TomAiello 26
QuoteI don't know where you get this perception that BASE jumpers feel immune to injury or to death.
By and large, I formed it by hanging out with BASE jumpers, jumping with them and observing.
There are plenty of BASE jumpers who think they are immortal. Their first major accident usually cures them, and if that doesn't the first time they are on site for a fatality quite often will.
In general, I think that younger (in the BASE sense, but also in the age sense) BASE jumpers are more likely to fall victim to this mentality.
-- Tom Aiello
Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com
Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com
TomAiello 26
Quote
Too many people are out chucking themselves off of things, thinking "I can't possibly get hurt."
I was going to ask this very question. Despite their skill does this kind of attitude make you keep your distance from these individuals?
It depends. In some cases, yes. But usually not. In fact, it often makes me more eager to jump with them, in an effort to provide some firsthand accounts to the contrary.
There are people who I just shake my head and walk away from. But having been one of them, I tend to feel a certain amount of duty to stay and care.
-- Tom Aiello
Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com
Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com
Quote"I don't know about this. Maybe I'll stick to skydiving."
BASE has been a REAL rarity in my life. I spent 10 years in the military and would do the craziest shit offered. If it was dangerous I was ALL about it. Jumping, laying down 30MM from an A-10 75 meters away, hanging underneath a helo by a rope (came fairly close to dying due to that one once), rappelling, laying down arty close...........all about the rush. But......I also seemed to need a reason to do this stuff. I had one......it was part of the mission. I didn't go out of my way to go to SCUBA school because it just didn't seem "Cool" enough for me. So....I never made it there.
With BASE........I absolutely LOVE watching it on video. However, I have NO desire what so ever to do it. Just don't.........I love Free Flying and I MAJORLY dig the HOOKTURN/SWOOP! In fact.......if circumstances get in the way in spite of my best efforts and I don't get to swoop......I feel ROBBED! With BASE.......most people I know GET OFF on the sense of accomplishment, the RUSH, and a fatalistic sense of destiny. I used to work with Artillery guys that were the same way. I told them one day that they should get down off the hood of the vehicle because I had DAMN NEAR caught a piece of shrapnel in the face a few seconds ago. Sounded like someone let off a firecracker in my ear. They said some shit about "Golden BB's" and continued to stand up there. That was my second time of almost dieing in the previous 5 minutes. I won't lie........I sat behind the truck.
Anyway........the RISK VS. REWARD is just not there for me. Especially after I watched Eric's demise. ![[:/]](/uploads/emoticons/dry.png "[:/]"){kind=small}
QuoteI Thought about it and then said "Nope!"
Never got to the trying part.
Ditto.
I went to skydiving websites and saw pretty pictures of formations.
I went to BASE websites and saw pelvis and femur x-rays.
That kinda made up my mind.
Yes, but that's part of the experience for me. So far it hasn't stoped me. One day it might.
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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.
QuoteQuoteI Thought about it and then said "Nope!"
Never got to the trying part.
Ditto.
I went to skydiving websites and saw pretty pictures of formations.
I went to BASE websites and saw pelvis and femur x-rays.
That kinda made up my mind.
Same.
~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.
brits17 0
QuoteI went to skydiving websites and saw pretty pictures of formations.
I went to BASE websites and saw pelvis and femur x-rays.
That kinda made up my mind.
Just to stir the pot
Skydiver's website
BASE website
_______________________
aerialkinetics.com
QuoteQuoteI went to skydiving websites and saw pretty pictures of formations.
I went to BASE websites and saw pelvis and femur x-rays.
That kinda made up my mind.
Just to stir the pot
Skydiver's website
BASE website
Ok I've been to DeadMike's page too...~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.
I don't say, "I'll stick to skydiving" but if you've ever shared an exit point with me on a fairly technical jump you've probably heard me say, "This is silly" or "What the hell is wrong with us?"
I know it's dangerous, very dangerous. BASE jumping scares me down to the deepest level of my consciousness. It's hard to start your exit count knowing you may have already begun the last ten seconds of your life.
I do it though, because I honestly feel that I get more from it than I could ever get without it. BASE is me and I need it, right now anyway. I sincerely hope that I will grow out of it and find safer, more fulfilling ways to spend my time. But for now, I need it and that's my decision. I've tried to quit in the past (after a couple really close calls) but BASE has an eerie way of getting you back to the exit point with a rig on your back.
I know it's dangerous, very dangerous. BASE jumping scares me down to the deepest level of my consciousness. It's hard to start your exit count knowing you may have already begun the last ten seconds of your life.
I do it though, because I honestly feel that I get more from it than I could ever get without it. BASE is me and I need it, right now anyway. I sincerely hope that I will grow out of it and find safer, more fulfilling ways to spend my time. But for now, I need it and that's my decision. I've tried to quit in the past (after a couple really close calls) but BASE has an eerie way of getting you back to the exit point with a rig on your back.
gordy 0
Not yet......but the idea is constantly in my mind, and I have to be honest I am constantly questioning it, weighing it up, I may always do as I don't feel any reason to rush it.
MikeJD 0
Done Bridge Day a couple of times, and for me it's a question of whether I ever progress to what I think of as the next level - i.e. a more dangerous object / maybe less daylight / no ambulance crews standing by etc. Although I've taken BD very seriously, I doubt there's a safer BASE jump I could make anywhere else. So it feels like a major step to move on.
Anybody else been to Bridge Day and having the same thought?
Anybody else been to Bridge Day and having the same thought?
I was going to ask this very question. Despite their skill does this kind of attitude make you keep your distance from these individuals?
Yes there are a lot of people out hucking themselves off of fixed objects these days. But the people I have been jumping with sure don't think that it can't happen to them. I don't know where you get this perception that BASE jumpers feel immune to injury or to death. In fact I think skydivers have more issues with this than BASE jumpers.
Try not to worry about the things you have no control over