Basejumper.com - archive

My father thinks everyone that BASE jumps is a drop out who likes to "make funny faces and cool hand signs." I tried explaining to him that BASE equipment doesn't advance by having a bunch of retards cut and sew fabric together. It takes innovative thinkers and engineering. Some BASE jumpers actually do have degrees and are employed, contrary to what he might believe. (He shows the common - and inaccurate, view of the BASE society). It made me curious as to what type of jobs BASE jumpers have when they are not off BASE jumping. Hence, the poll...any input would be much appreciated, I'm just trying to get a sample of people out there, thank you.

Please add construction workers and unemployed welfare slacker. We have plenty of the latter around here. They won't be responding to your poll because they have no computer and no job.

Does THIS POST look familiar?

Edit: Note that the last two Bridge Day's had an average age of 36 with over 1100 skydives and 60+ BASE jumps each. Females accounted for 12.2% of all jumpers. Cya.

I still find the prevalence of computer/engineer types intriguing.

My personal take is that we tend to be gear-heads (and sometimes social misfits... heh) and BASE sort of caters to that.

And actually, just to follow-up & sort of echo 554, polls of this sort are probably slightly skewed toward computer/engineer types because we are computer geeks as well.

So an internet-based poll will probably be omitting a sizable cross section of non-computer-oriented types.

You haven't lived until you've been a Union Sheet Metal Worker

Because this sport requires money to go places and have fun, I work as a Paralegal...hey, really, I do all the work and the attorneys get all the money, what can I say.

I also have my rigger's ticket for the pocket cash. And, I built my own base rig before I got my ticket...hehehe! Jumped it for almost the 2nd time at BD 2003...got my ticket on October 13...love that number! Should have had the ticket 3 years ago, waited in spite of my mentor...guess I spited myself in reality. Hopefully I'll be doing the Master's ticket next year.

Special Kaye...alias Easterpig1

I'm a Software Engineer, the other BASE jumpers in my area are:

a Union Iron Worker
a Machinist
a Postal Worker in a mail sorting plant
a Foreman for a concrete contractor

Does it really? All it requires for me is a local A, gas for my truck, and a rig. I'm a full-time student, and BASE is def cheaper than skydiving.


You know that you have to have at least 3 years experience as a senior rigger before getting your masters correct?

I own my own medium sized HVAC business. We do repairs, replacements, and new installations of heatung and cooling systems. I am also a very techy kind of person, I like knowing how stuff works, and typically try to gain all the knowledge I can about something before I do it. I remember as a kid, every time I got a new toy, I'd go into my room, lock the door and quiety disassemble it to find out what made it work. I could usually even get it back together!

Others in my area have every sort of job imaginable, very diversified. I guess in my area, the base jumpers are fairly "normal" people. You would never suspect any of us round here to be the outlaw type... lol

Ganja

no, never...

(Actually, it says you have to have 3 years of experience as a rigger. There are people who have gotten their 3 years experience and performed the required 200 packjobs all while under supervision of another certificated rigger. They still have to pass the written exam, but then they are eligible to bypass the Senior Rigger level and go straight to their Master Rigger Oral and Practical.)

See you in May!

Mark

Brain fart . You're right I forgot. C ya in May!

Nice description, I was the same way. :)

The base jumpers in our area are all well establised and have good jobs. I personally chose a carear in firefighting, while one friend is a retired steel worker who just turned 60.

Interesting topic.

I am a relief manager / supervisor for a multi billion dollar industrial company. Relief because it allows me to both take lots of time off to pursue my other business and personal interests, and I can still pursue a career.

Ambition - I want to be a travelling bum.

Reality - father, husband, career position as above, investor, run several small private businesses, charity / volunteer worker p/t, several university degrees, traveler, etc etc.

My jumping colleagues are:
- yes IT is VERY popular
- radiologist
- MD - doctor
- butcher
- rigger (movies / industrial)
- skydive bum / instructor
- research scientist
- construction worker
- government analyst
- electronic R&D engineer
- building construction manager
- motivational speaker
- musis recording studio
- etc

We come from ALL parts of society. But there seems to be many involved in contracting, business, and shift type work where we can take time off to pursue our true love ;).

I know at least 2 jumpers who work some serious government jobs.

I build towers during the day so I can jump with cool people like Katie and Chad at night.

I am Flight Instructor, and I Bartend four days a week. I live in San Francisco, A flight job alone does not pay the bills. yet.

Airline pilot.

So I can travel around the world with my rig, meet some cool basejumping people, and a lot of nice objects like I don't have at home...

BTW, I may be back in TX in june, guys...

 
...A friend of mine is proffesional snowboarder and won't get any office job ever because of the dread-locks of waist level lengh.

Others are:
-- sales managers
-- manufactures of BASE/skydive gear
-- financial brokers
-- goverments employes
-- architectors
-- IT employes
-- small/middle sized/huge businnes owners
-- skydive club owners
-- DZ owners
-- industrial climbers
-- videoeditiors
-- professional basejumpers
-- professional skydivers
-- bank employes
-- PADI or TDI diving instructors
-- drug dealers
-- even the spagetti/pasta-making factory owners
etc


And a much more things could be said about temporary or additional jobs of all these people. Or about their education... Or about traditional or X-sports experience and other hobbies...

I've got even the short-time experience in strip-dancing while I've been studying in a high-school.

Legislative Policy Analyst - Georgia Legislature

-gardner

I work for one of those large financial institutions in Geneva Switzerland... you know the kind that keep all the money of all the rich, evil bad people around the world.

Hey... I stick to the stereotype! I am banker, my house looks like the one "Heidi" lived in and all I eat is scrumptious swiss chocolate...

Remember that in this is 2005. Computer-type jobs are the new burger flippers. Every kid out of high school gets a job doing something with computers.

I'm just glad I got in when it was new so I'm not making the burger flipping wages.

I have been selling various computer related items on eBay and wholesale since I was 19, I am 25 now... Self-employed. My business partner is a skydiver too, though has no desire to BASE.

I'm not sure it matters what we do to get our money...Tell your dad that by making judgments about people based on their career or occupation is probably going to be misleading more often than not! He'll end up judging me to be XXXX, when he's never even met me, it's just too narrow minded - there are all kinds of people in all kinds of careers!

Regardless of our jobs, what most BASE jumpers really DO is:

• LIVE our lives to the greatest extent, the best we can!


• Actively work to pursue and overcome our greatest fears!


• Ignore people who tell us, "You can't do ________"!


• Appreciate the natural beauty of the earth!


• Support CHANGE instead of hiding from it.


• Trust in the power of BELIEF


• Know that just as much as everything matters, to the same extent NO-THING matters!

im a metal factory worker(Quickdraw could you explain if needed,cheers mate)
Im not getting payed well thats why im a BASEjumper,also i use all my energy at work,thats why i usaly dont climb anything higher than 500ft...

K-monster if you let your dad meet me this summer im sure he will see were just as "normal" as the rest of the crowd out there..oh that is if you dare

Looking forward,only 3 months from now he he

I am actually in one of the most mundane and boring professions - I am an accountant.

Sadly (or gladly), I dont meet that many other accountants that share my passion for certain things...........

well, except a certain Italian fellow that has grown from spawn...............

atomic physicist. yes, really!

I'm also a HVAC Engineer and I work for a big swiss company in Mexico. The company I work in is for sale since this week, so I ask you if you need a HVAC Engineer... :-)

industrial designer; currently finishing my mech engineering degree

one career wasn't enough to keep me from getting bored while engineering will pay the jumping trips

I work at a climbing gym. It's totally, inexcusably lame.

Sweet, we'll be here... and possibly with some new (to you) objects

Add F-14 and F/A-18 pilot to the list... sucks having to keep it on the way-down-low all the time!

Damn, you pretty much described my outlook on life perfectly... nicely done!

Graphic Designer/Web Developer.

Hi Katie ...

I voted Engineer (database engineer), so I guess I fit into two categories, Engineer/High-tech type stuff.

But as far as life goes, I have definitely been around the block. So I definitely feel your father is way off on what type of people BASE jump.

Not to mention, every time you stand next to Chad at an exit point, you are standing next to the type of people who represent BASE.

Do me a favor… To help explain your point of view to your father, simply print out the page that you’ll find at the below website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Star

Don’t tell him why he’s reading it… Then once he’s done reading the Bronze Star definition/history, tell him that this is the kind of person that you BASE jump with... Tell him that you have the honor to jump with this person often. Your father knows that Chad is a Bronze Star recipient, so he’ll quickly connect the dots whether he wants to or not.

Chad, and you, are awesome examples of what kind wonderful people we share exit points with. With that said, it would be awesome if your father eventually gets your point of view. But just remember, it is not your or our mission/responsibility to ensure that people understand why and how we live life the way we do. That’s an impossible mission …

...

Michael

P.S. I hope you and Chad are doing well... I miss you SUCKERS ...

I work here...(see picture)

I do abseiling and inspection here and I can tell you that it's very frustrating looking at this beautiful flare stack every day.

Fortunately that's only 2 weeks a month, which gives me 2 free weeks left to play...

J.

I'm a geek. I make 'm, but I never play 'm. I rather play outside.

Mm tell me about it cargo over here

I'm the Captain of a ocean going tug working down here in the Caribbean Sea. I don't know too much about these here computers or politics. However, when it comes to top-shelf liquor, BBQ's, and the worlds oldest profession, I consider myself an authority!

German PORN actor. Not gay "but willing to learn".

>>Oh, you mean like "Das Booty" ?

For the last three years, my tax returns have listed my occupation as "BASE jumper." I'm considering a career change to "industrial gravity tester" as per Jay's suggestion.

eh?

-=Raistlin

"are you gay? No but willing to learn"

line from Chevy Chase when joining the Army in the movie Stripes.

Bill Murray, not Chevy Chase.

Ahhh got it.

-=Raistlin

Damn what a dumb ass your right. That was one of my favorite lines in the movie! Big Fletch fan too just got a bit confused!