tfelber

These were the ones I knew of with the exception of the vision. What others are there and how can I modify the poll? I did several searches of classifieds ads, google, forums on DZ.com and Blinc, etc. I will probably create an additional poll for canopies. I'm trying to decide what gear to purchase and with all the different feedback I'm getting it's quite difficult. And it's not like skydiving where you can go to the DZ and rent gear while you check out everyone elses choices prior to making a decision. I would really like to have my own gear and have jumped at the DZ several times with my own canopy prior to attending an FJC. This may not be the way most people have learned to BASE, but it makes sense to me.

It was originally on there, but since the company, Gravity Sports, was dissolved I took it off. Are they doing anything else?

I'm interested in your thoughts on this. I realize this is a very small sampling of BASE jumpers but the results are still of interest. These are listed in no specific order and I didn't intentionally leave any container/mfg off.

I feel there are many different types of fear that one faces. There is the fear of taking a test, the fear of getting caught doing something, the fear of getting hurt or embarrassed, the fear of a plan not working, and ultimately the fear of the unknown like death. Human beings tend to deal with these emotions in different way based on the perceived severity of the fear. For some embarrassment or failure is more severe than death, hence numerous suicides. For some death is the worst and for others getting hurt or crippled tops the list. There are many ways that people deal with fear and multiple ways that a given individual deals with fear. Sometimes they actively avoid the situation, sometimes they face it head on to overcome its' grasp, some times it is ignored entirely. There are fears in my life that I deal with in each of these ways. For instance, when I was 11 I was asked to sing a solo for a musical at my grade school. At first I was excited, but when it came time to do it I was more afraid than I have ever been. I concentrated and performed, but today I have to be pretty drunk to sing in public. My first skydive I remember thinking on the ride to altitude that if I died I had no regrets. My life was whole and complete, and I was enjoying myself. I was pretty freaked out when the JM said GO! After about the 3rd GO I overcame the fear and let go. My first thought was "Oh shit you let go of the plane!" and fear was again staring me in the face. The next thing I knew I had an open chute over my head and I was fine. My first cutaway was a similar experience, however stalling in the face of fear can often be lethal. I constantly live in the fear of failure and I displace it by excelling at the things I attempt and not attempting many things I think I'll fail. That creates an incredible sense of self-confidence and, at the same time, a fear someone will find out I'm not who I portray myself to be. I constantly push my limits beyond what ordinary people think is normal. I've spent my life jumping off cliffs, racing motorcycles, battling with the law, getting my EE degree, skydiving, literally taking over companies, etc. In retrospect the primary drive in my life is probably fear itself. I'm constantly looking for ways to prove to myself I'm not afraid. That may be one of the reasons I have acquired a great interest in BASE jumping. I'm still in that inquiry but the desire to do it is incredibly strong. Fear is an emotion I have spent a great deal of time analyzing and I'm clear that investigation is not complete.

What do you mean carless??? Does that make two of us?

I have to agree with that and I understand what you meant to express was "just because you try it up high doesn't mean you know what it's like near the ground." I was working up high on my perception of speed and distance and it is very difficult to judge, at best. But all the other necessary skills can and should be practiced up high; front/rear riser control, transitions from risers to toggles, etc. I've found that my ears tell me alot about what's going on. You can hear the the change in speed as you accellerate/deccellerate. Which then gives you a measure of the time it takes to turn 180, level out, and flare. Also, paying attention to where you are in relationship to other canopies before and after manuevers adds to the understanding of the altitude lost during these manuevers. If people learn to respect the dynamics up high maybe we would have a few less people trying it close to the ground. I know it sure makes me more cautious.

It'll will all be OK tomorrow...or it won't!

I've traveled quite a bit with my rig and haven't had any real issues. Most times they never even ask me anything about it. However the last time I flew out of Tallahassee there was alot of interest in my rig and myself. We showed up really early, like 5am and they searched myself, my wife, and my 3yr old son because he was near the search area. Next they said they needed to look at my rig, I was a little concerned at this point. But, they guy asked me to assist him with inspecting it and I explained the different components and that was it. I would have started calling in supervisors and supervisors of supervisors if I had the experience Plaedouh had.

I'll be part of that base. I'll show you how to really haul some ass. I did a 2-way with ATSAubrey at Chicks Rock he said he really had to work to keep up and I think he's over 300lbs. It's all in the arch!

Hey, I was just thinking of something... Are these OrFun #'s assigned according to who was orphaned 1st, because I should be #1 then... That's how I know you guys. You took me in at Rantoul 2 years ago when I was a wandering stray. Or is it based on when you were recognized as an orphan...I should still be #1 (See above). Or is there some deeper meaning I have yet to understand??? Or maybe it's just FN random and Whit is just the lucky one...

Thanks man you left me off again... Are you going to forget to pick me up at ATL also??? Lee Brandy Robbie kevin kelly ny brian omar brandon mike whitley marriane mickey mickey 2 jessica nelva sage flying j nic pruitt TONY!!! See you soon. I hope.

So what does a broken femur feel like anyway...Hey Whit? edited to add: That was NOT meant as a jab at Whitley! It's meant as a "tell folks what it's like" to remind people of the reality of the consequences.

I'll be the designated driver. I've had a lot of practice driving drunk... So does that mean I shouldn't worry about my sleeping bag or tent?

I spoke to Todd yesterday about coming over to the shop this weekend, but he is only open M-F. I intend to get over there ASAP and meet everyone but it's very hard to get over there during the week. I will call and see if they know of anything going on. Thanks. Edited to add... I just spoke with Todd again and it doesn't sound like a lot is happening right in this area... I guess I'll keep looking or run over to PHX one weekend. I'm sure I'll be over there during the Holiday Boogie. I've got access to a couple of boats in PHX if anyone is interested.

I'd be interested in GC'ing if anyone is jumping around this area. PM me if I can be of assistance. I've got a very agile Jeep Wrangler if that would help.

Clint, I think you guys handled the overload incredibly! What we need is more packing area and more fire wood. The party was great every night. You had 1st class beverages at night and the mixture of BASE and skydiving was awesome... Jay's music mix was a little mellow for a boogie with so much energy but that is easily remedied. I would bitch about not being able to jump into RCL, but I got to go on that load...oh lucky me. I will gladly give my slot up next year to allow someone else the pleasure. I can't wait to go flick'n off some of the rocks out there. Hopefully I'll be ready for that next year. You, and Brian, and RedEye, and Jay, and TJ, and the "PD Dude" Isaiha and all the sponsors put on one hell of a show...Keep up the good work. I'm ready to take a week off, load up the jeep, and spend a full week partying with you next year.

That's funny, I went over to pick up my bros rig and my friends who were with me from Chicago wanted to make one jump at Perris. I was wearing sandals so I went over to the school and borrowed a pair of shoes and jumped on the plane, no altimeter, no goggles, in my jeans. My buddy actually gave me his helmet with a Dytter on the way to altitude. I sure felt naked, and it sure felt good to get ack to elsinore and my own gear.

I was there also jumping my buddy Frenchy's new gear. I would have hated to get it dirty... How about that announcement "If you land on the East side of the landing area you're on your own. We have no way to pick you up!" And we got to play dodge the hay bales on the North end of the grass. I thought for sure I was going to eat it. But Elsinore was very nice. Not even any serious mud.

Great pick! How are you all doing? Find a jet slot yet?

That was a typo...fixed.

I was jumping a new camera suit and was in a stand when the buckle on the wingtip came loose and whacked me! I was amazed at how much it actually hurt... But be quiet because I told everyone else it was a bird strike...

...and they all get along so well.*** I got home from Chicks Rock with a new injury on my forehead and the first thing my wife says is "Did you get into a fight?" My response was "Skydivers don't fight!" I can't even remember the last time I saw a fight at the DZ if ever.

Do all the jumpers who make the trek to BD get to jump? With a one day event and the growth in demand I think the number of jumpers who get to jump may become a limiting factor and a good reason to change the requirements. 50 skydives to participate is probably not enough, however the risk at BD sounds substantially lower than other places one could start. And, I've been told over and over an S is the best place to start. But it sounds to me like BD is becoming for skydivers what a static line jump is for many wuffos. A chance to try skydiving/BASE jumping in a relatively low risk environment. After one static line jump you could call yourself a skydiver, but you are definitely greener than green. I would assume the same goes for someone with 50 skydives at BD. If introducing people to BASE is one of the underlying goals of BD then (and don't flame me on this, it's just a consideration) maybe the best thing is to limit the number of experienced jumpers. Afterall, how much do they have to learn at BD compared to someone who has never BASE'd. The statistics you posted are great, but rather than the mean number of skydives it would be more meaningful to know the min, max, and median. The mean can be rather scewed by 10 guys with 10,000 jumps each. Is there any way to compile stats on the number of people doing their 1st jump at BD and the number of these that continue BASE? While BD sounds like a great, seemingly safe way to experience a fixed-object jump I think people interested in pursueing BASE would be much further along the curve attending a multi-day FJC. Does a 1st timer learn how to pack at BD or just drop their gear for a packer? What if it's your own gear? changes in bold.

In watching the C and C2 videos I noticed some of the risers had the brakeline going through a ring similar to Skydiving risers. There were others that were free from the risers. When I first saw this post, that's what I thought it was about, but after reviewing the WLO Vertigo toggles it appears that mod releases the brakeline from the toggle completely. So now I have some questions: 1. What and why the difference between the brake line free from the riser or not? 2. Are release toggles just a non-destructive way to cut the offending brakeline away? 3. Is the next step to land using rear risers? 4. Tom, you recommend newbies not use release toggles, how do you recommend dealing with a lineover? 5. I have never experienced a lineover and always assumed they were generally due to a line dump. Is this correct? Are there other ways to induce a lineover?

SBCmac I agree with many of your opinions regarding the effect one bad incident could have on BASE jumping throughout the US, but it's like someone told me one time "The way you present your opinion makes people automatically resist what you're saying" At the time I couldn't understand what they meant but after several years of contemplation and practice I have found ways to express my opinions so that they can be heard instead of resisted. You have some very important things to say let people hear you... I don't think most people with 50 skydives have any idea what could happen or how they would react to a malfunction at 3500' much less 400'. At 50 jumps, I used to think jumping out of the plane at 2000' was cool.