Basejumper.com - archive

A fair bit of talk lately about mentors, just wondering how many mentor others once they have their shit together.

Recently I showed a fairly experienced WS-BASEjumper how to properly attach a PC. Not sure that counts as "mentoring".

No, that's more of a helping the "special" ones among us out

Definitly "special". Let's hope the person wont go in because of something so basic. I will not bother anymore.

"Ungratefulness is the worlds salary".

that's particularly special but you really should be able to hook up your gear blindfolded.. pilot chute, bridle, wing and risers (if they're 3ring)

not that you would want to.. but knowing your gear front/back is kinda part of what really makes one a base jumper.

I was under such impression, yes. But what do I know, I'm old and grumpy and this is the times of new school BASE!

"new school BASE! where gear familiarity is tumped by your propensity to jump in a unicorn costume."

That is if you're not too busy setting yourself on fire or do suspension-jumps! First things first n'all!

I show as many people as many things as I can in hopes of giving everyone at least a little bit of information/knowledge. If there are new jumpers, I will take them to objects that I find straight forward. I think mentoring these days has fallen way off and a good jumper with good judgement is more important to find now than a good "mentor".

I have been thinking about it lately. Long time ago... most knowledge used to be transferred through a mentor/apprentice relationship; it was then slowly replaced by institutions in modern times. I do not necessarily agree with the notion that things are getting worst and all the negativity often associated with this topic. Methods evolves with the times and BASE knowledge transfer is no exception. Either method can work for you or against you depending on the circumstance...some people even do both (mentor and BASE course).

Don't hate on the onesies and costume jumping

The ones that were mentored but don't mentor others, would you like to share your reasons for not doing it?
Not judging, I wouldn't mentor someone, just curious

I was mentored. My mentor was asked by a lot of people before me to be their mentor, to which he refused. The reason he offered to mentor me was because we were on the exact same wavelength in regards to many other things not including BASE. Even if someone offered me two grand, I wouldn't be interested. So much time needs to be invested in students, so much trust, and from the mentor, much responsibility. The only people I would be interested in mentoring would be close friends who I knew were 100% committed to going all in and upholding the old school ethics.

My 2c.