real tv base jumping in seattle?

[kevin922 0]

Just saw some footage of what appears to be organized, legal, base jumping off the seattle space needle.. of course the footage was about a spinning mal, by a girl named jessical klutsmier or something like that.. anyone know the details on the base event?

[Lolie 0]

You can read a little more about it here. (It's about halfway down, under "Mr. Adventure.")

-Miranda
you shall above all things be glad and young / For if you're young,whatever life you wear
it will become you;and if you are glad / whatever's living will yourself become.

[BoobieCootie 0]

Happened like up to 3 years ago.

She lived.

[Lolie 0]

And a little bit more here.

-Miranda
you shall above all things be glad and young / For if you're young,whatever life you wear
it will become you;and if you are glad / whatever's living will yourself become.

[TomAiello 26]

Here's a copy of some PM's I've sent to the last three folks who started this thread over in the BASE Zone:

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The event there was a one time demo. There were some hopes (before the event) of repeating a legal jump there, but they were effectively dashed by the accident.

There is some feeling among BASE jumpers that 50 jumps is inadequate experience to be doing a sensitive, high profile demo. There have also been some rumors about the "girlfriend effect" (see Boyfriends and BASE) and this jump.

[Quote]
I erased the name of the site out of the posting. It's a major breech of BASE etiquette to name sites in public forums.

The site has actually had a legal demo jump done off of it. I clipped this out of a random web page I found when I did a yahoo search for it. Hunt around, and I'm sure you'll find more. There's probably a long thread in the rec.skydiving archives about the incident.
[Quote]
Flashback to Nov. 21, 1996. On a windy, icy morning, TV crews and a crowd of 100 spectators gather at the base of the site that towers over the city. They crane their necks skyward to watch the tiny specks at the top of the observation deck.
Steve Mulholland is up there, along with three other jumpers. It's the first authorized jump off the site.
He's part of a cult of parachutists who call themselves BASE jumpers -- the acronym stands for buildings, antennas, spans and earth. They fling themselves off any available high place -- hotels, sheer cliffs, bridges. Such jumping is considered more difficult and dangerous than sky diving because the free fall takes place in just a few seconds, requiring chutes that open instantly.
Mulholland is something of a local legend. A carpenter by trade, he works only to finance his next adventure -- scuba diving in Australia, mountain climbing in Antarctica.
But, he likes to say, "nothing can compare, second-for-second, with the adrenaline of BASE jumping." Says a friend, Mark Lazerwitz: "He couldn't look at a building without thinking of how to throw himself off of it."
Ruggedly charismatic, with long, dark locks, Mulholland has been nicknamed Tarzan, Fabio and Mr. Adventure by his many female admirers. He met his last girlfriend, Beth Melius, while camping in a National Park, where he illegally threw himself off a 3,300-foot precipice. She drove the getaway car.
The television cameras roll. Mulholland and the other daredevils push off the site. Among them is 29-year-old Jessica Kluetmeier, who has done 50 similar jumps. She pulls her chute, but something's wrong. A steering line gets tangled, and she spirals down, out of control, at nearly 65 mph.
She slams into the mud and grass only a few feet away from the pavement, fracturing vertebrae in her lower back. She is lucky -- she'll only have to wear a brace for a few months.
Mulholland's baby-blue chute whips open in the nick of time. He lands safely.
"I've seen thousands of BASE jumps," Mulholland tells reporters. "This is the first time I've seen this happen . . . It's an unfortunate incident."
But it's risky, he admits. Accidents happen.
Just to sound even more like a broken record: Please remember that it is a major breech of BASE etiquette to name sites, legally jumped or otherwise, in this or any other public forum.
Thanks!

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[billvon 3,111]

>There is some feeling among BASE jumpers that 50 jumps is
> inadequate experience to be doing a sensitive, high profile demo.

This was an Andy Calistrat event, right? I remember also hearing that Jessica could have cleared the lineover with no problem had she not used the velcro linekeepers on her risers, intended for use only when using a slider. At least I think that was the same event.

>Please remember that it is a major breech of BASE etiquette to name
> sites, legally jumped or otherwise, in this or any other public forum.

What do you call the NRGB during Bridge Day? "A bridge somewhere in the East?"

I'm all for keeping the names of some sites under wraps, but I see little purpose in keeping a secret from the readers of a BASE board when it is readily available to the viewers of RealTV. Sorta like a caver refusing to discuss the location of Carlsbad Caverns.

[AggieDave 6]

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Carlsbad Caverns

Damnit DUDE! No CAVE site naming!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[TomAiello 26]

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...I see little purpose in keeping a secret from the readers of a BASE board when it is readily available to the viewers of RealTV...

The general reasoning is that the average viewer of RealTV won't have a desire to jump from anything.
However, the average reader of this site will have just enough knowledge and gear (i.e. skydiving gear and some number of airplane skydives) to really hurt themself.
Also, someone who is underqualified to BASE jump (and hence likely to hurt themself trying), but really wants to jump, will probably search sites like BLiNC, rec skydiving, and DZ.com looking for sites. They are somewhat less likely to just sit around looking for re-runs of RealTV, hoping to find a BASE site.
I guess the bottom line is that the average reader of a skydiving or BASE web site is in far greater personal danger from the site knowledge (and is a far greater danger to the site as a result of having it), than is the average viewer of RealTV.

[Jasmin 0]

Yeah so do we, but in some cases, there's no point.
Eg There is a bridge within 5 min of my dz, all the skydivers know about it, most BASE jumpers static line off it at some point and there's enough tape on the railing of the bridge to rival a 3M factory. The bridge was built some time after the original DZ was founded, ie back in the days of roundies and pc's, when you and I were running around in diapers and amniotic fluid....
That said, we're all really protective about cliff and other building sites....its too easy for sites like that to get burned....
But I feel no compulsion to protect etiquette with highly publicised, legal sites, such as bridge-day and KL: any idiot, even a whuffo, can figure those out.
As for detering unqualified BASE jumpers, I've been around DZ's for twenty years now. Someone who wants to do it, will find a way, with or without supervision or advice. "Never underestimate the ingenuity of stupidity."
In this case I'll respect your wishes,
xj
ps the BASE video night last month went very well
PPS the SHOVELS have a new carnage video out which gets a
rating from me. I'm not sure what formats its down in but I got my copy off Dougs in OZ in PAL.

[TomAiello 26]

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...SHOVELS have a new carnage video out which gets a
rating from me. I'm not sure what formats its down in but I got my copy off Dougs in OZ in PAL.

I saw some of it when Douggs stayed with me in November.
Next time you see him, be sure to ask him exactly what happened at that whorehouse in Tampico.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[Jasmin 0]

We e-mail...I willask him about that one.....
I'm one of the few people who can make him blush and speechless, something even he can't remember happening before (don't ask...)
I'm hoping to catch up with him and Mossy laterr on this year and in Europe. They took out the nats here and are going to france.....

xj

"I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with the earth...but then I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with a car either, and that's having tried both."

[VectorBoy 0]

[However, the average reader of this site will have just enough knowledge and gear (i.e. skydiving gear and some number of airplane skydives) to really hurt themself.
Tom who are YOU jumping with back at the DZ, when you do go to the DZ?

Also, someone who is underqualified to BASE jump (and hence likely to hurt themself trying), but really wants to jump, will probably search sites like BLiNC, rec skydiving, and DZ.com looking for sites. They are somewhat less likely to just sit around looking for re-runs of RealTV, hoping to find a BASE site.
Didn't these guys go away with the low pullers of years gone by? I don't know about other DZs but we got a ton of resources for the RIGHT way to start in BASE and haven't heard of anybody I know going into it without at least seeking mentoring. But on the other hand I have seen a great deal of base jumpers challenging the tactics and ethics of other VETERAN base jumpers.

I guess the bottom line is that the average reader of a skydiving or BASE web site is in far greater personal danger from the site knowledge (and is a far greater danger to the site as a result of having it), than is the average viewer of RealTV.
WOW all this to protect the average skydiver, or maybe just protect a site from being overused. Glen

[skybytch 273]

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Didn't these guys go away with the low pullers of years gone by? I don't know about other DZs but we got a ton of resources for the RIGHT way to start in BASE and haven't heard of anybody I know going into it without at least seeking mentoring.

Perris and Elsinore aren't the average dropzones when it comes to the number of experienced BASE jumpers running around. What you see at your home dz(s) is NOT the norm around the US.

[narcimund 0]

I think the letters "B", "A", "S", and "E" are too dangerous to use in public. Afterall, if somebody learns what they stand for, they could go find examples of those object types and go jump off them without proper training. For instance, many people own one- and two-story Bs and could climb on top of their own (legally, I might add) and flop off them, potentially snagging an ankle or knocking over the prize rose bush.

That's why I propose the sport rename itself "D", "O", "N", "K" which is made up entirely of letters which are not the initials of any jumpable object types.

I also propose that all skydivers immediately withhold the names of their DZs lest untrained civilians come to make tandems and potentially cause themselves painful gas and bloating from drinking too much of the free beer. In fact, "Skydiving" should rename itself "Floo-bamphing" to lessen the chances of someone recognizing that we're diving through the sky which is highly dangerous.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[TomAiello 26]

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Tom who are YOU jumping with back at the DZ, when you do go to the DZ?

Whoever will jump with a flailer like me, mostly. Um, what are you driving at?

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Didn't these guys go away with the low pullers of years gone by?

Nope.

[TomAiello 26]

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...I propose the sport rename itself "D", "O", "N", "K"

I see that your worship of the American Hero Skydiving Magazine Tour is showing. I'll let Mr. DiCola know he's now in the running to have the entire sport named after him.

Quote

I also propose that all skydivers immediately withhold the names of their DZs lest untrained civilians come to make tandems...

In all seriousness:
When an untrained person shows up at a DZ and wants to jump, they are not allowed to do so without proper training and equipment. There are other jumpers, instructors, DZO's, pilots whose licenses can be at risk--basically an entire safety net.
When a skydiver (the BASE equivalent of your "untrained civilian") shows up at a BASE site, he has none of that. Trying to control access to the sites, and provide proper guidance to those who want to go, is the BASE equivalent of having instructors at drop zones.
In the 1950's you could pretty much just buy a parachute, show up at an airport, and flop out of a plane. Are you certain you'd prefer to return to those days?

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[narcimund 0]

Tom, I'm not advocating naming sites. I'm not advocating firey deaths for innocent adventure seekers. I'm not even advocating infant cannibalism. Don't make my humor post into a political manifesto.

I think your crusade to withhold public attention to base sites is probably well founded in intelligent, wise motives. However, you don't do your cause any good by making it look ridiculous by taking it to extremes. Restraining ones self from drawing a road map to the nearest 210' cell phone tower is one thing. Pretending there's a safety value in painting a vague euphemism over the name of a bridge with a statewide public holiday, TV coverage, and 10,000 spectators is just plain silly.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[Jasmin 0]

Chill pill time peoples.

CA DZ's are the exception in a big way.
Most DZ's are not like this, I've been to DZ's both here and in the states with large numbers of BASE jumpers and many with little or none.
As for protecting sites, it needs to be done for the sanctity of the site, human life and to try and stop a few of the idiots from hurting themselves.
That said, I'm notorious for calling all BASE jumpers idiots....those of you who know my background and jump history will know why
Like I said, chill out some, I'm not posting here anymore....

xj

"I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with the earth...but then I wouldn't recommend picking a fight with a car either, and that's having tried both."

[hookitt 1]

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Quote

Tom who are YOU jumping with back at the DZ, when you do go to the DZ?

Whoever will jump with a flailer like me, mostly. Um, what are you driving at?

I'll jump with a flailer like you. Bring it on!

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[Faber 0]

ill second you Tom
BASE aint a rollercoaster ride.You AINT safe while BASE jumping.
By using the old way of learning BASE,most smart a### drop out,and in that way safe their own life.
IF you really want to BASE then it should be no problem to take the time it takes to get in contact whit BASE jumpers.Neither should it be a problem to stay at the ground until the mentor says go.
just my 0.02

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[base311 0]

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However, you don't do your cause any good by making it look ridiculous by taking it to extremes. Restraining ones self from drawing a road map to the nearest 210' cell phone tower is one thing. Pretending there's a safety value in painting a vague euphemism over the name of a bridge with a statewide public holiday, TV coverage, and 10,000 spectators is just plain silly.

Yeah, but I liken Tom's policy of never posting site names (regardless of how silly it may sound/look when one refers to a hugely popular site) to a convenience store clerk's policy of carding EVERYONE for alcohol sales. Yes, it seems really stupid to everyone standing in line when the clerk asks some crinkly, shrivelled codger for his driver license... but one thing is for sure: nobody slips through the cracks and the clerk is safe from the occasional sting op. Some people think you'd have to be a complete moron to leave clamps on a BASE packjob too, thereby obviating the need to count your tools. Because Tom's policy is to never name sites publicly, he's therefore less apt to accidentally name one.

The latest case of some moron jumping the wrong bridge because he had knowledge of a bridge in the area - and selected the wrong one - only happened just a few months ago. You just can't fix stupid, but hopefully you can thwart it to some degree.

Gardner

[goose491 0]

Has it not occured to anyone that the naming of popular B.A.S.E sites on public forums may be against B.A.S.E etiquette because B.A.S.E jumping is mostly illegal and B.A.S.E jumpers don't want to get caught at their favorite places?

I really don't think it's because they're afraid of whuffos and skydivers going there and hurting themselves. I mean, as Narcimund has cleverly and amusingly stated: if a whuffo wants to jump off an object and get hurt, they are all over the place! And if a skydiver wants to do a B.A.S.E jump, they won't have a hard time finding the hot locations... or training for that matter.

The jumps from the space needle in Seatle were Legal so I don't think the majority of B.A.S.E jumpers were upset to find the location blurted out on National TV. Bridge day is another good example.

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

[VectorBoy 0]

You know you are right Tom . I was thinking about it even before Lisa replied I figured out that there is probably a person willing to take a racer or wonderhog and base it without knowledge. What I'm getting at is that your comment about regular skydivers being the most likely to hurt or kill themselves rubbed me the wrong way. I would tend to believe a regular skydiver would have at least a glimmer of an idea of whats required to do a real base jump, and probably more
than the average wuffo. And I wouldn't want to jump with a skydiver that didn't.
A great many jumpers take a leap from 13k very seriously. Its difficult to accept that one would take a more perilous leap from below 2k very lightly.
PS: Flailing is just another form of expression and I'll also jump with you, as long as you are not dumb enough to take a wonderhog to base jump without any prior mentoring. Glen.

[Faber 0]

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mostly illegal and B.A.S.E jumpers don't want to get caught at their favorite places?

Dont wanna get caught any were

Stay safe
Stefan Faber