Motivation: BASE and the recommendations on this forums (I have been lurking here for a few years, this is the first forum I go to each morning) are the reason I started skydiving. Once I started skydiving I realized that there is a lot more to a jump than turn on the gopro, 3.2.1...cya, and high fives on the ground. I am looking to try to meet some of the locals to ground crew, provide some beer, and start learning..

Location: Oklahoma
Skydiving Experience: 300+
BASE Experience: 25+
Motivation: The adventure and challenging aspects of the sport.

I don't expect any replies to this post...I live in Oklahoma. Local DZ is Skydive Airtight. I'm the only active BASE jumper at that location. I know of a few BASE retirees but my main focus is finding active, experienced jumpers for both slider down and slider up objects. My experience has been derived from Twin Falls, Idaho and a dirty low antenna in my home town in Oklahoma. I have made an assortment of PCA, handheld, static line and stowed jumps.

Can't you hook up with DBC? They're in OKC and seem friendly enough.

I dont think DBC does the mentorship thing. There are a few guys in Ok that jump. PM sent.

Location: Los Gatos (I skydive at Lodi)
Skydiving Experience: 60
BASE Experience: 0
Motivation: I love adventure and flying has always been my dream. Im going to eventually BASE jump, and i want to start sooner than later.


Before you skim over this saying I don't have enough experience, I'm not here trying to get thrown off an object tomorrow (although I wouldn't mind it). But I do want to get into BASE, and I want to start learning to pack and ground crew. I'm a fast learner and motivated. I'm only 17, I'll be 18 in December, and got all 60 skydives over the past 8 months with most of them in the last 3. Also, i rock climb and have no problem being a couple thousand feet up a rock wall, and I've climbed some tall power towers with some friends, so heights don't really phase me. BASE has always been my goal, and learning the packing and learning about the gear now will only help me in the future when I make my first jump. In terms of skydiving I've been spending time on tracking, and focusing on canopy control (immediately getting the toggles, flat turns, riser turns, flare turns, quick 180s)

If anyone's interested on taking me on, leave me a reply or PM, and if not, I'd love to hear your advice on what to practice and focus on as I get my jump numbers up.

Thanks,
Daniel

Daniel, I applaud your motivation and enthusiasm to get into BASE! Do what you want, but knowing what I know and seeing what I've seen CHILL BRO, go to college, get drunk, skydive MORE, live life, travel abroad, BASE will always be here, the question is will you! seriously I'm probably older than your dad and hAve been BASE jumping sine you were in the 2nd grade! Keep skydiving, take up skiing or snowboarding, work on those fast reflexes in non do or die situations! I love BASE jumping almost the same way a junkie loves heroin, no joke, I've seen a guy SPLAT and then jump 5 min later! Be old enough to go to BaRs and flirt with drunk horny women! When that gets old, and if I'm still alive I'll take you jumping!

I agree with goinin.

Sky and BASE takes some serious time, attention, energy, effort, and money. If you want to do it right you're going to be giving up much of your prime gettin' laid time.

I'm 29 and have a GF, so for me it's easy to stay in on Friday night to go skydive all day Saturday. But if I was 21 and single, I'd probably get pretty tired of watching my friends hit the bars which I lay low to prevent throwing up in the airplane the next morning.

Go get laid. Contrary to popular belief BASE jumping will hinder your sexual conquests rather than enhance them (unless you like banging the same 3 girls as all of your jumping buddies).

true story: i have never ONCE got laid directly because of base jumping. never. skydiving, absolutely, but NEVER base.............

but if you count blowjobs from bealio's mom, then ive gotten plenty of that action

Yep, my experience is that girls think skydiving is pretty hot, "you're brave/courageous etc". Mention base and they think you're legitimately crazy.
And the ones that think its kind of cool very quickly get convinced otherwise by their family/friends.

Looks like you found your mentors. People obviously know you enough to care about you, so keep skydiving and progressing, and keep showing an interest, and I'm sure someone will help you do this the right way when the time is right.

Best of luck, kiddo! Stay motivated and keep kicking ass in the sky.

Hey guys,
Thanks for the advice. I'm planning on keeping up with skydiving regardless of wether I start BASE. And for the record, my motivation for BASE isn't really based off trying to get girls or be "cool". It's more about my desire for flying, and seeking thrill. I'm planning on getting more skydives in and taking Tom A's course when I can. But I wouldn't mind having some experience ground crewing and packing and a possible jump before then.

Thanks,
Daniel

Daniel,

You missed my point, I said go do those things now cuz if you don't and want to "fly" instead you may end up dead having never experienced those things, get it. Even the most skilled and talented base jumpers make mistakes, and those mistakes have cost many lives! The guy who opened the door for me in BASE is Dead from BASE! Ive seen several BASE accidents first hand, and most don't end pretty! So as I said before EXPERIENCE the joys of life and as you grow older if that desire still exists and your not a conceited DB there will be jumpers willing to help you out! Just an FYI since your a minor, and you accompany someone on an illegal activity, they could potential face endangerment charges if caught! Have you seen BASE live and in person yet, or just videos? I'll be in Lodi jumpin the next few weekends if want to chat

Chill..... bullshit. One of the best base jumpers I know started at 18. And was solid from the start. If that's what your dream is , then do it. I just hope you have really good decision making skills. If you don't then wait. Think about what I just said hard. Good luck.

Chill? That's great that you know someone that started at 18, how old is he now 24-25, let me know if he makes it to 40? You missed my point also, more power to him, it can be done. I moved to Europe at the age of 16 to pursue my dream of being a pro skier, raced in college and skied professionally til I was 30. So I'm all to familiar about following your dreams. My point is/was at such a young age there are so many RAD experiences to be had without as many risks as BASE. This last Aug-Sep we experienced more deaths in such a short amount of time. Do what you want, it's a free country, and opinions are like assholes everyone's got em. I personally know a girl that started at 16 and at 17 was jumping cliffs with us in Norway, but it takes a very mature attitude at young age to survive! Maybe I'm saying all this because I can remember my feeling of invincibility at 17, and that I personally probably wouldn't have survived to make it past 40 if I started jumping so young. So when someone asks about a "mentor" that means they want some advice and aren't just going at it on their own. Not trying to scare the kid or discourage him in anyway, just giving some thoughts and ideas to think about!

This is the most important point here. When kids start skydiving/tunnel flying/BASE jumping at a young age it's pretty cool because they have a ton of time and energy with no real responsibilities to hold them back. As a result they usually wind up being pretty f*cking impressive.

The other side of that coin though, is that they are usually the most aggressive. We all remember when we were bulletproof teenagers. My advice to anyone who is young (teens, early twenties) is always to put off BASE and/or swooping until they're a little older. Even if you are a mature 18 year old, you'll be an even more mature 28 year old and better prepared to exercise sound judgement in very dangerous circumstances.

One of the biggest weaknesses in teenagers is a relative inability to push back against peer pressure (generally speaking). A very important survival skill in BASE is being able to walk away while your buddies jump in marginal conditions. It's made even more difficult if you see a few of them jump and get away with it.

If you're 17, 18, 21, etc...just be a skydiver for a while. You'll still be way ahead of the curve since most of us didn't start until our late 20's/early 30's. By the time you're our age you'll be a badass flyer, mature adult, and well prepared to become a badass BASE jumper.

Also you'll have gotten laid way more and that's what's really important here.

spot on +1000

That would be awesome. I might be up there next weekend. I'll PM you

It probably doesn't seem like it because of me wanting to start BASE, but I'm actually pretty good at judging risk and knowing when to back down. I've done 4 hour approaches to climbs before, and decided to turn back due to some storm clouds in the distence, even though they usually weren't a real threat. I'm planning on working on my canopy skills more (I've already been practicing flat turns and quick 180's on every jump) and hopefully will be taking Tom A's course after my birthday. I'll be looking for people to jump with and show me around after though!

-Daniel

and there it is!
good luck young man. you'll need LOTS of it, and even more sound judgement. hopefully you have/develop both.

To nobody in particular, from a psychological perspective, your "executive function" which includes self-control doesn't really mature until around 26 - this article says 25. http://psychcentral.com/lib/executive-function-problem-or-just-a-lazy-kid-part-1/0009272

Zero doubt I would have killed myself if I started base when I was 19. In retrospect, I'm really glad I didn't wind up switching from sky to base back when I was 21 and first got 200 sky jumps. I totally wasn't mentally ready.

That said, if you're going to do it young, someone with solid decision rules (using implementation intentions, being mindful of the difference between automatic and controlled processing, being wary of the empathy gap, ego depletion, the danger of social proof, etc.) could easily make acceptable decisions.

Agreed, me too. People think I'm 11 anyway so it can be entertaining in that aspect.

More importantly though BASE jumping has definitely had a direct correlation to sexual experiences with girls that were otherwise probably out of my league. I think that's the real take away lesson here.

Anybody who disagrees obviously hasn't been to the Bomb Shelter or the Horner. And I though you were 14!!

Location: Tucson, AZ
Skydiving Experience: 120
BASE Experience: 55
Motivation: High, like everyday, just give me time and place.

LOCATION: Tennessee
SKY JUMPS: AFF
BASE JUMPS:Not enough
MOTIVATION: Wingsuit videos get more likes on Facebook.

location: MORDOR
skydives: several dozen
base jumps: ive been playing a base jump video game which has helped and given me some serious risk assesment skills
motivation: crystal meth

Location: Basel Switzerland
Skydiving Experience: 250+ jumps
BASE Experience: none
Motivation: I am 28 and since i was 9 or even younger i have had the dream to be up in the sky. its pure freedom and happiness. i really like the trill, the focus and the only thing which counts is here and right now, to life in the moment.
And as i grew up my dreams got also bigger…now!
i am motivated to do base from pure fascination and the kick to stand on the edge on top of a beautiful mountain in pure harmony with the nature and my self. we all have one life! everyone should do the best out of it with out any doubt.
if i imagine the worst thing in my life that can happen, it would be the point, close to the end. while i asking my self, was this the life that i wanted do live and i answer it with no!!! and i realize that i ignored my dreams to be suitable with the society.

let me tell you my story.
did my first tandum skydive as a result of some stupid drinking game at the age of 18. Was scared shitless and hated it. but my god loved the freefall. spend all winter saving up for an aff course. did my aff graduation jump 11th of april 2011 at the age of 19 with my underpants filled with 7 shades of brown. As my passion got worse and worse i spend every free minute at the dropzone packing and jumping. since i had no cash from other jobs i paid my first 200 something skydives and my rig with all i earned from packing. As i learned how to pack reserves i also got the hang of baserigs and was packing for friends. after a while i got more and more interested so one of the guys who i was packing his base rig for agreed to take me for my first jump on 8th of april 2012.
Now i am 22 years old. i have 450 basejumps and only some 40 of them slider up. i have close to 700 skydives. about half 4way camerawork and half freefly, wingsuit and other stupid things.

As far as injuries goes. i bounced quite hard attempting to swoop my 150sqrft canopy. Got away with a soar hip and to this day i still don't swoop. With base i sustained nothing more than a few scratches on my hands from shitty downwind landings on sketchy jumps.

This is just to point out that judging by age alone isn't the best way to go in my opinion

Good on you, but I wasn't saying that age is a causal factor of bad judgment. I was just saying they are very, very highly correlated. There are exceptions to every rule.

Then again, if your botched swoop had been worse you could have easily been a story supporting my argument.

yeah but thank god i learned from it.

To embarrass myself once more here is the vid of the end of my beautiful swooping career

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oP0wGTg0tw

and to prove my point of age doesnt matter. this fuckface doesn't exactly look like the average 20 year old cunt does he?

https://www.facebook.com/...?v=10151690883287842

nope!
he looks like a broke ass sexual chocolate!!!

That boy good!

Nice to hear about other jumpers starting young. Another exception to the rule would be be Clair, staring at 16 with no skydives. But my goal isn't to be an exception like that. BASE is something I really want to do, but also something I want to be able to keep doing (not end up dead or too injured to continue). A little update on my progress toward my BASE goal, I now have ~80 skydives and am going every weekend. I got to ground crew for the first time last Saturday for three jumpers, and earlier today someone at the DZ was nice enough to let me practice packing on her rig. I'm signed up for Tom A's course in February, and can't wait to start jumping!

Location: Austria (Vienna)
Skydiving Experience: 74 Skydive Jumps
BASE Experience: 0 (for now..)
Motivation: I started Skydiving in summer 2013 when i was 15 years old (my parents allowed it under one condition: I have to pay it all by myself... and i did)
I have been fascinated by this sport right away!
But it has always been a big dream of mine to travel around and doing BASE jumps! I hope someone messages me and maybe introduces my to this wonderful sport!
Blue Skies, George

I will travel to the US in mars to pick up my rig and do a couple of hundred skydives. My budget offers 400 skydives and I will live at the dropzone until I feeling ready. I have been working my ass off in 14 months to save money for everything I need to fullfill my dreams. But I rather learn from a experienced jumper then a aff course. I think I can learn alot more with 1 200 euros then off a course. I want the learing to be "personal".

During my stay I will practise alot of precision landings, on heading openings, be really aware of my body position and effective tracking.

If you are experienced base jumper and want to learn to know me before you even think of to take me out join me for a couple of coached skydives. I pay your loadticket If you are a openminded and decent person.

Location: Norway, Stavanger. (USA Mars, April, May and maby June)

Skydiving Experience: 25 jumps - budget for 500 more and buffert for gear and travel.

BASE Experience: Not more than books, weather studying, in the dreams and earlier first timers on the base scene texts/stories.

Motivation: I want to experience freefall from earth and do a sport who I can only trust myself. I also want to do It exacly as in my dreams. I pretty much live for what Im dreaming off but I still have understanding that Im not superhuman. :)

Would be awesome If someone In the US would want to take me out during my stay. I will arrive in Cali and stay at Lodi dropzone but Im really flexible in traveling since this is something I really want to do (After alot of skydives).

Send me your E-mail and I can tell more about myself.

//Antoni

Location: Charlotte, NC
Skydive Experience: 98 jumps
Base Experience: None, but very eager to learn!
MOtivation: I have been climbing nearly all my life and loved being up high, started skydiving this summer in the pursuit of eventually base jumping. Tons of practice on my canopy skills and now I am eager to slowly introduce myself into the world of base and am looking for a mentor or friend to help me start my journey!!

Look forward to hearing from some one out there!![/email]

Figured I'd give this thread one last go.

Location: Nor Cal/Bay Area
Skydiving Experience: 90
BASE Experience: 1
Motivation: The one jump I did was the most rewarding experience I've had, and I want more. Also flyings been my dream since I was little.


Hey guys, I have a few more jumps since last time, and one BASE jump (PCA). I'll be in Idaho for 10 days next week for a FJC, then back in Nor Cal. I have a few people willing to show me around once I'm back, and know a couple local objects fairly well (through GC and my 1st jump). I have someone willing to mentor me, but he mainly jumps terminal cliffs and mainly with wingsuits, so I'm looking to see if theres anyone better suited and willing to help me out along my journey in BASE as I get started and am jumping more beginner objects. Also, if anyones looking for a jump buddy in the area on more beginner objects, let me know. I should have my rig near the end of March. And if you aren't looking to mentor, an advice is appreciated!

PM's preferred.

-Daniel

location:NYC

300 skydives, 18 base 3 in WV rest off the potato bridge (took tom's BD FJC,APEX FJC twice ,and CEC)
motivation: i want to become good ,but do it the right way not rush and be stupid and or dead

Reading through this thread again. Some of these posts sound like dating ads.

Let's see how it goes...

Dude, both those numbers are a little low...

I would suggest hiring a professional first. There are more than a few courses that will help with your dilemma. Sure it will cost you some money but you will get experience in a relatively safe and comforting environment and when you are done you'll have all the confidence in the world to take home and destroy those jumps there!

Location: Kiev, Ukraine.

Skyjumps: 500+

Basejumps: 350 from 85 objects.

Motivation: The more I jump, the stronger the feeling that I don't know shit

Moving to Oahu, Hawaii in June.
Sky experience: I will have over 300 before FJC
BASE Experience: I'm doing the Apex FJC before moving. Planning on staying for over a week.
Motivation: The experience.

Location: NC, Southern pines area
Skydiving Experience: 120 ish jumps
BASE Experience: 1 jump off of an A. Wasn't able to do anymore before I moved

Location: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Skydiving Experience: 200+
BASE Experience: 0
Motivation: Nature, People, Freefall

Location: Denver, CO
Skydiving exp: 1200+, iad / tandem instructor, suck at freeflying
BASE exp: 35, most from the Perrine, a couple from a popular bridge in CA, and the most popular exit in Moab.
Motivation: Recently moved back to Denver, and am looking for a few people to jump with. I'd love to get my A and B this year, but really just don't know anyone to show me some local spots and help me learn which local lagers and pilsners go best after a jump. Can someone help me find something worthwhile to stuff my BOC with?

There are a boatload of BASE jumpers around Denver. Be careful that you don't go jump anything without figuring out the scene or getting touch with people because most stuff has been jumped, a lot of it has heat/history, and it's an active area.

Yeah, the last thing I want to do is burn something. I'm patient and would want to get plenty of info and a local to help me out rather than trying anything dumb.

I would like to say thank all of you guys and gals, as I have been inspired by watching videos, and bridge day jumps for several years. I have completed several long rappels and may get the chance to rappel at bridge day next year.

I have always wanted to learn about Skydiving and BASE Jumping and how to get into it. Starting next spring I intend to begin working towards my Class A license and eventually work towards at least a Class B C and D. Licenses. We now have a drop zone in Huntington WV, and they appear to be very active and do a lot of jumps, and the prices are reasonable. . At this time I have the following.

O Skydives
0 BASE Jumps ( Dreaming of doing some).

Looking to learn more and be as safe as a person I can be.

Keep up the great attitude and willingness to learn and you'll find people are very open to sharing worthwhile knowledge with you. Good luck with your sky training and take pride in knowing the fun is all in the journey of getting to your goal so enjoy it!

Thanks for the reply and the words of encouragement. I appreciate them.

UK north west but will travel.
0 experience in either base or skydive.
(Done a tandem) lol
But basically I want to get involved with a group in the UK, I'm not expecting someone to go out there way and teach me how to BASE jump but I would love to get involved and see watch and maybe help? I'm a steeplejack and spend my work days up large structures that I want to jump of!! But maybe my skills could be of help sometimes? So yea I know I want to do it. Don't want to rush tho just want to meet some guys who do it and learn abit about it.
Thanks would appreciate response.
Currently on a job in Rotterdam so any Dutch guys who speak English feel free to respond.

Your best bet is to start by making a couple hundred skydives, not only are you building the skills you need, but you'll also have a decent chance at finding a mentor at the dropzone. Spending a lot of time at the DZ is also going to let you build a trusting relationship with the guys you're wanting to spend nights doing illegal stuff with. I'd recommend putting BASE on the back burner for a while also, don't just show up to the DZ talking about BASE and how "it's the only reason I want to skydive" like most 20 something first time tandem students. focus on friendships and having fun with a plane and the BASE part will present itself when the time is rite, BASE isn't something you want to rush, not that it hasn't been done, it's just not "smart".

and beer..... ALWAYS bring beer.

Cheers for the feedback pal. I know I got to get the skydive experience down was just hoping to get involved abit. I understand that people would be cautious about trusting new people but would love to hear some response of someone from the UK even just to meet for a pint.

Location: St. Louis, MO
Skydiving Experience: None
BASE Experience: None
Motivation: I am really interested in beginning BASE jumping. I have no experience with skydiving or BASE jumping and I am aware that I need to become an expert at skydiving prior to beginning BASE. With this in mind I would like to, while learning how to skydive, learn the techniques used in BASE so that the transition will be easy. I am attracted to BASE mostly, I think, because of my interest in most action sports. I mostly enjoy extreme skiing and I am a member of the St. Louis Rowing Club(Not really extreme, but mentally demanding). I am aware that it will be a long process until I finally am ready for BASE, but I am eager to get it started. Thanks!

Location: Phoenix, AZ
Skydiving Experience: 226 Jumps
BASE Experience: 23, First 2 at Bridge Day and the rest in Twin Falls
Motivation: I'm not looking to push very hard, I really just want to learn a lot first. I made the jumps at Bridge day to get it out of my system and didn't plan on jumping as much but then I moved out here and decided to take the follow up Apex course since Twin Falls isn't very far. I took all this past winter off from jumping then showed up at the Perrine in April. On my second jump, the first being a PCA, I packed my toggles wrong and lost them on opening and came in to land on my rears, stalled and sprained my ankle and MSL. So I'm mostly recovered at the point but I felt uneasy about that jump beforehand and now I know the feeling of I should have back down to reassess my gear. So at this point I would really just like to learn as much as I can and take the jumping slow. If any locals want to help me out it would be awesome.

How far are you from Asheville?

Location: Orange County, CA

Skydive Experience: 235 and current

BASE Experience: 19 jumps I have a few days at the bridge in Idaho, I have a couple A's and one E

Motivation: I want to jump always have and this is this my time to experience this incredible sport. I would like to continue to learn, have fun and make new friends within this tight knit community. I am still in needing someone to show me the way in every aspect of this sport.

I have been a climber for over 30 years and have had some amazing adventures with some amazing people in that community. looking for the same with BASE.

I am open to travel for the right opportunities, I am very open for ground crew opportunities specially with any urban or B jumps. I am located so LA, orange county and San Diego are all very accessible.

Does this ever work?

I'm always down to learn more. More safeish is better than the yolo skeet skeet ops I've been doing on my own.

Sky experience: 201 and not current
BASE experience: 41 jumps from 18 objects, 16 of which I reckon I opened. AS and O currently. (First Jump, March 1st)
Location: Central/South Texas/Mexican Borderlands
Motivation: Fapping too much leads to chaffing. At which time BASE is necessary.

I'll bring my magic keys, which I've gotten pretty good at in the last few months. Will GC/Beer you any time for a solid high profile B.

I have mentored 3 people so far. I hand selected these people from the DZ after jumping with them for several months. I picked them because I noticed they made better decisions than I did and they had mad canopy skills. My suggestion would be go to different DZs and make friends with the BASE jumpers. They will take you on easy object first to see how you handle yourself and if you are ready they will invite you on a B.

Opened 16 objects? Looking for a mentor?

WTF?

you have a majic key and you want someone to show you a B? and you ask for a high profile B?

Can you post your full name?

Fuck yeah man. I'll msg you privately.

I'm not gonna stop jumping just because the only other active local is busy doing his own thing. All new objects are either under construction or newly completed by the time I jump them so by my amazing powers of deduction, I'd be the first one off of them.

That said, 41 jumps puts me in the scrublord range so a decent mentor seems appropriate. (Or not? I don't fucking know) either way I'm gonna keep tossing myself off of things so if a mentor is saferish, then by all means

You just dont know how many active jumpers are in your area.

(ps there is a shit ton) Just re read your posts and ask yourself who wants to risk going to jail with Mr shortcut)

I think you should listen to the duck.....skydive more... the rest will come natural.

My guess is they are all wind turbines. All the same. Not real difficult to get in while under construction. Easy LZ's. Easy exits. Builds confidence to go to the next step, which of course is a high profile B.

Location north/south carolina line, I have roughly 600 skydives and 1 base jump. Did my first jump at bridge day last year and fell in love with it, looking for a mentor to help get me into the sport but also planning to do the snake river base course this year as well.

I can think of several good people for you to connect with in the Carolinas, although you're going to have to do a little driving. Send me an email and I can try to put you in touch. Failing that, one of the regular things we do in class is to put people in touch with locals back home, so once you're jumping it shouldn't be a problem to have people to jump with there.