K763

I have a suggestion: GET A PIN CLOSED RIG! They open quicker than velcro, with less monkeying around. K

The Basic Research website is truly updated. It has quite a few new things there. Apex BASE does not have a website yet. The actual DATE is Jan 1, I believe, so we're working to have everything in place for the switch then. I'm practicing now with answering the phone. You'd be surprised how deeply ingrained something can become after 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, for three years.... K

Hey all you kids out in cyberland.... We had our sweet WebMistress in here all day, and she's done an amazing job on our website. There is a new section called Tech News, which addresses topics that are hot today, the gear lists are updated and accurate, and there's news about the BR/Vertigo merger, creating Apex BASE. We also have photos of the Vertex 2 and the Prism 2, a logo parachute section, and other goodies I'll leave you to find on your own. www.basicresearch.com Have fun, enjoy! Karen Apex BASE Perris

Not worried about K's companion...MaryAnne can either kick his @$$ or outrun him, at her discretion, should the need arise (I'm sure he's a perfect gentleman) I'm sure he'd enjoy either opportunity, to get his arse kicked by a fit female athlete, or enjoy the view as she speeds away in full flight... Why is he a "perfect gentleman", you ask???? Because he's not a BASE jumper yet! Y'all have plenty of time to corrupt him!

Ever since you moved to Brooklyn! K

Hi All! Right off the bat, I would recommend the person asking the question be very wary of weakening their break cord. If it breaks prematurely and your canopy is not deployed, you'll be in a very dangerous position. I also have always used 2 loops of break cord, one tied tightly and the other a larger loop, so they break one at a time, one after the other. I will also always leave a minimum 45 ZP pilot chute on the end of the bridle. Pilot chute damage is not a concern for me on a static line jump; my life is definitely worth the $70 replacement value for the p/c. We are updating our website right now, and there is an excellent piece in the Tech News about a new bridle extension. This was created specifically for the Superbowl jumps, where we did NOT want any accidents to occur. Basically, this extension gives you 2 places to tie break cord, so you have 2 completely separate attachments to ensure deployment. This along with your pilot chute gives you 3 chances for deployment on a static line jump. Overkill? Probably not. It only takes on failed break cord loop to end your life. Break cord and the bridle extensions are available at Apex BASE Perris. Break cord is 50 cents a yard. Our phone number is 951-940-1324. Be safe, have fun, and soft landings! (oh, and reliable static lines, as well!) Karen

George! Glad you're still alive, it means she hasn't worn you to death.....give her a big fat hug and kiss from me, would ya? I miss her like crazy! xo K

Yes, it is possible to have a line-over even when using a tailgate, not likely, but in this sport ANYTHING can (and will) happen. Even with a tailgate, a totally shite body position or too much wind or whatever can still create the possibility of a line over. This is something I haven't seen anyone mention yet, that when you're jumping slider up, the brake lines through the slider grommets encourage the slider to come DOWN! If you're still jumping the brake mod slider up, you're giving yourself just one more factor that can work against you. Peace, K

I'm bringing a non-jumping companion (he'd like to jump but isn't qualified yet) and he'd probably like to do more than hang out and do video of Yours Truly. Don't worry guys, he's a perfect gentleman. Your women will be better than safe in his company. Peace, and see you in Moab! K

Tom, can we move this thread to the number weenies board? Thanks, K Love ya Russel!!!

Currently the largest FLiK available is the 322. Apex BASE Perris also offers a FOX 315. There are BASE jumpers that are getting bigger as well as new jumpers that are just big to begin with... I think one jumper is over 300 lbs, and he's jumping a 322 FLiK...so it is being done, but by experienced guys, not beginners. Perhaps there are even larger canopies on the horizon.... K

Hi Clint! Just wondering, what size pilot chute were you using? Thanks, K

WHo knows, but I'm still alive. Oh and that was the 1st BASE jump my mom watched. Go figure:( Wow, probably first and last! Glad you lived and are ok! K

Ok, then don't charge us for the plane ride! Doesn't that make it private rather than commercial? And if some $20's end up stuffed in the PRIVATE pilot's pockets...well, we just needed to empty our pockets before we jumped...weight and safety don't ya know??? K

Hey Faber! Glad you're ok! Take care, mate, I want to meet you sometime in THIS life! Glad you lived...maybe gusty winds aren't such a good idea? xo Karen

Nice Bio Marg!

Hey Kidwicked- Please note that Marg didn't post her weight. You jump to conclusions when you assume because she's 5'5" her wingloading is off. She did buy an appropriate size to reach an appropriate wingloading. Nice of you to notice and make mention! Karen BR

Hi Ross- You can also go to www.basekjerag.com and sign into the guest book. That will get you in contact with the locals in short order. Karen

Hey Kid... I am certainly NOT an expert tracker, but I spent the summer at Kjerag watching the Track Masters do their thing. Jon Inga and Atle Dahl were absolutely amazing in their smoke pants, and they used a very wide-legged body position. Even Darcy and Hecy, who don't have the classic long/lean tracking friendly body type were tracking like mutha's in this position. Here are some parts of their explanations to me: the wide legs give you a much more stable position, keeping you from rolling side to side at all, which adds to your ability to drive forward. The wide V of your legs actually gives you a wider area to push on, and the area between your legs gets nearly to be a burble zone. I watched these guys track from Kjerag TO OVER THE LANDING AREA in just smoke pants! (Jon Inga and Atle). The proof is in the delay, boys... :) It's all about practicing, finding the sweet spot that works with your body shape, then just going for it. I'm still learning, and look forward to making some huge strides next season. Come to Kjerag! The guys are always happy to talk to guys and give them tips. I miss you all over there....(sniff sniff) Karen

Karen, Zarky, Nick and Jackie Lloyd...just some of the Perris crew. Oh, and as for the food running out... Y'all REALLY ought to consider bringing some grub to contribute. Jimmy and Marta do their best to plan for everything, but when 50 more people show up than you were expecting, the food has a way of disappearing before everyone has been fed. I'm bringing a turkey and yams, and like last year I'll be there early to help with the cooking. Hey chicks (and guys that like to cook, I love ya!) this is a totally fun part of the boogie. Drinking, cooking, bullsh*tting, seeing everyone arrive and check in...it really gets the boogie off to a great start. And even if you don't cook, you can bring any kind of munchables (chips and dip, crackers and cheese, a bag of fresh fruit, friggin' jerky for that matter! it all helps)! Can't wait to see y'all there! Peace, Karen

Karen Margaret Thomas Age: 41 Height and weight: 5'11" 170 lbs. Birthplace: San Diego, CA Marital status: Ask me in person. Occupation: BASE office geek, budding masseuse Hobbies: BASE Jumping, skydiving, writing, snowboarding, hiking, dancing, cooking, amateur bartending Harness and container: Prism and Vertex 2, Parachute: FLiK 293 and 266 Home dropzone: Perris Valley Skydiving, Ca. Records or awards: Unofficial world record women's 8 way cliff jump, Kjerag, Norway Summer 2004 Pet peeves: George W. Bush and blindered Americans. What is your favorite quote? "Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was lent to you by your children." Kenyan proverb. What is your philosophy on life? It's way too short to waste on being unhappy. What is something most people don’t know about you? I can wiggle my ears and nose without touching them. Who has inspired you in BASE jumping? Anne, Todd, Lee, Slim, Dwain, Jimmy, Marta, (the list goes on...) What is your most memorable BASE jumping moment? Feeling "zero g's" through a cloud at 2800 feet off Kjerag #7, seeing the fjord appear below me as the cloud got behind me, and feeling my heart leap as I fell completely and utterly in love. Describe Karen in five words or less: Spiritual, political, healing, loving, ADRENALINE! I BASE jump because… I choose to be free.

Hey Lloyd! I'm going great! Isn't Vesa's video the BOMB!!!!??? Those guys went HARD in Norway this summer, and their video is proof that they can fly like friggin' eagles! I really liked seeing the chicks, Anniken, Karina, and Amanda flying, then seeing Rima in the little red boat with me....aawwwww, I MISS NORWAY! Thanks Vesa, you Fins ROCK! Peace, K

Hi Ganja- It was nice to meet you at Bridge Day! I would certainly suggest talking to her immediately and find out what happened in her head after she watched you jump. I've seen it time and again, when the whuffo finally sees you fly off the edge and start plummeting to earth, that they get a reality slap that knocks them on their posteriors. I've seen BASE jumpers suffer from AIDS, Altitude Induced Divorce Syndrome, many times. Personally, I don't think I could be in a relationship with someone who didn't jump. Can you picture the scene, a testosterone-ridden male following me to BASE boogies, ground crewing, being chief cook and bottle washer??? Maybe if my significant other was an understanding female...but other than that, I really couldn't see it working out for the long run. The main thing is commumication, in any relationship. Oh, and even though I'm a jumper, I still can get the heebie-jeebies when watching too much carnage, either on video or in the BD landing zone. After that one dude flew through the trees, took out the TV station satellite antenna, and landed in the middle of the amublances, I didn't want to watch any more landings. I also don't like watching the BD Safety video the night before jumping...watching people get broken up like that makes me even more nervous before my own jumps! Good luck, hope it all works out for you. (Things always work out how they're supposed to, even if we don't see the larger picture.) Be safe, have fun, and soft landings! Peace, K

Hi Russel! (AKA ParaBASE #1) I wish I did have video for you, but I left my camera in the car due to the rain. That was an awesome jump, my friend. I couldn't believe it when I saw your feet hit the steel! I was glad to know you couldn't feel it, and I was proud of hell at how well you handled the situation from that point on. It looked from my point of view that you hit with your shins, so it's much better that it was just your foot (feet). Congratulations again on your jump, on your excellent handling of the emergency, and of course, on getting PBASE#1! Oh, by the way, I think that's me you can hear screaming as you let go of the bar...I know I was yelling for you! You are an inspiration... xo, Karen

Why L-Bars? Great question! Actually many of our European customers order the L-Bar riser system because they don't jump anywhere near water, and want the added security of a system that cannot release unless you take a screwdriver and hammer to the connection. Most of our French and Swiss customers jumping in the Alps choose this option. It is not recommended if you're going to use your gear anywhere near water. As for trees, if you land there with L-Bars, well, I guess you can just go hang. :) Incidentally, the accidental 3-ring release had nothing to do with the offering of L-Bars. We have always offered L-Bars. Additionally, we are working on photos for the Prism 2 and Vertex 2. There is a small photo on the order form for each, if you care to open that to have a peek. Thanks, Karen BR