Treejumps

I can really tell the diference when I have my bag and PC off. Faster, cleaner flight, and a little more dive. I haven't done the slider yet, but mine stows very tightly and while I can see a minor gain, the real performace comes from removing the bag and pc. I probably won't bother wiht it at all this year because there is a bit more than .01 of a second between me and a medal. Cya.

I don't know how many jumps are on my gear. I can estimate, but that is about it. PCs? Can't even guess. Rigs? They won't fit anyone else so it doesn't really matter. Canopies? I bought one used and never asked about jump #'s and of the 2 new ones bought the 280 (RIP) is dead and the 310 just got back from major surgery, all good to go. Where do you find the time, energy, and motivation to store all that data, and then bother to go back and look at it? Cya, Tree

So long as he wears something, I could care less. Why is there such a issue with Janet's tit but no one says anything about a naked boob like Rich? Answer: Political correctness. I can't with until they toss his smirk self off the island.

In most cases I would say caveat emptor... however many people just don't know how many jumps are on gear. Realistically, jump number is not a great indicator of gear value. All gear should be inspected for integrety and airworthiness by its user. If you don't know how to inspect gear, maybe BASE is just a bit over your head. You are correct, in BASE you have only one canopy so make sure its a good one, or at least just dodgy enough to get through one more jump. Tree BASE610

Camera, definitely! Flying camera has always been a great training tool for freeflyers. Every freeflyer I've ever watched progress has improved significantly from flying camera. HAving your own footage is a great training tool in and of itself because you will see where you were and how you were flying as opposed to how you thought you were flying. Also, focusing on flying for the shot takes your mind off of worrying about body position and enable youto "just fly". Go with the camera, you won't regret it. Besides that how about giving some video back to those who hooked you up? Give some video to the next jumper that comes along, and so on... its the freefly way. Cya,

Best video ever! Wow. Great re-mix and very realistic skydiving scenes. I especially like it when junior starts crying when he can't pull. Perfect 10!

BASE is alive and kicking for those who still do it, or want to do it. Are you ready? Only you can answer that, but to be sure buy some beer or other goodies for a local base god and see what he thinks. Self evaluation is crtical in base, but sometimes it helps to ask and listen to others who know you. Dog is right that appearances are important. I reccomend getting a fashion advisor to make sure that your gear and BASE garb are up to snuff. We can't have any mis-matched jumpers muffing up the all important video. If you live in the Mid-Atlantic, have plenty of cash, and need a BASE mentor, the DC base crew can be your best friends. Cya, Tree BASE610

What a waste.

I love animals too, especially in a nice brown gravy with potatoes and carrots. People for the Eating of Tasty Animals I saw the cub as well and while it was cute and interesting I did not have time to stop in. What exactly is wrong with letting people view or feed the cat? I guess PETA doesn't like zoos either. What a bunch of asshats. How do you think they would like the road kill fox video?

I'm actually at a loss for words harsh enough to address this. Perhaps we should each write a letter to GQ and set them straight about Felix and his exploits, such that they are. Dear GQ, As a BASE jumper (personal ID # 610) I feel the need to address your recent article, (personal advertisement and endorsement) on Felix "the pussy cat" Butt-gardener. Basically everything in the article is false, made up and over-stated to stroke the huge ego of a very tiny man. Very little of what Felix has done is new and exciting, Nearly all that he does are the same jumps all of us BASE jumpers do. Unlike real BASE jumpers who jump only for the thrill and for personal fulfillment, Felix chooses to publisize his jumps for his ego. Good examples of Felix's overstatements are of his supposed lowest jump (95' off Rio Christ), highest building jump (1479' in KL). The lowest jump was done 10 years before felix even knew what a parachute was, and it was 63'. The highest building jump was actually the KL Tower from 1100'. Felix jumped from about 800' off of the KL towers. Felix decries PCA jumps as "Not a real jump", yet that was exactly what he did at Rio Christ. In fact, virtually every jump or stunt that Felix has done is un-impressive in every way, except to non-jumpers that are easily impressed by any jump related feat. Amongst his peers Felix is an ego driven twit who does not represent the BASE community in any way. He continually rides the coat tails of true pioneers and innovators, and steals and sells their glory for a happy meal and a fake gold medal. Do yourself and you readers a favor and talk to a few of the hundreds of real base jumpers worldwide and do a little fact checking before you embarrass your magazine with self aggrandizing trash like this article. BASE 610

For slider up I prefer a IPA, or a nice lager. For slider down I like Negra Modello or other dark beers. I use large hole mesh for all slider jumps. A quick pro pack with a the outer 3 rolled in depending on delay. Direct control for terminal. Cya.

No helmets, please. I never wear one, except for the diving board jump I did at BD 03'. I prefer the freedom and feel of not wearing one. Its just the way I like to do my thing.

Anyone got a good (cheap) source for a double needle machine? I'm going to start making suits for myself and friends and lack the 2 needle machine. Tusen tak. Tree

Just curoius, but do you run around telling everyone you meet that you are a BASE jumper? I'll bet your mom believes you.

Hi Lauren, Tree here. You really have no business even thinking about BASE jumping at this point in your jumping career. Make a bare minimum of another 100 jumps, land in the peas every single one of those jumps, in all wind conditions including croswind and down wind, and maybe you will be ready. You have barely made any skydives, are not current, and haven't really "taken" to skydiving very easily. You must walk before you can run, grasshopper. Tree BASE610

"So for a safer faster reserve system" Nice marketing claim, but the buying public has spoken with is purchasing power. You work for jump shack I don't think the racer or reflex is difficult to pack, in fact the reflex has got to be the easiest rig to close.

Easy there on mini risers for skydiving. When you are swooping at 60+ mph, mini risers are half the surface area, plus they allow for dropping the slider. But for base, well I've said my piece on that. Cya.

Nobody uses type 17 risers. What you see on that site is what happens when a skydiving manufaturer decides to start making base rigs, without a fucking clue as to what they are doing. I hope nobody ever buys one of these rigs from such an obvious group of market oportunists. BASE610

ALso note that the vouchers are for example 50% off, but it is 50% off retail. 50% of a $1,899.00 Odessy would give a $949.00 actual price. The Square 1 price is regularly $1424.00 for the same rig. The difference between the 2 is $475.00, so unless you can get the voucher for $100 to $200.00, it may hardly be worth the bother. Just something to consider. The vouchers are great if you can win them on your own.

Leave it on her door step while she is at work. That will send a pretty "final" message.

As of right now, there is no state that will issue a marriage license to a gay couple. One court has ruled that the laws must be changed in 120 days so that they can, but that war is far from over. While I have not had to alter any part of my life because of all of this, that day is coming. WHen I have kids and they attend a school with a child with 2 daddys and I have to explain that to my kids- well lets just say that I will make sure that I never have to face that. I would have to modify my will to expressly forbid my children to ever have legal guardians who were same sex in the event of mine and my wife's passing. These are only a couple things that come to mind, but they are the kind of issues I shouldn't have to worry about. Edited top add: I knew this was a waste of time. Reminds me of the recent repost of "arguing on the internet is like the special olympics....". You know the rest. Cya

I was not suggesting that the only reason for people to marry is to have kids, however, that is a primary basis for it. We're not talking about traditional marriages, so a biological/medical problem that prevents having children clearly would not, nor has it ever restricted marriage. If civil unions will make the gay community happy, I'm OK with that. But that is what it is; a civil union.

I don't know, but I'm 6'10", and have over 100 jumps on a Perigee Pro. If you're tall you really want to get new stuff built for you. I reccomend the Pro. Cya, Tree BASE610

I know I shouldn't bother...but, I think that Bush's morals and values are representative of an overwhelming majority of Americans, myself included. The purpose and basis of marriage, as I understand it, has always been to foster and support the creation and rearing of children. Nature has dictated that this only occurs between a man and woman, so marriage is only for a man and woman. Tha being said, I could care less how people live if it doesn't involve me, and doesn't harm others, or farm animals. However, it is the height of hubris to suggest that several million years of evolution is wrong. Live how you want to live, but don't demand that the other 95% of the population sanction your choices, or change the very fabric of society to fit your life style. BTW, I just got engaged, so I feel like I've got something in this game. Cya.

Yo Tom, How many 150 to 180's have you had on slider down solid objects? Just wondering with your jump numbers and objects what your experience has been. I pretty much always go toggles, unless I think I'm about to die or be seriously injured, in which case fear and risers seem to go hand in hand. I still think in critical situations I would be better off on toggles, but the response just seems programed. Cya.