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I'm looking for some advice on doing my first BASE jump. I have about 1,200 skydives over the last 14 years or so but haven't jumped in a year and only about 100 in the last 3.

My thinking was to get current, say 100 jumps or so, and then take a first jump course at Stavanger. Is this a reasonable idea? If not, what other preparation would you advise? Any areas or skills to focus on?

The why: since I started jumping, I've always intended to BASE but something often got in the way - injuries, moving to the UK, 8 way, kids, etc. Then one day 15 years had passed and I had never gotten around to it. I want to do it before I get too old. I will be 47 this spring.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks,

Bob

Keep in mind that a Stavanger course is pretty limited. It's fine if you just want to do a BASE holiday but doesn't offer much more than that.

If you want to learn more - particularly stuff that's relevant to slider off jumping in the UK - then a full course like one from James Boole, Maury, Douggs, Pressurized, 50.Cal etc would be better.

Get current as you have said and get on an FJC with Douggs, he's a ninja and I can't recommend him enough!!
PM me if you want more info.

I think it is reasonable, and there are certainly a lot of people who have safely done it this way, but it isn't the way I would do it. From a pedagogical perspective, starting in the slider down environment (from a Span) allows a more progressive approach. You can do a PCA, then take 1 second handheld, then 2, then move to stowed. After that, you can keep increasing your delay and progressively learn how a dead air exit feels by adding on a second or two at a time, all the way to terminal. By jumping an object in which you plan to reach terminal on the first jump, you add in an additional risk if you blow your exit, backslide into the cliff, etc. SBK does a good job of mitigating this risk with a pendulator, but if you blow an exit on a PCA it doesn't carry the same level of risk. For this reason, if I was living in Europe I would be looking more at the Pressurized course. It's worth noting that I haven't seen or taken either of these courses, but I just like the idea of going off a span for your first jump a lot more.

For skydiving, I would get a 7 cell canopy and stick it in an old accuracy/student rig.

Forget it, you're too old!

Whatever you decide to do, I'd recommend pulling high on those recurrency skydives to use the altitude for BASE specific canopy drills: slow flight, steep approaches, turns from half & 3/4 brakes, stall & stall recovery, flare from half brakes, backward flight, accuracy, etc. (and yes, this applies even if you only plan to jump slider-up - landing at Kjerag isn't exactly a walk in the park, especially in a 15-20kt wind).

I would recommend doing a real course, Kjerag course is only spot specific. Consider Douggs' or with Roch in France http://www.base-jump.com/en/ , if you want to get a well rounded experience. I've been jumping with a recent student of Roch's and he's dialed in. Yes, you have body flying skills but survival in BASE jumping is 99% assessment and decision making. Good luck!

As someone also over 40, I'd recommend doing
some cardiovascular training to help prepare you.
There is plenty of academic evidence to suggest
physical fitness affects performance under stress.

edited for minor grammar correction

Me thinks that you answered your question mostly in your Title of this post. Sort that out first with your BASE school. 25 aircraft Jumps dedicated to BASE training with a coach will benefit you more than 100 skyjumps without.
Your mention of injuries added to your screen name doesnt promote a successful image. Getting old should be on the top of everyone´s list if you believe the hype. One shouldnt quit playin because of being old. one gets old from not playing. Play accordingly.
Take care,
space

I have some of the best memories of BASE by learning the old school way with my buddy, mentor taught in the living rooms and hotel rooms near objects we jumped in the dark.

Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
You're already much more prepared than the most part of people starting BASE (at least much more prepared than I was)

Get current with those skydives and practice tracking.
Prepare your mind. Probably you already got the skills.

And take no advice from me. I don't even have 20 jumps

________________________________________

We all jump for the same reasons... don't we?!


jakee

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750 jumps in 7 years.


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Dec 19, 2015, 5:58 AM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
Keep in mind that a Stavanger course is pretty limited. It's fine if you just want to do a BASE holiday but doesn't offer much more than that.

If you want to learn more - particularly stuff that's relevant to slider off jumping in the UK - then a full course like one from James Boole, Maury, Douggs, Pressurized, 50.Cal etc would be better.


nickgreen

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Registered: Feb 16, 2013
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Dec 19, 2015, 6:01 AM
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________________________________________
Get current as you have said and get on an FJC with Douggs, he's a ninja and I can't recommend him enough!!
PM me if you want more info.


idemallie
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Dec 19, 2015, 6:19 AM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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turnlow wrote:
I'm looking for some advice on doing my first BASE jump. I have about 1,200 skydives over the last 14 years or so but haven't jumped in a year and only about 100 in the last 3.

My thinking was to get current, say 100 jumps or so, and then take a first jump course at Stavanger. Is this a reasonable idea? If not, what other preparation would you advise? Any areas or skills to focus on?

I think it is reasonable, and there are certainly a lot of people who have safely done it this way, but it isn't the way I would do it. From a pedagogical perspective, starting in the slider down environment (from a Span) allows a more progressive approach. You can do a PCA, then take 1 second handheld, then 2, then move to stowed. After that, you can keep increasing your delay and progressively learn how a dead air exit feels by adding on a second or two at a time, all the way to terminal. By jumping an object in which you plan to reach terminal on the first jump, you add in an additional risk if you blow your exit, backslide into the cliff, etc. SBK does a good job of mitigating this risk with a pendulator, but if you blow an exit on a PCA it doesn't carry the same level of risk. For this reason, if I was living in Europe I would be looking more at the Pressurized course. It's worth noting that I haven't seen or taken either of these courses, but I just like the idea of going off a span for your first jump a lot more.

For skydiving, I would get a 7 cell canopy and stick it in an old accuracy/student rig.


dantheman

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Registered: Oct 12, 2003
Posts: 86

Dec 19, 2015, 8:32 AM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
Forget it, you're too old!


surfers98

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Registered: May 26, 2004
Posts: 121

Dec 19, 2015, 3:47 PM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
Whatever you decide to do, I'd recommend pulling high on those recurrency skydives to use the altitude for BASE specific canopy drills: slow flight, steep approaches, turns from half & 3/4 brakes, stall & stall recovery, flare from half brakes, backward flight, accuracy, etc. (and yes, this applies even if you only plan to jump slider-up - landing at Kjerag isn't exactly a walk in the park, especially in a 15-20kt wind).


Lau

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Registered: Nov 5, 2008
Posts: 71

Dec 19, 2015, 11:28 PM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
I would recommend doing a real course, Kjerag course is only spot specific. Consider Douggs' or with Roch in France http://www.base-jump.com/en/ , if you want to get a well rounded experience. I've been jumping with a recent student of Roch's and he's dialed in. Yes, you have body flying skills but survival in BASE jumping is 99% assessment and decision making. Good luck!


GreenMachine

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586 jumps in 9 years.



Registered: Jan 24, 2003
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Dec 20, 2015, 6:26 AM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
As someone also over 40, I'd recommend doing
some cardiovascular training to help prepare you.
There is plenty of academic evidence to suggest
physical fitness affects performance under stress.

edited for minor grammar correction

________________________________________
BASE•1366
Sky-Frogs

(This post was edited by GreenMachine on Dec 20, 2015, 6:27 AM)



base283

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450 jumps in 27 years.


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Dec 20, 2015, 10:32 AM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
Me thinks that you answered your question mostly in your Title of this post. Sort that out first with your BASE school. 25 aircraft Jumps dedicated to BASE training with a coach will benefit you more than 100 skyjumps without.
Your mention of injuries added to your screen name doesnt promote a successful image. Getting old should be on the top of everyone´s list if you believe the hype. One shouldnt quit playin because of being old. one gets old from not playing. Play accordingly.
Take care,
space


SLAMBO

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Registered: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 344

Dec 21, 2015, 11:03 AM
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Re: [turnlow] First BASE jump tips for experienced but uncurrent skydiver [In reply to]
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________________________________________
I have some of the best memories of BASE by learning the old school way with my buddy, mentor taught in the living rooms and hotel rooms near objects we jumped in the dark.



This is great stuff, thanks. It seems I was leaning towards Norway because of my skydiving perspective, i.e., altitude equals safety, but it’s clear there are many other important variables to consider. I would appreciate a bit more help in thinking this through.
I’m just going to do this one BASE jumping trip, and then I’m done. I want to do whatever I can to prepare myself and select the approach and location that helps to minimise the (not insubstantial) risk.
BASE specific prep skydives and gear (7 cell and tracking pants) seem like great advice. On order shortly. BASE coach for prep skydives also seems sensible. And I have been running already…3-4 miles for 3-4 days a week. But I am too old, true.
With that, do you have any additional advice to share?
Thanks,
Bob
PS ‘turnlow’ comes from the phrase ‘drive fast, turn low, take chances.’
PPS ironically, all of my injuries were non-skydiving related…skiing crashes, motorcycle crashes, etc. Skydiving has been relatively pain-free!

There is a hyperlink in the top right corner of every post that makes quoting other people quite a bit more readable. You can also edit your own posts by clicking the edit button in the same location.

As for your injuries, the fact that they were all non-skydiving related doesn't make them negligible (and perhaps you weren't saying it does). Injuries in other high risk activities can just as easily point to a lack of good judgement. I had motorcycle accident when I was 18 that resulted completely from extremely poor judgement, and that weighs heavily on me when I'm making decisions about what jumps I want to make. I always assume that I'm exercising poor judgement, because I really, really don't want to make that same mistake again.

Tracking is important for bigger stuff, but nothing in skydiving prepares you for the low stuff except canopy control. Fly big boats you load at .6-.7/1. Practice landing those literally on a dime... on pavement... surrounded by a ring of fire. That's how important your landing skills are. Lots of landing areas aren't big or pretty... or really even landing areas at all. I'd say if you do nothing else, practice big wing canopy control over and over and over. Do a little CRW to get a good feel for how much lift you're getting relative to something. Good luck and have fun!

If you are only doing the one trip then not sure I would bother with tracking gear and getting a 7 cell to skydive, go do Toms course hire his gear then be done with it, I think you can hire gear and get somebody to pack for you at Stavanger so do that if you want terminal

Once you do your first BASE jump make sure you get a athlete page they are all doing it hahaha


Honestly mate if you are only doing one or two BASE jumps then throwing it in, go and experience the mountain of Kjerag and do the site specific course if you are fairly unfit then choose the Brento course they drive you to the exit

Both are great and if I can use "safe" in a BASE jump these two sites are the best

Brento being 80 metres overhung and Kjerag with a minor ledge at 7 secs then a big ledge at 11secs you are best off here

I would recommend doing atleast 50 skydives in a small amount possible learn to track the entire skydives no CRW or rel work just flat out tracking , if you want to learn how to fly your body when BASE jumping do atleast 20 jumps on a smaller tracking suit like the version 2-3 of Phoenix fly stay away from power suits or the big suits out these days ..

I would also suggest that you may have 1200 skydives but you have 0 BASE jumps remember your a beginner go to learn