base428

Atlex.com sells Epson 2200 inks for $8.90 each. Several jumpers buy from them with much success. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I DISAGREE with you on that one. Trespassing is one thing, but DAMAGING property is another. If you damage property or steal while in the process of making a base jump, then you are a true scumbag. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints." Heard that one before????? Of course, the AC jumpers say they didn't damage the door, so the truth may never be known. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Thanks for everyone's input so far. Keep it up. While I'd love to see everyone be smart and wear a friggin' helmet, I also don't like new laws and regulations.....actually, I hate new laws. I think some common ground would be for us to "highly recommend" helmets, and even put a little checkbox on the waiver that says you'll try to wear one, but not make it mandatory. I would hate to see Joe Jumper smash his head on a rock and die, and then Mrs. Joe Jumper complaining that I "could've done more by making everyone wear a helmet". I guess the bottom line is that if you DIE, it's your responsibility. If you can't shoot accuracy very well and you smash your bare skull into something hard, then you deserve the pain you receive. If you've got tons of jumps and think nothing can happen to you, then you can take that chance and not wear a helmet. Although any smart jumper can see that sometimes skill just can't save you all the time. Some of the best in our sport are gone. Skill could not save them. Perhaps we could add a new trophy for Bridge Day 2003 that would accompany our "I would have dried faster than I'll heal" award. We could call it the "if I only wore a helmet, I would be conscious now" award. Please keep voting on this issue, but for now we'll keep Bridge Day the same. PS. Do any other legal BASE events require helmets besides IPBC? (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

The only reason Bridge Day still has BASE jumping is because of the $$$ it brings to the area. No BASE jumping = No spectators = No $$$ Bridge Day has been around since 1980, before a lot of the NPS/BASE conflicts got started. It continues to thrive. The NPS permit I received last year to allow jumpers to land on NPS property clearly distinquishes Bridge Day from "other" NPS objects by stating the history, money, and crowd sizes that accompany the event. Basically, in issuing us the 10-year permit to land on NPS property for Bridge Day, the NPS has tried to show no similarities between Bridge Day and any other NPS object (ie.. El Cap, St. Louis Arch, etc.). (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

The mandatory helmets issue has been brewing for years and I would like your honest opinions on this. In preparation for Bridge Day 2004, I'm considering the implementation of a helmet rule. Helmets were mandatory for anyone who jumped during the IPBC competitions recently. Everyone knows that helmets do work. And if you saw the guy who smashed his head into the back of the NPS cherrypicker at Bridge Day 2003, then you'll know why I'm posting this. While Bridge Day has not had a helmet rule in the past (that I'm aware of), it has been highly suggested by a few people. I realize that a helmet rule will hide your beautiful face for all the photos, however, some of us just aren't that pretty and need to cover up anyway So please vote and, if you desire, post your opinions. Thanks for your input. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Here are some interesting jumps from Bridge Day 2003 that may be of interest to you. Enjoy! (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Johnny Utah's Bridge Day malfunction video is probably the best video ever made to identify and rectify BASE mals. He showed it to the Bridge Day crowd last year and will probably release the video soon. I've got a lot of info on mals at: http://www.bridgeday.info/malfunctions.html (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Standard medical insurance, in most cases, would cover a parachuting accident. However, there are some insurance companies that don't cover anything to do with "aircraft" or if you were injured while breaking the law. Just remember the "I broke my leg when I tripped over my cat" line.....works everytime. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I'll begin selling the Bridge Day 2003 DVD on both www.vertical-visions.com and www.bridgeday.info about 1-2 weeks before the video is released. I'm in the process of purchasing large quantities of videos from Ed right now. Yes, we're trying to get Kramer's "is my ass bleeding" video on there.....if Kramer will allow it! PS. If you haven't heard, Vertical Visions will be running Bridge Day 2004-2006. We got a 3-year contract. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

In my opinion, EVERY parachuting injury (legal or not) should be reported as a "fall". It's really nobody's business as to how you got all busted up, and even if the accident occured on a legal jump, the insurance companies will still give you grief if they know it was parachuting related. I'm still being haunted by an insurance company from a leg injury 4 years ago where they send me letters asking me if someone else was to blame for the accident (ie. the land owners). Insurance companies would just love to hand the bill over to the BLM or NPS if you got hurt on their property. Don't EVER tell them it was a parachuting accident. Tell them you tripped over your cat. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Actually, this unique wingsuit was made by a whuffo for the Flugtag event where people create homemade "flying machines" and see how much horizontal distance they can get after launching from the top of a 30' pier. I talked to this pilot and he had no skydiving, BASE, or wingsuit experience. And that probably explains why he was surprised when he dropped straight down like a friggin' rock. Hope you all enjoyed the pics. More info on Flugtag is HERE Merry Christmas. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

This new innovative wingsuit made its debut with a BASE jump in New York City during the Red Bull Flugtag event in October 2003. Exit altitude was about 30 feet over water. Check out the attached pics. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Good luck. In Feb 2001, it took us 65 hours from the time we left home until we got to our hotel room in KL. West Virginia is exactly 180 degrees around the world from KL. We got delayed by a snowstorm in Japan, and then mechanical problems in LA. Bring lots of stuff to read for the plane ride. Leave your drugs behind (Malaysia and Taiwan have the death penalty for drug convictions). To all of you in KL, have fun and Merry Christmas. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

The slider I'm building is a little different, but functions the same. It comes in handy if you're jumping a terminal wall, and then later in the day you move to a 3 second wall. You can switch from the sail or small hole mesh to large hole mesh for the shorter delays. Tom, the slider design you write about was discussed with a BASE gear manufacturer earlier this year. We concluded that having the velcro exposed might catch a suspension line on opening. Do you think this would be a factor in your design? (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Robert, You are correct that every year, we come up with new ideas, concepts, materials, and toys to expand the sport of BASE and skydiving. If it wasn't for your creative mind, where would the wingsuit be today, if at all? There is a big difference between function and performance. Type 8 risers just need to function on a BASE jump, while on a skydive, others may need the performance aspect of a Type 17 riser. For connector links, performance is not really a requirement in my opinion, therefore the standard connector links work fine. And just so you don't think I'm old school and resistant to change, I'm currently working on the construction of a slider that can quickly transform from large hole mesh, to small hole mesh, and then to a sail slider.....all in about 20 seconds. No need to swap out sliders. The design is finished and I just need to build one. I've also got a nice 3-ring modification that would eliminate hard pulls during line twists, but that design is still being worked on in CAD. I also have a 3-ringless rig and I love it. Have a good one!!! (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I guess I think a little differently than some. I think along the lines of material size, strength, and history. Mini-risers serve no purpose to me in BASE or skydiving, as they are more susceptible to breakage and I'm not pulling my slider down behind me. Let's look at the numbers: Type 8 = 1.719" wide. Tensile Strength: 4000 lbs. Type 17 = 1.000" wide. Tensile Strength: 2500 lbs. There is only a 0.719" width difference between the two, but a considerable difference in tensile strength. It's up to everyone to make their own gear decisions. -Slinks or connector links. -Mesh slider tied down or removed. -Type 8 or Type 17 risers. -Collapsible versus standard BASE pilot chutes. -Large 3-rings or small 3-rings -Quick release toggles or standard toggles. -Slider bumpers secured or not secured to connector link. For me, I use connector links, mesh slider tied town, Type 8 risers, standard PC's, large 3-rings, quick release toggles, and slider bumpers secured. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

"The Pick" broke a Type 17 riser off a very tall cliff in California many years back. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

This is incredible. Type 17 risers don't belong on a base rig, let along in skydiving. Risers take up minimal space on a rig, so I could never understand why anyone would want to purchase the SMALLEST, WEAKEST riser available. Common sense should tell us to use products (skydiving or BASE) that have high breaking strengths. If you break a riser, you will probably end your reign on earth, unless the water below saves you. What's next? Microlined BASE canopies with BASE slinks? Merry Christmas everyone! (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Hey Tree, have you flown a wingsuit yet? They might charge you extra when making your suit for being so damn tall. You might even need a rudder on yours. I'm a scrawny 6'4" as well, and my Morpheus Gargoyle fits nicely. I've not tried the Perigee Pro, but have a few jumps on a Warlock. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Right on Johnny! Damn, you're 65? You don't look it, brother. The average age for Bridge Day jumpers for the last two years was 36. There are plenty of "senior" BASE jumpers out there. Jim Guyer is 75. Ripcord man (James P.) is 74, I believe. There are several jumpers in their 60's. My hat goes off to all of them......I hope I'm still jumping off "stuff" after I get my AARP card. Cya. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4550 You can make it "clicky" by the following: INSERT URL HERE but replace the with []. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I've emailed Buddman about this rig. Yes, you can sell your "stuff" to a pawn shop and then buy it back for a small fee. If you don't buy it back, then the pawn shop will sell it. This may or may not be the case here. Buddman will let us know what the deal is. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Thanks Tom. I think that the small community of BASErs would appreciate knowing when the next cool BASE video, trip, event, or product is available......even if it borders on commercialization. Cya. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

I'm working with Tequila Shot Films this week in order to arrange the stock purchase of both DVD's and VHS copies. I would guess that sometime next week, I will begin taking orders. I believe the VHS version will still be the standard $45, but the DVD option will be $60. I'll post something here on dz.com about it, unless it gets removed by the anti-commercialization police. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

By the end of the year, so I hear. (c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted.