BlindBrick 0 #1 November 11, 2004 Hello, I'm a large jumper and am considering getting into BASE. I haven't seen a BASE-specific canopy in my size, and was wondering if a MT-1 canopy could be converted for BASE use? Also, since this comes up semi-freqently in the skydiving forums. If I thought I could loose enough weight by the time frame I would like to BASE in, I wouldn't be asking about converting an MT-1. I've also spoken with Jay Epstein, and I am aware of the increased risk factors I would be facing as a large BASE jumper. -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
basehoundsam 0 #2 November 11, 2004 Hey Durango, Nice to have met you at the MOAB boogie. I think If you are serious..... the right thing would be to call Jimmy at Vertigo (435-259-1085), and have him custom order you the correct canopy in the correct size. Anything is possible . Like you said before, I always warn Big-Boned people that they don't bounce well. E=MC2 . Just because you are twice the weight/size, does not mean that your bones are twice as strong. Working in extra margins in safety and training are a must. Putting in those extra skydives and Potato-Span jumps to learn all you can about how the only thing keeping you from injuring/killing yourself is that piece of nylon over your head, and that you need to nail the landing each and every time will bring you longevity in the sport. It's easy to want instant gratification, and cut corners..... just realize....... off/no flair landings feel bad !!!! p.s. Being a rigger is a real bonus in understanding/maintaining you gear . Lucky your already there...... Jay Epstein Ramirez www.adrenalineexploits.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #3 November 11, 2004 How much do you weigh? I'm wondering if there are better options.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlindBrick 0 #4 November 11, 2004 QuoteHow much do you weigh? I'm wondering if there are better options. 285 lbs currently though I hope to be down to at least 265 by the middle of next year, which was when I was looking at starting. -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #5 November 11, 2004 My concern is how well the canopy will hold up over the long run. The MT series was designed to be able to be opened at terminal from high altitudes(HAHO) and at high speeds. I do know that they had some problems with them blowing up due to PRO packing according to DALILLAMA during a study of the PRO pack(PM him for details) Packing is what the concern is IMO as I have been smacked by that chute due to packing. Now it was nothing like getting smacked under a smaller sabre 1 but for someone your size it might feel that way and you might have some canopy damage. The nose is extremely large on that canopy as large as on some accuracy canopies in fact. It also responds like a pig to toggle inputs which could mean the difference between missing an object and flying into it before inputs take effect. Personally, I would look at a BASE specific canopy first."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gil 0 #6 November 11, 2004 having some BASE-experience and - more important - several hundred jumps on a MT-1(X), I wouldn't even think of using one for fixed-object jumping... The MT-1(X) is reacting very slowly on toggle/riser imputs, it's like stearing a oil-tanker !!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Treejumps 0 #7 November 11, 2004 Hey Brick, No, it would be a very shitty BASE canopy. I'm 250#, and it hurts quite a bit more when you hit hard. Frankly, anything above the currently available large sizes (310 Ace, 293 Flik, and 313 Troll) would not give you much additioanl safety. While we can scale and build anything, it does not mean it will open, fly, or land well. There are efficiencies of the larger sizes that make them good options for you. You should have no problem jumping and landing a 310. If you do not feel you have the skills to fly and land a 310 under duress and in difficult terrain and conditions, you should not be considering BASE at all. You must be an excellent canopy pilot with very quick reactions and good decision making skills. Test jump the large sizes and decide for yourself. Anything larger would not be a very good idea. I look into a 330 several years ago and it was deemed a bad idea by Adam at CR. Big jumper = big dent in ground Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #8 November 11, 2004 Quote...265 by the middle of next year, which was when I was looking at starting. At 265, I'd go with a standard BASE canopy. Get it in the largest size available, and look for one with a good, strong flare. I'm guessing that you'll want the fifth control line, to enhance the flare, particularly if you aren't 6'8 or so (with arm length to match). The added square footage of the MT at that wingloading isn't going to be worth the added danger of using a non-BASE canopy. I know several BASE jumpers in your general weight range (one has already replied to this thread), who might be able to help steer you in the right direction. If you want contact info, drop me a PM or email.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #9 November 11, 2004 I wondered about the MT1-XX with a 36'' PC for a one time high 1750' A. I can see the problems with a low close to the object and ground jump with the XX canopies, but what about something like a tall guyed A with a stiff breeze blowing you far from the strike hazards and a large landing area? P.M. if anyone has any suggestions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #10 November 11, 2004 Quote...what about something like a tall guyed A with a stiff breeze blowing you far from the strike hazards and a large landing area? You could do that with almost anything. But what's the point? If you want to do more BASE, you're going to need appropriate gear. Just doing a "one off" jump seems kind of silly. Plus, you'd be tempted to do it again, and then try something else...and all of a sudden you'd find yourself on the roof of a building with an MT1-XX...-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #11 November 11, 2004 True. So your saying if a person were to stick with jumping only that 1750' A that things should be alright as far as gear goes. I am thinking of a pro and a 310 for base gear if I stay in the sport, just would like to get mentored and make a few off this A before I buy into something I wont stick with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #12 November 11, 2004 I think that your odds of survival jumping that canopy from a terminal tower with a tailwind are fairly good. I think they are significantly worse than the your odds of survival jumping proper BASE gear, though. Note that I am commenting only on the canopy, and assuming that it is in a BASE specific container. I, personally, would be unwilling to jump a skydiving container from a tower of any height currently existing in the world.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamostar 0 #13 November 11, 2004 Brick, I'm noticing that your profile says that you have 136 jumps over 3 years. That may be innacurate (notice I don't put anything in my profile). If it is accurate, I would suggest spending a season doing many skydives for becoming very current. During that season lose the weight that your planning on (or more) and you will find gear that is much more comfortable as well as making the hike out of the bottom of the canyon much less exhausting, or ladder climbs or hikes to the top of cliffs etc. Spend a season really "training" for BASE, that way when it is time you can go at it really hard without being in danger due to unwanted fatigue. I lost over 80 pounds in one year, it can be done. Good Luck, PaulSig lines are so stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #14 November 11, 2004 Gotcha All I need is something 310ish black with a black container Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Treejumps 0 #15 November 11, 2004 First off, what are you doing thinking about jumping off of anything? You have 42 jumps, and spend a fair amount of time worrying about how to jump sub par gear in skydivng. You need a LOT more experience before you even consider BASE. You also need to get into some kind of shape so that you can jump standard gear. The life span of an oversized, fat, out of shape base jumper on shit surplus gear is going to be short. To improve these poor odds, learn to skydive and how to fly a parachute very well. Regarding your junk gear off a 1750' A. If you were an experienced jumper who could reliably exit stable and track away, and reliably take at least 8 to 10 second dalays, then jumping that kind of gear would be "marginally" OK. For a low time skydiver who is out of shape, overweight, with minimal skydiving experience, it would be a stupid move, and at best you would be getting by with luck. Would you put a tail pocket on it, or would you just jump it bagged? You must crawl before you walk, grasshopper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #16 November 11, 2004 QuoteYou also need to get into some kind of shape so that you can jump standard gear. Tree, be nice. We don't know anything about fitness level here, just overall body weight. QuoteThe life span of an oversized, fat, out of shape base jumper... Hey, I resemble that remark! Seriously, if you're going to be fat (like me) you need to be thinking alot, and preparing. The BASE gods do not love us bigger boned jumpers, so we need to work extra hard to cheat them.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #17 November 11, 2004 I am 6'4 255 Firefighter/Rescue diver. No one said I was going to go jumping tomorrow. And if you were looking for a time line my first jump is scheduled for bridge day next year. As far as harking on the MT-xx it will be here long after your is hanging from the rafters. I have 3 landings on rear risers and have been on everything from a 2 way to 8 way hybrid, 2 tracking dives, crosswind landings, downwind landings, stood up the last 25 landings. I know more about the gear and the sport than most jumpers at my dz with 200 jumps. Every weekend I am finding myself giving answers to higher number jumpers to questions they never heard of. I spend all my time reading, watching, and lurking. Know more about your prey before you attack. Base GOD! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #18 November 11, 2004 Quote...255... At 255 pounds, you'll definitely want to use BASE gear for BASE, rather than the MT-xx. Despite wingloading considerations, a BASE canopy will serve you better. QuoteAs far as harking on the MT-xx it will be here long after your is hanging from the rafters. It certainly will. And it will probably be jumping out of airplanes. But don't make the mistake of thinking that a good skydiving canopy is by definition a good BASE canopy. The two are entirely different things. QuoteI know more about the gear and the sport than most jumpers at my dz with 200 jumps. Every weekend I am finding myself giving answers to higher number jumpers to questions they never heard of. I spend all my time reading, watching, and lurking. Be careful that you do not overestimate your knowledge. Book learning only gets us so far. Be respectful of those with field experience--they came by it the hard way. I'm not trying to harsh on you, but I do think you ought to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking you know everything about BASE. No one--not Dwain, not Slim, not Todd, not Marta, not Adam--no one knows, or every will know everything about this sport.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cvfd1399 0 #19 November 12, 2004 Yea you are right I know next to nothing about BASE. That is why I stated in my first post I wanted a mentor, but there seems to be none in Louisiana that are regulars. I did not want to come off as someone who thinks they know it all, just wanting to show that just because someone has -100 jumps doesn't mean that they have NO clue about skydiving. I frequently hear people with more jumps than me, not knowing the term for the person that stages outside the plane(floater), and not knowing that when you exit feet facing the relative wind to have your feet on your ass, what a rsl does, most have never packed themselves, what a FCX is how it works, do not know how to flat, brake turn did not know the techniques for getting movement into a headwind, make it back from a long spot, front risering in to get down faster, laying in deep rears to sink it in. I am not a fool I take the calculated risk as most do instead of walking blindly into trouble. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Treejumps 0 #20 November 12, 2004 If you are only 255#, why do you jump military surplus? I would hope you could stand up a near 400' main. Do you want a cookie? BTW, most jumpers with 200 jumps know exactly Zero about gear, so while it is admirable that you do your research, it does not make you a gear expert. You can accuse be of being a BASE god, but I'm not talking about your base aspirations. I'm talking about the fact that you choose to jump outdated gear that was designed for other applications. Then you want to jump it off an Antenna. Then you want to know about sewing machines to sew who knows what. SLOW DOWN and actually learn to SKYDIVE. You know, actually make some jumps. Actually learn to FLY your body, and even learn to land a human sized canopy. I've seen you spend an inordinate amount of time trying to avoid regular sport gear, yet you would fit into any sport mfgd. gear. You go about things in a very unusual manner, and frankly, in this sport, that kind of shit will get you hurt or killed. Think what you want, but when you've only been around 10 minutes and you are asking some of the stupid questions you ask, you stick out like a sore thumb as a hole waiting to happen. Later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Treejumps 0 #21 November 12, 2004 BTW, There are BASE jumpers all over LA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peterk 0 #22 November 12, 2004 Hey, I thought we were flaming the other guy... BTW, is that your BASE gear in your avitar? Everyone wants to get into BASE, and I'm sure you know it isn't fixed object skydiving. No matter how much you think you know, at 100 skydives, you are just learning what the term "floater" means, and putting down the guy with 200! skydives that doesn't know the slang... BASE is a lot of fun, but when things go bad, they go very bad, very close to the ground, with no plan B parachute. Soon, you will have a spinner at the dz, and you will go through the cutaway sequence that you practiced. And you'll pick up the freebag and main in the huge, grass landing area... You don't get to do that in BASE, think about it... Not to be a dick, but seriously, don't get into BASE with 50ish skydives thinking that you'll never see your legbone sticking out of your pantleg... No promises either way, but I am getting tired of hearing that "I know I have 50 skydives, but I think I know it all faster than the other guy. I'm ready for BASE". Sometimes I feel, and the faceless-ness of the internet is a big part of this, that some people have no respect for their own safety and health... You wouldn't have got into skydiving by jumping a plane with a buddy that has 50 skydives, with some gear that he had left over with a DOM of 1980, would you? Its been done, but not by me... Make it as safe, or as dangerous as you want... ENJOY GRAVITY!!!--------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlindBrick 0 #23 November 12, 2004 QuoteBrick, I'm noticing that your profile says that you have 136 jumps over 3 years. That may be innacurate (notice I don't put anything in my profile). If it is accurate, I would suggest spending a season doing many skydives for becoming very current. My numbers are low because I essentially had to take a year and a half off to recover from a couple of corneal transplants. I've only recently started jumping agin and I plan to spend the entire winter and spring jumping heavily to get current again. It's somewhat reassuring to hear from people who are saying that I should be fine under a 300 or so. I'm used to 290's and 300's and am very comfortable with slow flight, riser turns, and flat turns under them. Before I switched to ZP a month back, I was also practicing accuracy and consistently getting within two meters of my target with my PD300. Don't get me wrong, I am not foolish enough to think I know enough already, but it does boost my confidence a bit to know I've already worked at least a little ways towards my goal. -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RayLosli 11 #24 November 12, 2004 "Not to be a dick, but seriously, don't get into BASE with 50ish skydives thinking that you'll never see your legbone sticking out of your pantleg.".. ....................................................... Don't Sugar Coat, it for him. You want him to go out and get hurt ? "Everyone wants to get into BASE," ...................................................... and do you know why he wants to get into BASE ???? Because the, Chic's Dig it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites peterk 0 #25 November 12, 2004 I know that I got into BASE for the chicks... Still waiting... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 0
peterk 0 #25 November 12, 2004 I know that I got into BASE for the chicks... Still waiting... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
