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Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
Hey all :)

I'm planning to pratice BASE canopy skills in a skydiving environment. To this end, I'll be keeping a detailed logbook.

I'm hoping for input on the stuff I plan to log, is there any categories I should add/remove? My aim in doing this is to keep a record of how my skills are progressing, know what I need to work on, and more importantly to enable a BASE instructor to have a good idea with regards to my skills. Really hoping for Tom's input as I'm inclined to do his course and this information is what I might be passing on to him (will be a while though).

Besides the normal categories, I plan to add these four:

1) Accuracy to target
2) Landing direction. I plan to not log this as "crosswind" or "downwind" but to use an angle. 0 degrees will mean into the wind, so, for example, I might do a landing 45 degrees or 260 degrees which don't fall clearly into "downwind", "crosswind" or "into the wind"
3) PLF. Intentional, unintentional, half flare, deep brake approach
4) Landing. Flare, rear/front riser, deep brake approach (with/without flare), braked turn

I'm also planning to include a checklist with Tom's BASE canopy drills, so I have an indication how many jumps I've done them on.

What do you guys think?

Thanks :)
ianyapxw
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Re: [ianyapxw] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
I think it's a great idea to help keep track of your own progression.

It's unlikely a BASE instructor is going to want to inspect your log book.

Keeping track of it yourself, for yourself, is going to be more important than having it logged and signed off for someone else to review. That's especially true in BASE, because _you_ are the one who approves yourself to do any particular jump, so you need to constantly be evaluating your own skills and readiness, not just for a training course, but also for every jump going forward from there.

Build the habit of self-evaluation, rather than relying on someone (anyone) else's approval now and it will stand you in good stead for years to come.
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Re: [ianyapxw] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
Highly recommend doing some CRW as well. that will give you a good idea of what your canopy is doing relative to another canopy...gives a really good complete understanding of whats going on.
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Re: [JBag] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
JBag wrote:
Highly recommend doing some CRW as well. that will give you a good idea of what your canopy is doing relative to another canopy...gives a really good complete understanding of whats going on.

Do you do CRW? ;)
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Re: [TomAiello] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
Thanks for the reply Smile

Yes, this logbook is also for self-evaluation as well!
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Re: [JBag] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
Thanks for the tip!

I don't do CReW at the moment Frown but because I've only done AFF jumps so far (see earlier post in this forum)
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Re: [ianyapxw] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
If you can find some experienced CRW jumpers who are also experienced BASE jumpers, doing CRW with them on BASE canopies is very educational.

Just plain ole CRW is pretty good training, too.
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Re: [TomAiello] Logging of Skydives in preparation for BASE
Haha sounds good!

At the moment, my rigger (who's a BASE rigger as well) is helping me find a rig. I'm not sure what he will get me (he knows my goals).

Hopefully it's a BASE canopy.