major base-risks?

[wwarped 0]

Quote

I can tell you from experience that the person who has considered all possible stuff ups and has made a plan for each of these PRIOR to their occurence, has a much greater chance at survival than someone who is positive and goal oriented, and has not considered the possible outcomes to their actions.

there really is no room for a debate, as I agree with you.

problems should be addressed, but not dwelled upon.

plans should be executed incrementally.

learn the best practices from those who have gone before.

my point was the extreme focus on negative events. focus on a negative, and you tend to receive it. I never said IGNORE them!

you can acheive by sidestepping pitfalls, but rarely will you succeed by staring at them.

DON'T PANIC
The lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
sloppy habits -> sloppy jumps -> injury or worse

[NickDG 23]

>>After reading the List several times, it appears as though using the right gear incl. boots, helmet, etc., being REALLY good at sub-term tracking, opening, canopy control, off-heading recovery, line twist recovery, and landing, plus taking a course, using a good mentor and good judgement would eliminate a good chunk of the accidents on the List.<<

I love it when someone at the point of only being interested in BASE jumping gets it. On the other side of the coin are those who say, "then is then, now is now." I notice that folks you say that mostly have no, "then," and only have, "now."

The earliest jumpers on the List made mistakes none of us knew where mistakes until they did them. What does us in now is people find new ways to make old mistakes.

Number two on the List left a pull up cord in his closing loop, number 72 on the List jumped without his pilot chute and shrivel flap being connected to his parachute. In both cases the result was the same. Number 14 on the List jumped only to have his static line part before opening the container, number 32 on the List had the same result when she put the pilot chute into her BOC instead of leaving it on the ground. Number 15 on the List jumped using a skydiving pilot chute and bridle and so did Number 52. Number 17 on the List over delayed and impacted on line stretch, then a few people did the same thing jumping camera, then a few more did it jumping wing suits.

So it isn't enough to simply avoid mistakes of the past, you have to be sharp enough to realize how many roads can lead to that same mistake. Except for the low pull wing suit phenomenon almost every "basic" mistake that can be made has already been made. In the early days I remember saying after certain fatalities, "Wow, I never even thought that could happen." I haven't thought or said that once in the last ten years.

One of the big decisions new BASE jumpers need to make is how far out there do they want to be? I believe if conservative, not trying to fill a logbook with BASE jumps, and only doing things other people have already done, there's a good chance you'll wind up in the BASE Old Brother's and Sister's Home with good memories and a lifetime of friends.

But, if you want to make a name for yourself, (a dubious endeavor in this sport) you either have to pioneer a lot of new stuff, or just be very careful and out last everyone else while going out of your way to help people. Believe me, the latter is much safer.

We are in a new phase in BASE jumping (BASE never stands still.) We've left the "aerial" stage and are now in the "trick" stage. I'm not knocking that, and it's the evitable result of having many legal places to jump, making lots of jumps, and being unbelievably current. I'd throw my pilot chute to Tom Aiello for a "catch and release" almost anywhere anytime. I would NOT do it with a jumper I just met five minutes ago in the line at Bridge Day.

My advice for new BASE jumpers is read the entire list twice a year. When out there BASE jumping listen more than talk, and probably the most paramount skill is learn how to tell bullshit from the real thing. I walked past lots of small groups in West Virginia and would hear something that rang the BS bell and I'd have to stop and sort them out. It always took me an hour to get anywhere I was really going at the Holiday Inn

Lastly, never never take BASE jumping for granted. When standing in the LZ gathering up your canopy always look back up and offer a silent thank you. And then go party like there's no tomorrow . . .

NickD BASE 194

[K763 0]

redirect your energy to something you wish to achieve, not avoid. focus on your goals and motivations, not your fears. some people spend entire lives avoiding death, but still never live.

That's a nugget! Thanks for that one, I really needed it.

Peace,
K

[1969912 0]

I hope it didn't sound like I was thrashing on anyone on the List. They were developing something new and very unforgiving. Anyway, thanks to you folks for the info. I have years to study, think, etc. before even possibly being ready to give it a try.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[1969912 0]

Oh, yeah, check out the 20 Oct. Sacramento Bee newspaper, local/metro news. sacbee.com Something really bizarre happened at a big thing upriver from Sacramento.

Edit: Mod, would it be proper to post a link to the story?

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG