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BASE Beginners

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Starting out
Hello everyone,

Just a brief intro, I'm Ross and I'm 19, currently got a full time job (though it's not something I see long term). You could call me an adventurer because I love trying new stuff although my opportunities have been limited...seen some base jumping videos around and have always said it'd be something I'd love to do, so I thought why not?

I know it takes a lot of time and money to invest, I'm earning a fair bit a fortnight that if I wanted to save I could easily.

Been researching base jumping a fair bit an thought I may as well get advice from the guys that actually do it!

I know I'd probably have to learn to sky dive first right? So I'm thinking to do an Accerlated Freefall course to learn aerodynamics and feel comfortable, then go on a BASE FJC? How many sky dives would you recommend?

Thanks for any advice you may give me.

Ross Blush
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
I know I'd probably have to learn to sky dive first right? So I'm thinking to do an Accerlated Freefall course to learn aerodynamics and feel comfortable, then go on a BASE FJC? How many sky dives would you recommend?

Thanks for any advice you may give me.

Ross Blush


Yes...you've clearly been researching base jumping a fair bitLaugh
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Re: [554] Starting out
554 wrote:
GravityL wrote:
I know I'd probably have to learn to sky dive first right? So I'm thinking to do an Accerlated Freefall course to learn aerodynamics and feel comfortable, then go on a BASE FJC? How many sky dives would you recommend?

Thanks for any advice you may give me.

Ross Blush


Yes...you've clearly been researching base jumping a fair bit Laugh

Can't tell if serious but that's what I've concluded Tongue
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
Can't tell if serious but that's what I've concluded Tongue

You've concluded that at least some skydiving is beneficial? Honestly, as far as research goes that lies somewhere between scratching the surface and just stating the blindingly obvious.

What exactly has your research consisted of? In the course of this research have you seen a suggested number of skydives stated anywhere? What was it?
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Re: [jakee] Starting out
jakee wrote:
GravityL wrote:
Can't tell if serious but that's what I've concluded Tongue

You've concluded that at least some skydiving is beneficial? Honestly, as far as research goes that lies somewhere between scratching the surface and just stating the blindingly obvious.

What exactly has your research consisted of? In the course of this research have you seen a suggested number of skydives stated anywhere? What was it?

No, hence the original question?
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
I know I'd probably have to learn to sky dive first right? So I'm thinking to do an Accerlated Freefall course to learn aerodynamics and feel comfortable, then go on a BASE FJC? How many sky dives would you recommend?

Where are you located? There may be cheaper options than AFF. If you can find a local DZ with an old school static line program, you can save more money for later training to be better prepared for BASE.

If you are set on BASE as your objective, my suggestion would be to take a basic skydiving course (AFF or static line).

Then pick up a secondhand container and reserve large enough to fit a BASE canopy. Either buy an old 7 cell skydiving canopy, a used BASE canopy, or even your "real" modern BASE canopy, and put it in there.

Make as many jumps as possible on the canopy, focusing on improving your canopy skills and your reactions at opening.

Work through a set of BASE specific drills (attached below) until you have _mastered_ each skill. I'd assume you're going to need 5-10 jumps for each drill, but it might take quite a few more.

Dial your accuracy in until you can easily land standing up in a 20' x 20' area every time, from any wind direction.

If you can do some CRW on the canopy, that's very helpful, but you will need to do some introductory CRW jumps on another canopy first (you can often find loaner CRW rigs if you look for an organized CRW training program).

Skydiving is a lot of fun, so you may decide you want to spend some more time doing skydiving stuff along the way, which I think is a great idea. Just don't neglect to do the BASE preparation before you take a BASE course. Having X number of skydives and actually having a good set of BASE preparatory skills are two different things--don't forget that.

After that, give me a shout and we'll talk about BASE training. Smile
fjccanopyKS.pdf
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
jakee wrote:
GravityL wrote:
Can't tell if serious but that's what I've concluded Tongue

You've concluded that at least some skydiving is beneficial? Honestly, as far as research goes that lies somewhere between scratching the surface and just stating the blindingly obvious.

What exactly has your research consisted of? In the course of this research have you seen a suggested number of skydives stated anywhere? What was it?

No, hence the original question?

OK, so what has your 'fair bit of research' consisted of? What have you done, what have you read, what have you learned?
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Re: [TomAiello] Starting out
TomAiello wrote:
GravityL wrote:
I know I'd probably have to learn to sky dive first right? So I'm thinking to do an Accerlated Freefall course to learn aerodynamics and feel comfortable, then go on a BASE FJC? How many sky dives would you recommend?

Where are you located? There may be cheaper options than AFF. If you can find a local DZ with an old school static line program, you can save more money for later training to be better prepared for BASE.

If you are set on BASE as your objective, my suggestion would be to take a basic skydiving course (AFF or static line).

Then pick up a secondhand container and reserve large enough to fit a BASE canopy. Either buy an old 7 cell skydiving canopy, a used BASE canopy, or even your "real" modern BASE canopy, and put it in there.

Make as many jumps as possible on the canopy, focusing on improving your canopy skills and your reactions at opening.

Work through a set of BASE specific drills (attached below) until you have _mastered_ each skill. I'd assume you're going to need 5-10 jumps for each drill, but it might take quite a few more.

Dial your accuracy in until you can easily land standing up in a 20' x 20' area every time, from any wind direction.

If you can do some CRW on the canopy, that's very helpful, but you will need to do some introductory CRW jumps on another canopy first (you can often find loaner CRW rigs if you look for an organized CRW training program).

Skydiving is a lot of fun, so you may decide you want to spend some more time doing skydiving stuff along the way, which I think is a great idea. Just don't neglect to do the BASE preparation before you take a BASE course. Having X number of skydives and actually having a good set of BASE preparatory skills are two different things--don't forget that.

After that, give me a shout and we'll talk about BASE training. Smile

Hi Tom, thanks for an extensive reply, will bare it in mind definitely !

I'm located in the UK, I've seen a few courses doing AFF for about $2000 (£1300), which is all levels.

My career plan is joining the British Air Bourne infantry, the Paras...I got rejected for medical reasons so that's why I've got a temp job, I'd learn static line during basic training but then I won't have the freedom to do BASE training etc.

So would you suggest just learning to sky diving at first then see where I go from there?
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
So would you suggest just learning to sky diving at first then see where I go from there?

Probably. If you're joining up soon, I'd bet you'll have a lot of other stuff to keep you busy, and BASE isn't going anywhere. You're far more likely to survive if you have some years and experiences under your belt (because you won't feel so bulletproof a few years from now as you do today).

If I wanted to learn to skydive and lived in the UK, I'd book a holiday to either Florida or Spain (or maybe somewhere else in the USA) and plan on banging out the entire training program and as many additional jumps as possible in a short time. Training in the UK takes a lot of patience because the weather is so hit and miss. You'll progress much faster if you travel abroad to get your first 100 or so jumps in.
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Re: [TomAiello] Starting out
I agree, if it's not raining here then it's snowing..lol.

I'd guess 100 jumps would be a lot of money right? Although that would be after my AFF I presume so I can do it solo.

Everytime you jump do you record it? Heard of something like that but not too sure how that works.

Thanks again
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
I'd guess 100 jumps would be a lot of money right? Although that would be after my AFF I presume so I can do it solo.

As an experienced jumper with your own gear, skydives are likely to cost you between $13 (the cheapest place I know of in the world) and $30. So 100 jumps will cost you between $1300 and $3000 (which is roughly between 800 and 2000 pounds, depending on exchange rates).


In reply to:
Everytime you jump do you record it?

It's a personal choice, but until you've gotten all the licenses you're likely to want (probably somewhere between 500 and 2000 skydives) I'd definitely recommend it. Jumpers generally keep log books to record their jumps in. As a beginner, you'll want to get an instructor to sign off your jumps in your log book, especially if you want to return to the UK after training abroad. That way the DZ you go to in the UK will let you follow the (cheaper and easier) rules for experienced jumpers, rather than having to start over again as a beginner.
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Re: [TomAiello] Starting out
Thanks Tom.

I've had a look, the nearest airfield is probably about 25 miles away (if that, know the way though), they charge £35 a consolidation jump, which isn't too bad.

http://www.skydivesibson.co.uk/tandem/aff-level-1

So after level 8 I'd be able to just get my own gear and jump?

Thanks
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Re: [GravityL] Starting out
GravityL wrote:
So after level 8 I'd be able to just get my own gear and jump?

Normally, yes, but I'd check with the actual DZ. Many have rules for new jumpers about certain kinds of jumps or equipment. They vary between DZ's though, so you need to ask them to be certain.
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Re: [TomAiello] Starting out
TomAiello wrote:
GravityL wrote:
I know I'd probably have to learn to sky dive first right? So I'm thinking to do an Accerlated Freefall course to learn aerodynamics and feel comfortable, then go on a BASE FJC? How many sky dives would you recommend?

Where are you located? There may be cheaper options than AFF. If you can find a local DZ with an old school static line program, you can save more money for later training to be better prepared for BASE.

If you are set on BASE as your objective, my suggestion would be to take a basic skydiving course (AFF or static line).

Then pick up a secondhand container and reserve large enough to fit a BASE canopy. Either buy an old 7 cell skydiving canopy, a used BASE canopy, or even your "real" modern BASE canopy, and put it in there.

Make as many jumps as possible on the canopy, focusing on improving your canopy skills and your reactions at opening.

Work through a set of BASE specific drills (attached below) until you have _mastered_ each skill. I'd assume you're going to need 5-10 jumps for each drill, but it might take quite a few more.

Dial your accuracy in until you can easily land standing up in a 20' x 20' area every time, from any wind direction.

If you can do some CRW on the canopy, that's very helpful, but you will need to do some introductory CRW jumps on another canopy first (you can often find loaner CRW rigs if you look for an organized CRW training program).

Skydiving is a lot of fun, so you may decide you want to spend some more time doing skydiving stuff along the way, which I think is a great idea. Just don't neglect to do the BASE preparation before you take a BASE course. Having X number of skydives and actually having a good set of BASE preparatory skills are two different things--don't forget that.

After that, give me a shout and we'll talk about BASE training. Smile
Hey Tom I came across this post after scanning the forums for a few days now trying to read up on starting out before I posted anything. I am flying to Deland FL to start AFF and A license training for about 17 days in February. I'm from Pennsylvania so heading south only made sense. I know by reading for a few hours that BASE isn't something that can be rushed. My intention is to get to the point of BASE jumping. My question is, does this post with the attached training drills apply to anyone wanting to get into BASE, or are there things that I should discuss with my instructors while in Deland? Thanks for any advice!
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Re: [jrouse] Starting out
You should certainly wait until you're off student status to do any kind of canopy drills.

I think you're fine to start them as soon as you're comfortable, which could be very soon after you're clear to skydive on your own. They're good practice for anyone wanting to start BASE.
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Re: [TomAiello] Starting out
TomAiello wrote:
You should certainly wait until you're off student status to do any kind of canopy drills.

I think you're fine to start them as soon as you're comfortable, which could be very soon after you're clear to skydive on your own. They're good practice for anyone wanting to start BASE.
still trying to get off of student status anyone want to sign off on my A card?