Basejumper.com - archive

I would like some input from experienced BASE jumpers regarding the philosophy of BASE jumping in the context of skydiving progression. I am a very much novice skydiver from a very small European country with very few BASE jumping sites (if any). I am loving it so far! At my dropzone there are some very talented freeflyers, wingsuiters, RW organisers and I know of one instructor that has done about 30 BASE jumps. When I get to 200 jumps it is expected that I become a jumpmaster and coach to help students (there is very much a club ethos) but after that I intend to try my hand at all the different disciplines, including at least one PCA from a forgiving Span. From lurking here for a while I have come to appreciate the skill sets to progress in BASE are quite distinct from recreational skydiving. I suppose my question is does BASE become the sole avenue of progression once taken up? Are there any canopy swooping freeflyers that are also prolific, technical BASE jumpers?

It's possible to do both, but realize that it will take nearly twice as much time and effort as just doing one.

Most of the very active skydivers I know who are also very active BASE jumpers are professional skydivers (jumping all week) who BASE jump as their primary hobby.

You only have so many hours in the day, and you have to decide how to spend them.