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I have 18 jumps and am interested in eventually learning how to BASE. However I'll need at least 300 jumps first. Will it be worth it? Why do people choose BASE instead of skydiving? Considering the risks are that much greater, is the exeperience that much more different?

First thought:

Have you checked out the BASE Board at BLiNC? Lurking that board for a while, and reading the archives there might give you a better feel for what experienced BASE jumpers think.

I also (somewhat conceitedly) recommend Getting Into BASE if you haven't read that.


This is a question that only you can answer. The potential rewards are great for some. The risk is tremendously high. In the last three years I have lost two good friends and several acquaintances, seen numerous injury accidents, and spent more than two months in the hospital. I've also acquired a good chunk of titanium in my spinal column, and fourteen screws in my right ankle. Everything else was, fortunately, temporary.

Have a look at Vertical Visions X-Ray Page. I am number 7. This is not the highest price I've paid for my participation in BASE.

You can read about the worst price here or here.

You might also want to read my morbid post in the Boyfriends and BASE thread.

My quick advice on this is that, for 85% of people who try BASE, it probably isn't worth it. The trick is deciding if it's worth it for you (or not) early, so that you don't take the risks when the reward isn't worth it.


Again, that is going to be different for everyone. Since you'll have to do a lot of skydiving before considering BASE, you'll have some ideas on that yourself before ever starting.

Many people choose both. You don't need to exclude one or the other from your life, just as you don't need to exclude any number of other things if you want to skydive.


The experience is much different. Is it worth the greater risks? That's a personal decision.

The good news is that you have all the time you need to make the decision for yourself. Relax and take your time. BASE is only getting safer. Who knows? If you start in ten years, the technology may have advanced enough that it's as safe as golf or bowling.

"If you start in ten years, the technology may have advanced enough that it's as safe as golf or bowling."

...in which case go bungy jumping or ride Superman: The Escape at Six Flags. That's a pretty depressing scenario. I hope you're only half serious. Does that mean skydiving will be as safe as knitting (those needles are fairly pointy).

"Golf!!!!!"

Full Quotation:

"Real BASE jumpers are rebels more than freedom fighters. The good ones seek neither publicity, permission, or support. They are the last cowboys of parachuting and when they disappear BASE jumping will be just another pastime like golf and bowling."

- Nick Di Giovanni, BASE 194

Gidday Tom

"...when they disappear BASE jumping will be just another pastime like golf and bowling."

Why?? Because people will only be making legal BASE jumps? I can certainly see the attraction of being a rebel in today's 'standardised' world, but what about the skill, risk, and comaraderie of BASE? What about the extreme personal challenge and the opportunities to grow as a person who very much holds their live in their own hands? Are not these things the essence of BASE, and the excitement of making illegal BASE jumps just an add-on?? Maybe not...I have a sum total of 0 BASE jumps so may be talking crap.

What do you and other BASE jumpers find most attractive about the sport?

Someone posted this question to BLiNC a while ago. Check out that thread.

Make your 300 jump first,then reconsider.Read all the articels Tom Showed,and reconsider again,and again.


Why do pepole choose golf instead of skydiving?I think it much is about personalyti.

rember,while we says that BASE is the greatest,then we mean it,for us!!!Sure BASE aint for ewrybody,but skydive are either..

Enjoy the Blue Skies,be safe and have fun.No hurry..

OK - am I coming out as a BASE wuffo?...what for you jump off of fixed objects? Maybe motivations for participation isn't a hot topic for BASE jumpers. However, I was more interested in the comments made on 'risk free' BASE jumping and BASE jumpers as "rebels" than in specifically asking why people BASE jump in the first place. Would people still participate if BASE jumping was risk free and/or considered a more mainstream activity? - that is, if BASE jumping developed a similar status in society as golf.

yes and no.


I jump becours i like it,nothing else.I dont see myself as a rebel,IF i jump elegal,its only becours i cant make it legal..
If BASE were riskfree,i think we wouldnt be many doing it(dont misunderstand,we like it as safe as posible),the danger gives me my rush..
just my oppinion.
PM/mail me if you want a better explantion.

I think that the participants would be radically different, as would the culture of the activity.

You can see these differences already, by talking to jumpers from places where BASE is mostly legal off big cliffs (like Europe or Africa), and places where it has a history of being banned (like USA or Australia). They are generally quite different in their outlook on the sport.


Well, I did meet a tandem master who's two great passions in life were BASE and Golf. He would skip BASE jumps for good tee times, on occasion. So, I guess at least one person would.

This is very personal. I have met a few people that tried BASE, and just did not like it at all. Simple as that. Others do not even want to skydive anymore because they love it so much.


This is not skydiving! The skills are different. I do not think the rick is MUCH greater. But that depends mostly on the person and their skills. For a skilled person, the rick is just slightly greater. For a unskilled person, the rick can be monumental.

Now when all that have been said. Just felt like adding my 2 cents.

When you one day decides to try out BASE. Remember just one thing, IT IS dangerous. You will be injured or killed when BASE-jumping, it is a matter of plain statistics. No preparation or education can prevent it to happen eventually. Even though you are properly prepared anything can go wrong.

You have probably seen this link already but it doesn't do any harm to go over the list again and study those cases where jumpers have done it right and nowdays doesen't walk around with us anymore.

http://juliabell.home.att.net/

If you consider the risk wort it for a try-out. Well, then I hope to share a jump with you in time.

Take care.

// Percy

It really bothers me to hear people say this. 2-300 skydives is a GUIDELINE--and a liberal one at that. You should tink about BASE when you are a competent canopy pilot, have your own gear, have served as ground crew for a few (or more) jumps, etc (there is more written on this topic around the boards).
My point is, 300 skydives is NOTHING. I know people with twice that who couldn't hit a LZ the size of Manhattan.
See Dick jump.
See Dick hit the wall.
See Dick die.
don't be a Dick.

exactly...

Actually, I think people should have ONE MILLION skydives before they even think about meeting someone who once dated a guy who did a BASE jump. And even then, they should never actually utter the word "BASE" until they do ONE MILLION more skydives.

After all, jumping out of an airplane and deploying a canopy at terminal with a D-bag at 3000 feet altitude and landing in a giant grassy field is totally like flopping off a 400 foot cliff and landing between a few boulders after a 3 second delay! If you do the former thousands of times, you'll be sure to excel at the latter.

BASE is as risky or safe as we choose to make it. There are few active jumpers who don't understand from firsthand experience the cost of this risk, and yet we keep jumping, I guess that means that either we're total idiots (a strong possibility), or we like it enough to pay the price.

I'd say that BASE is "better than sex," but then I'd be accused of having crappy sex which would just kill my male ego. Careful with the male ego!

Peace,

D-d0g
ddog@wrinko.com
www.wrinko.com

Also I would add that just gaining the experience at the DZ to have the experience on paper to perhaps be ready for BASE still does not mean you are ready - I think your mindset also plays a big part - I know alot of people with alot of skydiving experience and the skills to perhaps get into BASE but although they want to get into it and they know they want to do it - "its just not right" for them at this point in time. You will know (or at least I hope you do) that you are "now ready".


or perhaps they just like saying they want to but never will............who knows.............

Be Safe.................. unless shes a virgin with no womb!!


M

I am quite new to this sport so still can remember clearly the feelings I had when I started....... Good analagy Dog...... cause thats what its like - I spent all that time "training" at the DZ for my first BASE experience and the only thing it has similar to a skydive is that you are suspended under a canopy........ nothing else is similar - even control of a canopy for the first several jumps slider off with steering lines leading straight from the tail - is a different ball game! - No matter how many skydives you have and no matter how much CRW / Accuracy / blah blah blah experience you have - you are now in a foreign environment with your head racing at 200mph and only 5 seconds to land a canopy into a gnarly area............... its not a romantic idealistic video screen vision of fun........ its very real and it scares the living shit outta me............!

but you have to love it !!!

Be Safe.............. & dont tell my mum

M

I totally agree. of my almost 500 BASE jumps, there have been countless times I have landed in a streets, alleys, footpaths, 5 meter openings...etc..

AND
crosswinded, downwinded.

I never had enough training after just 300 skydives. I learned 1,000 more about how much I DIDN?T know about flying a conopy once I started BASE. Then I went back to the DZ and just worked on Accuracy for about 6 months.
That only got me started. Things still happen all the time that are just strange.

Now with 800 Skydives and around 500 BASE jumps, I still learn things when I go to new/old objects.

That statement was a good one Mick. I learn new things when I go to new sites also. Every jump is different, even if the same day, same object. Wind differs, openings differ, and landing spots differ.
I got busted out of my DZ for flying my reserve intentionally. I thought it would be a good idea to try it in a no-stress sitaution to see how it flies.
And if it opens like it is supposed to.
See, if I ever had a mal skydiving, my guess is my reserve would be opening under 1000 feet. So, little time to try to find a clear landing zone, much less figure out how to fly my reserve.
I guess my idea of a "smart plan" turned out to be wrong.
I once heard the discussion about legalizing BASE. if that would increase the numbers of jumpers.
I don't think so. Really, it is legal in UK, so let's ask if all the people over in UK are compelled to try it just because it is legal.
Look at Twin Falls. Not every citizen BASE jumps there. It truly is not for everyone.
So, a good question I ask myself before I jump is:
Why am I doing this?
Not about who I can impress, or what people will think of me, as I am sometimes alone.
But why am I taking this risk with my life?
It's easier to send troops to war, when your life isn't the one on the line. Just ask the US government. They had a draft dodging president (Slick Willy) with the power to send troops to war. Something he dodged himself.
Ask the Aussies how to determine AM antenna radiation. They may be honest and tell you.
It's easier to get a newbie to test out an idea, than to try it yourself. Because it will be the newbie that gets hurt, and not the person whose idea it was.
Ouch, that hurts.
Peace,
Thomas

Mac266, cpoxon? Can I come and jump your legal sites?

Look, don't let anyone bullshit you! BASE IS LEGAL EVERYWHERE!

I only think a handful of places in the world like the Troll Wall, and maybe Finland have actually made laws against it.
The NPS has a permit in place called Aerial Delivery. This makes it LEGAL! However, the crooks choose NEVER to issue those permits. So by not getting a permit, you are breaking the law. Just like going to Yosemite and caming (NOT Jumping) overnight, but not getting a permit to camp. People do it all the time, but it IS illegal!

Tresspassing is also illegal. But BASE jumping from an A, or S is NOT! Unless you fail to get permission, then you are tresspassing, not breaking a BASE Jumping law...

You are wellcome at my place,its not legal but the farmers dont telland the police cant get tikkets for more than trespasing.that will(i gues,comparred to simela stuff)let you pay 500 dkr that is under 100$.i can erfort that

Well technically this is so - I mean you cant actually get charged with "BASE jumping" but they will try and charge you for "breach of the peace" or "wreckless endangerment" or "causing undue stress" and any other imaginative thing the old bill can dream up when they catch you.

I would be interested to hear if any of the UK jumpers have had their collars felt and what the out come was.

Be Safe................ be treated like a criminal for no such reason other than mis-understanding!

M

That must have smart a bit!!



Be Safe...............

I did one BASE jump out El Capitan when I had not many skydive jumps; I am no skydiving expert neither BASE expert by here is my .02.

It was a rush but probably I won't do it again because I would like to become a very old skydiver and I cannot accept all the risks involved in BASE. Call me a pussy.

BASE and SD are different. You cannot learn freefly, RW, while doing BASE. As a matter of fact you'd better learn as many things as possible before BASE especially canopy control and packing.

If you are willing to take all the risks involved into BASE and you are seriously thinking about it, become a proficient skydiver and accuracy pilot and dig into it otherwise stick with SD.

Cool

You aint a pussy!I can promise you that you have far more respect to back off than jumping.
Respect

Thanks Faber!

Although when looking at BASE the need is there but then I look at the accident report and I start thinking more rationally.

If I ever dig into it (the possibility is there) I would choose ralatively safe sites like jumping off bridges with a decent landing area for instance.

It's my understanding that nowadays the majority of the accidents happens either during landing or by stiking the wall. If a site is fairly safe for both I will assume the other risks involved.

For as long as I live in the States I won't dig into it. If the law changes or if I get to live somewhere else I'll see!

we all have our own limit.The only way to stay alive is to,do as your mind tells you,and follow the rules of the game.And even while we does that,there are still a big risk.

I have an article coming out in January's skydiving that addresses some of these topics. However, I'm sworn to secrecy on the contents until it is published, so I can't say more than that.

You are correct, however, in concluding that the vast majority of serious BASE injuries and also fatalities occur from object strike during opening sequence or on landing. Objects where object strike is very low risk (such as most bridges) are thus qualitatively safer than objects with high object-strike potential such as most cliffs.

Peace,

D-d0g
ddog@wrinko.com
www.wrinko.com