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I've been skydiving for about 3 years now and have around 190 jumps (most in the last year) and have been thinking about getting into BASE. My question is about gear. Most BASE jumping I do for a while will probably be 2-6 sec delays and I have no idea what kind of canopy/container I need. I'm kinda wary about buying used gear because I'm 6'4" 185 and I'm thinking it will be hard to find good used gear that will fit well. Any advice on what type of canopy or container plus any options on it is appreciated!

We have several BASE jumpers between
6 feet and 6 feet 10 inches so you might
be able to find a used container, but not
likely... a used wing is a good idea cause
newbies abuse their canopies even worse
than standard slider-off BASE jumping.

You will likely fly a 280, 285, 293, or 300
depending on the manufacturer / model.

Now here is your homework, READ
http://www.basejumper.com/articles/

Do you own a sky rig? If so, was it hard to find one that fit you good? Or better yet, if so, how did you find it?

You think? What do you see newbies doing that experienced guys don't?

Landing in trees, bushes, fences, getting drug across the ground going in the water

You only see newbies doing that?

Yes. I have a Javeline J-4 with a Silhouette 190 at the moment. I got really lucky finding it because our pilot at the dz sold it to me for a good deal, but it's still not a perfect fit. And to all other posters, I appreciate the advice, and YES! I absolutely want to take a FJC rather than start with a mentor.

Why?

Because from what I've been hearing from this forum and people I've talked to at dzs, starting with a mentor can be better, but there's no assurance as to the quality of the mentor. Also, at an FJC I'll have the chance to try different rigs in short succession, helping me to choose a first rig. And unless I take a trip with a mentor to a legal bridge, the spot would be more dangerous wouldn't it? I would love to hear your view on it though!

good luck starting with (IMHO) the hardest delay

Fair enough, my view on this : i'm an old school guy so I like things old school. This means that you should get to know the jumpers in your area, hang around with, volunteer to ground crew etc and get to know them up to the level that you can call them your friends. On that point you will know if one of them is a person that you want that teaches you to base jump and if e is willing to make the commitment. This, of course, takes time. Couple of years I would say. But choosing a mentor is not someting you do over the internet or over a beer in a local pub in 2 hours. Because the guys found this way will not be your mentors, they are some random guys looking to profit from you and not to genuinely help you.

So granted, if you are not willing to spend the time to properly look for a mentor, you most likely are better off on taking an FJC where at least both parties involved know that this is a short term commitment based on cash.

Some wise words on the topic :
http://www.basejumper.com/Articles/Getting_Into_BASE/Getting_into_BASE_660.html

I wish you a safe journey, however you choose to go.

I stand by my original idea that the less parachute
jumps an individual has made the more likely he or
she is to abuse their gear, especially the canopy
that is less durable and can not be washed.

>What do you see newbies doing that experienced guys don't?

Upon landing not knowing which way to move to
keep the canopy from falling onto a barbed wire
fence or thorn bushes; failing to re-attach their
brakes and hence allowing their gear to become
tangled up in a knot; shoving the canopy into the
stash bag first then mushing the rig in on top it;
dragging the wing to them as they daisy chain
instead of walking towards the wing; etc.

Depends if you chose a FJC that has a number of rigs for you to try. Not all do.

Food for thought: Where is your assurance that the FJC quality is up to par? A mentor will tell you f***off much quicker than a FJC IMHO if you aint ready.
Danger on any object is from your decision. A mentor is the one who will bring you to the exit and ask you what do you think?" Your best bet is to find a FJC with a Mentor. Or who can find a Mentorship.
Take care,
space

Okay. A lot of input and I appreciate it all. I've changed my views on a lot of things since I first visited the site and posted this. I'm still not 100% sure I want to BASE jump. From what I've heard a FJC can be good, but I've decided that if I do proceed I am going to try to find a mentor to learn from. I may do a FJC later to see another aspect of the sport, but I'm undecided at this point. Thank you for all of the advice you've given and I appreciate everything. I'll post later if I do decide anything. THANKS!

too many people trying to jump, too little people willing to mentor.

to little people qualified to mentor
I know I shouldn't be doing it

Not everybody wants to mentor. Not everybody can be a mentor. A FJC is a great idea. However, a FJC isn't the only way into BASE. To me, BASE is 90% research and preparation. 5% execution, and 2% luck. Now for you math scholars out there, you might say that doesn't add up to 100%. Well, in BASE, nothing is 100%. Anyway, if a person really wants to learn how to BASE jump, the information is out there.People get into too big of a hurry and want the end result, shy of death, they want the finished product of what a veteran can do or the luck the videos show.

If a person would do some research and start learning everything they can about everything. I started out on a forgiving object with forgiving LZ's and did drill after drill. Trying different exit points and different LZ's and learned so much, mostly that I had a lot more learning to do. Then moving onto a different object, from my research I discovered an A would be the most logical progressive decision. Then, I learned everything about that particular object. Like who built it, when, and why. How it worked, things like that. Then I would study the winds, find the hazards, LZ's, where I would land if I had an off heading, depending on the winds and/or hazards. I would look at my canopy skills, falling back on all my drills on the S. Get-a-way routes, local hospitals, I would find out who lives in that house at the base of the A, what did he do for a living, would he be cool with it if he caught me. Find out how much elevation I would eat up on opening, can I fly backwards in this wind, maybe I need to take a trip back to the S and simulate a 180 and fly to a certain LZ.

What I'm saying is I didn't have a mentor or take a FJC, hell, I never even got my A license. Do I recommend my path to a newb, NO I don't, however, if you are smart enough to figure something out and solve problems on your own then why not go with it? And if you are that smart or capable, then you should know if something is not right AND have the discipline to not proceed until you feel right about it. I am in no way bragging about myself or do I think I'm better than anybody else. Nor do I judge or base my BASE career on other jumpers because I really don't give a shit what everybody else is doing. I'm doing this for me and not for anybody else.

Back on topic, too many people wanting to jump, not enough of them wanting to learn, when you depend on someone to help you step by step, how are they going to help when you are falling 60mph, 200ft off the ground and the shit hits the fan? I wonder how many people got their numbers and don't even know how to pack? Yes, with today's gear BASE is a bit safer, however if all you are relying on is that 2% luck, it's going to run out quick. I would mentor someone who is willing to put in the time to learn. As a matter of fact, I have a "student" who has been BASE jumping for a couple of years now and he has only been off of two different S's, HE is in no hurry and he is fine with his pace, he isn't trying to transform his image into a wild and crazy BASE jumper. He is jumping for his own personal reasons and going at it at his own pace, and there is nothing wrong with it.

Not enough mentors...Well, have you ever been driving home after a jump and can't believe you really shit in your pants? I think that's enough said about that. But it's like a Spanish 1 student wanting to learn Spanish before he goes to Cancun so he can pick up chicks. And everyday in class the student hounds the teacher with eagerness to learn Spanish and the teacher assigns homework and the student doesn't want to do it at home he just wants the teacher to teach him Spanish.And everyday the same thing happens in class, the student wants to learn Spanish but doesn't want to do his homework, day after day the same routine. Eventually the teacher quits working with the student and when the student goes to Cancun he relies on what he learned in class and maybe the first night he picks up a chick and gets LUCKY and now he thinks he's Ricky Recardo, and what he doesn't realize is that chick was a washed up crack whore and when he tries again the next time he insults the chick and her brothers come stick a knife in his stomach.

So, take it as it is, I find your comment rather lacking.

and I have no idea what I am talking about

That made me laugh. I didn't see that coming at all. Poor fucker got stabbed.

+1

AWESOME POST!

but but but....i deserve to be spoon fed.

Alan, you are my hero. Damn straight truth with humor!

Okay, so after talking to some local base jumpers and skydivers I realize how far my head was up my ass when I first started this post. I have found someone who is willing to mentor who was recommended by a lot of BASE jumpers in the area. Now I just need to find gear..