Basejumper.com - archive

I'll start by saying I am not a BASE jumper (I see the rolling eyes already). I am a skydiver with 1100 jumps and 750 WS jumps. I do about 600 WS jumps a year. I am comfortable flying any size suit up to an A3/ CR+/ C-Race. However, I have yet to pick up BASE as the risk has scared me off so far up until recently.

One of the larger obstacles to me getting into BASE is lack of resources. Put simply, there is no legal BASE where I live nor is there any within any reasonable traveling distance. So to get into BASE would require an extended trip somewhere.

Before doing any BASE of any form I have a firm personal requirement that I have at least 1500 skydives, 1000 WS jumps and some experience jumping a BASE canopy in my skydiving rig on WS skydives. That is a completely reasonable objective that I can meet by next session.

The issue is the time. I can probably go on a 60-day trip, but that's about it. So I would have to basically fit everything into that window, bridge FJC, travel to Brento/ Norway/ Lauterbrunnen, slider up terminal coaching then WS BASE FFC. After that I am not sure if I'd ever return to BASE, especially WS BASE, just due to it not existing where I live. So it might end up being a one-and-done thing for me.

I dont have any interest in jumping an A3 through a crack somewhere. I'd be plenty happy and scared just to jump my ATC off Brento or some other newbie-friendly exit.

My question is how reasonable this goal is?

It's totally reasonable but don't plan to do it in your first year of BASE. Just start with a good FJC, leave the wingsuit at home, and go from there. Get solid tracking experience and look at doing a wingsuit base jump down the track. It takes time but don't rush it, don't go in and you'll get there.

OP, I like the info and outlook you put into your first post. You're on a reasonable track, but I totally agree with MrAW's advice.

Keep on WS'ing in skydiving. Take a BASE FJC and then spend a good year or so gaining experience in the non-WS BASE world, both slider down and slider up. This will give you a chance to see if you really like BASE and even more importantly, it will give you a chance to gain the depth of BASE knowledge you need before adding the complexity of wingsuits. Granted, you are certainly knowledgeable on wingsuiting in the skydiving world, but things are different in BASE.

Take some time to develop yourself as a BASE jumper first, and it will pay huge dividends when you eventually fly your wingsuit off cliffs.

I would be surprised if anyone would take you on a WS BASE FFC within the first 60 days of you starting but I'm sure you will find someone

I don't understand the 1000 WS jumps before you would do any form of BASE jumping?

You are trying to rush and people die with much better and easier goals than yours

Im confused at what part you think will be difficult. Are those 60 days the only time you can jump during the year? Do you have a sensitive job where any bust would be career threatening? I live in a place with no legal BASE jumps nearby, and started jumping my first year of Med school, which is kind of busy. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I don't want to sound harsh but i don't understand your motives to why even do the first jump. Doing it all in 60 days just for never to return? Yhe seems like a waste of time, resources and risk. Where's there's a will there's a way.

About reasonable plan, nope. What you basically saying is the skydiving equality to doing a AFF, then onto wingsuit and swooping - all in 60 days, ofc managble but nlt wise. Then the whole skydiving number thing you are well qualified, experience isn't bad but it's more about personality. I've seen students doing better with only 150 skydives than new base jumpers with 1000s of skydives ans 20 base jumps. In the end they are two different sports, very similar but still different.

Its good that you have a goal and a heading, but start of with a FJC (there a many options) and you will see the next step a bit clearer.

I was reading his comment as being 60 days per year to do it - not 60 days total. I agree if it's 60 days total, trying to progress from 0 to WS BASE in that time is pushing it.

I can jump year round, but it's more a matter of having a place to jump. There is effectively no legal BASE where I live and I am not interested in doing anything that would violate the law. I may be able to take up to 60 days off to go on a BASE trip next season, but beyond that would not be possible if I wanted to keep my job. I could come back at some point in the future, but not for 60 days. It would be more like for two weeks at a time.

If it cant be done safely, so be it. Not a big deal. I was more just curious what is a reasonable path. I may end up taking an FJC and being happy just doing terminal stuff at Brento or even sticking to the bridge for awhile. I cant know until I do it I supposed. Anyway, WS BASE is not really a firm goal for me, it just seemed like the more natural progression if I were to get into BASE since WS is pretty much all I do in the skydiving environment.

Still doable. Depends where you go and what your goals are. Two weeks in Norway might be 5-10 jumps, in Lauterbrunnen it might be 50 - it's enough time to get current and progress a little bit at a time.
Tracking is awesome though... focus on that and consider going to a one-piece tracking suit down the track before WS, they are getting WS level performance but with less on your plate.

Not sure if you meant it, but as a side comment, Lauterbrunnen is definitely not a good place to start.

As to the plan - The approach sounds good but the plan itself sounds to me sketchy. Even if you do a ton of jumps on a trip, still after a year you'll be again a beginner. And will continue to be one, until you get current, meaning jumping regularly.

It's not only about the number of jumps, but also time you spend in the sport, read forums, books etc. as well time in between jumps to think stuff over and learn new things, before taking them to exit point.

With a strict and tight schedule you may end up rushing into doing stuff you're not necessarily ready for, because you won't have a chance to climb down and jump the object / try new thing e.g. next month.
Sounds to me like you are already planning WS BASE jumps, before even making a very first one and not knowing how the basics will go.

Also, out of curiosity - you said you have 1100 jumps and do 600 a year. So does that men you've been in the sport for less than two seasons?

Yes - not what I meant. LB is not a good place to start.
I agree with everything else you said too.