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Ive only recently started skydiving so I know ive got a looonnngggg way to go before I progress to BASE, but its what I want to do. Can anyone give me guidlines on which areas of skill to build on when skydiving to make the transition smoother when I eventually try BASE? I dont want to be wasting my time learning to fly head down and make swooping landings if its not going to help me progress to BASE.

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks

And by the way, ive read the 2 articles at the top.

It's funny. That's exactly what I do skydiving and both of those have helped me in the BASE environment.

Freeflying gave me overally body awareness and allows me to instinctively put myself in pretty much any orientation I want. This has saved my butt on at least one occasion. Plus we do tracking dives a lot.

The swooping gave me good malfunction reaction and riser input instincts, which have also helped on several occasions.

That said, accuracy practice & CRW are extremely helpful skills as well.

Most anything you learn skydiving will be helpful in some manner when you move over to BASE.

my thoughts:

Dont rush - there is plenty of time and dont rule out the headdown and swooping in skydiving or any facet in fact - they can be fun aswell you know and not a waste of your time.

Be safe always

I wasnt ruling out swooping and head down, they were just the first things that came into my head as examples!!!

Will do Mac, thanks. I was just wondering whether or not its best to have a goal and work towards it rather than being unfocused.

your goal will be to learn as much as posible

visit all the knowledge BASE posts on blinc...
look at the world BASE fatality list...
Learn how to skydive!!!!!!!!! because you will need a few hundred jumps before you are anywhere near ready for a course.
When ready then go concentrate on CRW and accuracy.

I am but a baby to this sport so these are only my opnions - but read & learn! and when you think you cant get anymore information - look again and read and learn more. Do as many skydives as you can (when you have learnt to skydive) taking into account the skills you want to learn - manufacturer courses say 250 jumps but i think that is because being US based 250 jumps and you can be very current - in the UK with our shit weather that aint gonna happen!!

I started BASE after 500 - and I look back and wish I had done more CRW and more canopy drills than I did within that 500. Dont rush into this mate - when experience guys tell you to slow down and read and learn etc etc they aint trying to piss on your cornflakes - they are speaking from an experience that you will understand only after jumping - and you will look back and say to yourself - "yeah they were on the money!!!"

Go skydive - have fun and scare yourself doing that for awhile - turn the world upside down on your head with your friends at 180mph - one day it will hit you - "I am now ready"

be safe always!

Michael

I keep hearing about doing CREW to prepare for BASE. I am assuming this teaches you skills for controlling your canopy with ALL (7?) inputs. But in base you never actually do any CRW, right? Are there specific maneuvers that CREW folks know that you don't use anywhere else, except BASE? What are they?

most especially the beer drinking part.

CReW teaches you the dynamics of canopy flight. Teaches you to react quickly and precisely. Teaches you how to dodge things!!! <== you will have to dodge things...

Front and rear riser techniques that are used no other time in skydiving will come in handy in the BASE environment.

There's a couple of kewl kats from South kakalakie that were doind 2 stacks and such at Bridge Day a couple of years ago...if there is one thing I KNOW to be true about BASE....NEVER say NEVER...and nothing is impossible.
Good Luck
Blair

cRW gets you into flying a low aspect ratio wing. The closest thing in skydiving to a 7-cell BASE canopy.

Nick
BASE 194
http://juliabell.home.att.net/

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

Read this, and when digested - read it again.

what Hookit said!