TomAiello

Have you looked at flying to Singapore, then taking a train or a commuter flight? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It keeps the other (tail) lines centered relative to the pack job. If you didn't get the center D lines, the control line bundle might wander left or right. You get the center C lines because they are the center D lines anyway (the two are cascaded together and are one line below the cascade). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Shhh. It's all part of my nefarious plot to take over the world. I am using my super-duper moderator-twin powers to censor all mention of the real accidents from this board. And those Canadians are sick...just sick...the way they dragged a year-dead body down here and through it off the bridge. Have they no decency? P.S. If you're wondering, my super-duper moderator-twin is Skin. I'm sure we'll get an update from him soon... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This is a total over-reaction by the media. It's made it into the newspaper and the local television, but was basically an uneventful out landing with no injury. The jumper apparently had line twists, recovered from them relatively low, and landed on the north (opposite side from the normal landing area) side. He then swam back across the river and hiked out. The real story here, for jumpers, is probably that the press is eager to report on jumping accidents--so eager that they are reporting this non-incident as if something major happened. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Do you know anything about the chest strap buckle in the Helium picture? Is that a quick release system? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Because your head (and it's contents) are a lot more important than your legs or knees? I strongly advocate wearing protection for BASE jumps wherever possible, but a helmet is the first and most important piece of protection. If you're only going to have one piece of armor, it should definitely be the helmet. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's different on different canopies. I'd start by measuring the most similar canopy you can lay your hands on (if it's a 7 cell, use your BASE canopy, for example, but if it's a 27 cell, find a swooping canopy at the DZ to measure) and using that ratio, then adjusting as you move through your testing process. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

A lot of people are missing a point that I made early on. This project is primarily a written story, to be presented on ESPN.com. Check my first post for examples of other stories carried in this format. I think that a written story (and especially one like this, which due to it's appearance on-line, as opposed to in a print publication, has no word or page limit) presents a significantly more in-depth view than a video. While that is obviously my personal bias (I find most written communication both more thoughtful and more in-depth than most video productions), it's one that I do hold, and one that has helped guide me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ammon, I’d love to talk with you about this in person. I sent you my phone number last night, if you’re willing to chat. Alternately, drop me a line with your phone number and a good time, and I’ll call you. An even better way to discuss this would be in person, so I’d like to re-extend my offer from several months ago. My next FJC is scheduled for June 22-25. I’d love to have you come out and sit through it. To generally respond to your accusations of hypocrisy on my part: Please re-read this part of my initial post in this thread: *** I have observed many BASE jumpers who have an absolute repugnance for media coverage and completely refuse to interact with the press. While I find this laudable, and tend to believe that if we all followed this course, BASE as a whole would be better off, I think that the real world situation may call for a different approach. No matter if I, personally, or any other particular jumper, refuse to interact with the media, there are quite clearly many jumpers who are eager to do so. Few of these jumpers share my particular views of BASE, or my desires for its future direction. Given this situation, I have two choices: 1) Have no contact with the media, and accept that the public perception of BASE will be formed by others, in the manner they prefer, for the ends they wish, or; 2) Be willing to engage in contact with the media, and try to act as a spokesman to present BASE in a manner that I am more comfortable with, in line with my personal views of BASE. It’s a dilemma, because I’m clearly having to choose between two options that will have less than optimal results in my view (my personal optimal result would be that there was no media coverage of BASE whatsoever, but that’s not something that’s possible in the real world). Now consider this scenario, and think about where you (and your actions) might fit into my motivations. A leading member of the big wall climbing community, at the top of his game, wants to try something new. He meets a BASE jumper who offers to chuck him off a bridge with a parachute. He assures the climber that no previous experience or training is necessary. The climber agrees, and has a great time. Everything goes right, and he figures he wants to try some more. His new friend refers him to another jumper who can teach him all about BASE jumping. But the climber is no dummy. He’s familiar with the internet, and knows that there are probably lots of sides to every story. He hops on Google, reads up on BASE jumping, and tries to meet some other jumpers. He finds a guy who builds some of the gear the jumpers are using. The gear builder seems much more cautious than the first BASE jumper he met, and advises him to make some skydives out of an airplane before diving into BASE jumping. The climber thinks about it, talks to more people, reads some more stuff, and decides to head out to the nearest dropzone to learn to skydive. He does that fairly well, but he’s pretty impatient to get back to what he’s really interested in—the BASE jumping. When he has around 40 skydives, he contacts the friend he was referred to and heads back out to learn all about BASE jumping. This particular BASE instructor doesn’t believe that background checks are necessary, and hates it when other jumping instructors get all stingy. He just wants to share the love, and he’d love to teach anyone to BASE jump. The climber meets up with his new instructor, they spend a great couple of days together, and the climber makes several jumps off the bridge. Energized and excited, he edits up a video of his experience, and throws it up on the internet, showing it to all of his climbing friends. This, understandably, gets them all pumped about BASE jumping, and they want to start. Having learned from their role model, this new group of climbers heads out to the dropzone before making their first BASE jumps. They work hard, and 20 or 30 skydives later, they all feel that they’re ready to head out to the bridge. The original climber takes them out and throws them off. Everyone heads home energized to start into this new game they’ve found. One of the new climbers wants to do more BASE jumping. He asks his friend, and gets referred to the same instructor. He comes back out to the bridge, and he, too, has a great time. Energized and excited, he edits up a video of his weekend, and throws it up on Youtube, sending messages out to hundreds of his climbing friends, all over the world, to share the joy he’s found. I don’t think it takes a crystal ball to see where this story is going. What do those hundreds of climbing friends do? They’ve got some great examples, from climbers they know and respect, of the path to follow. If they want to BASE jump, they can make a couple skydives (but that’s not strictly necessary), and then off they go. What’s my reaction to this proliferation of a view of BASE, and progression into it, that I personally disagree with? Let’s look back at my initial post. I can either: 1) Do nothing, and watch this happen, or; 2) Try to present an alternative, and share it with those same people, hoping to sway them to a different path into the sport. Ammon, when I present an alternative to your vision, it doesn’t make me a hypocrite. It makes me someone who disagrees with the path that you are actively espousing and recruiting people to follow, and is forced into a difficult choice to offer those people an alternative. Remember that my primary goal was to offer a vision of BASE training and progression that was thoughtful, cautious, prepared, and considerate of the risks. Understand that our previous interaction was a major component in my decision to publicly display this course. There were other factors (I’ve had similar interactions with many other people), but you were one of the big ones. I don’t hold any animosity toward you. My offer to come to my course is sincere, and I would genuinely appreciate the chance to meet and get to know you. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It sounds like you are calling me a liar. I don't really have any response to that other than to say that I'm not. No one signed any releases during this project. This wasn't as a result of any specific negotiation or plan--more likely it was an oversight on the part of the producer. Nonetheless I'm willing to take advantage of it if necessary. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I do not believe that the number of jumps the instructor makes is relevant to the student's learning experience during a course. By not jumping, I can quite often make it possible for the students to make more jumps. My students are using multiple rigs (both to develop more currency by making more jumps, and to force them to familiarize themselves with multiple systems from various manufacturers). If I can enhance their learning experience (primarily by helping them make more jumps in a learning progression during the course), I will do so. Shuttling cars, packing additional rigs, or even running to get breakfast while students are hiking out can save precious time, allowing students to make far more jumps (and learn correspondingly more) while they are here. During this course, I did jump a few times, and I also walked off after handing some component of my own gear over for student use (my helmet, my rig, etc) at the exit point. (Note that I always have a rig--or another instructor wearing one--at the exit, in the event of an accident or another situation requiring help in the landing area). Living in Twin Falls, I can jump this bridge virtually any day of the year. My students can only do that during their limited time here. It would be illogical, from a training standpoint, for me to reduce the number of jumps they make in order to make more jumps while they are here. One other thing that I can teach (by example) to students who see me walk off, is that it's not mandatory to make any specific BASE jump. I feel this is an important lesson for everyone, and if I can help impart it to my students by example, that provides additional value to their training. If I was primarily interested in making money, I would have charged the students for this course. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've moved this from BASE to Blue Skies. There is still a pointer in BASE, so the thread is visible from both forums. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I found that it was pretty easy to shut the wings down and just go into a standard track by pulling my arms and legs in. This allows you to essentially eliminate the wingsuit part of the equation and just go back into a standard BASE jump with track. If you can't pull your heading around and sort things out that way, you're probably better off not jumping the wingsuit yet. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I noticed that he Morpheus website has several new products listed (Helium, Razor, Trango, and PF Ghost wingsuit). Has anyone had a chance to try any of these out? Any firsthand reports on the Razor or Helium? I know I've seen discussion of the Trango here, and reports on the Ghost prototypes at F&D were posted in the wingsuit forum. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

They are usually 24/7 cameras. The tapes are generally set to continuous loop, so after some pre-determined interval (could be days or weeks) they record back over themselves. Usually, the tapes are only reviewed if there is some problem at the tower (when they are used for evidence), so if you leave no trace, it's likely that no one will ever think to review the tapes. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Didn't Phoenix Fly have a helmet as one of their products a while back? I can't seem to find it now, but I do recall some discussion of it. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Yes. The crew was actually very respectful, had no problems turning things off whenever I or a student asked, and was actually (I know it's hard to believe) pretty unobtrusive during the course. Since half of the guys with camera gear (2 of 4) were experienced BASE jumpers, they were actually fairly in tune with what we were doing. Remember, though, that the camera guys don't control the final presentation--the writer of the segment and the producer of the video do that. I feel very good about the writer. The producer I had significantly less interaction with, but I didn't get any alarm bells (and, as noted, I've still got some legal rights that I haven't surrendered yet, there, which they'll need before they air footage of myself or the students). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Thanks, I fixed that. I must have read the label on my old Mojo tail pocket one too many times. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Actually, I do, in a way. Neither myself nor any of the students have signed any releases yet, meaning that they can't legally use footage of us (the written story can proceed without those things). I will ask to see the edited video segment prior to signing such a release. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

A writer for ESPN.com contacted me over a year ago with a request to cover a BASE training course. The writer had previously covered parachuting events, and had written a book titled Birdmen, Batmen, and Skyflyers: Wingsuits and the Pioneers Who Flew in Them, Fell in Them, and Perfected Them[/I]. Prior to responding to his request, I contacted multiple jumpers who’d had previous contact with the writer, primarily in relation to his previous articles and book, to ask about his general approach and their feeling about his final product. I also read his book, and several of his articles, to form my own opinions about (a) the quality of his work, and (b) the likelihood that it would present BASE in a manner I was comfortable with. The type of story being written is called an e-ticket, and is part of the ESPN.com website. Examples of other e-ticket stories can be found here. I formed a generally favorable impression of the writer and the project based on (a) my review of the writer’s work, (b) my conversations with other jumpers who knew him, and (c) the general type of story, particularly that the written story would be the leading component, with the video attached as additional material. I believe that this format and writer were likely to lead to a coverage of BASE which was both in-depth and fair, and not likely to focus solely on the flashy video-friendly aspects of BASE which are often the primary lead for most media coverage. I contacted several other jumpers (at least one of whom has posted in this thread), to ask them their opinions, and in more than one case followed up with additional discussions about media coverage generally and this project specifically. I decided that I was interested in pursuing this project, and that I thought it could benefit BASE because: In general, the media coverage I see of BASE tends to focus on a single jumper or jump, and tends to emphasize the more dramatic aspects of BASE. It almost never covers (a) “average” BASE jumpers, either singly or in groups, (b) previous experience or training to reach the stage of beginning BASE (or making advanced BASE jumps), or (c) BASE training, especially not presenting it as a methodical approach to minimizing risk as one progresses into the sport. As a result, the average person who views a media presentation of BASE jumping tends to develop a skewed view of BASE, and of the people who participate in it, and of the preparation required. Generally, this results in prospective new participants who (a) dramatically underestimate the level of preparation required, (b) have no comprehension of the risks involved, and (c) do not have any clear idea what sort of logical, structured progression could be followed to minimize risks. I wanted to convey two primary messages: 1) That BASE jumpers are not social misfits, or wild extremists, but rather that many are relatively normal, productive members of society who have simply selected a minority form of personal recreation they find interesting and satisfying. 2) That BASE jumping requires adequate preparation, and that a structured, methodical approach, to minimize risk while maximizing learning is both desirable and accepted. I emphasized these points repeatedly to the writer, and to the video interviewer, during the course. I have observed many BASE jumpers who have an absolute repugnance for media coverage and completely refuse to interact with the press. While I find this laudable, and tend to believe that if we all followed this course, BASE as a whole would be better off, I think that the real world situation may call for a different approach. No matter if I, personally, or any other particular jumper, refuse to interact with the media, there are quite clearly many jumpers who are eager to do so. Few of these jumpers share my particular views of BASE, or my desires for its future direction. Given this situation, I have two choices: 1) Have no contact with the media, and accept that the public perception of BASE will be formed by others, in the manner they prefer, for the ends they wish, or; 2) Be willing to engage in contact with the media, and try to act as a spokesman to present BASE in a manner that I am more comfortable with, in line with my personal views of BASE. It’s a dilemma, because I’m clearly having to choose between two options that will have less than optimal results in my view (my personal optimal result would be that there was no media coverage of BASE whatsoever, but that’s not something that’s possible in the real world). Ether: Every student in the course was given the opportunity to veto the media project. It was clear to everyone involved, on all sides, from the outset, that any student could do that, and also that any student could ask for any media personnel to leave at any time. This was all discussed at some length several months before the course. Gweeks: The course is 7 days long, and site access methodology is not part of the curriculum. A complete course syllabus can be found here. The curriculum is a bit ambitious, especially for the Spring course (when wind conditions are usually worse than in the Fall), so some material inevitably doesn’t get covered before the end. WorldsoCold: I am. I did have some assistance from another instructor for portions of this course, but all the teaching methodology and curriculum, as well as the initial decision to allow media coverage, was mine. Space/HN1: I am not in understanding of your post. please elaborate. I extensively discuss the risks of BASE jumping in my initial lecture, and we also review accident footage as a standard part of the curriculum. The media was asked not to record anything at least twice during those discussions, by both myself and a student, and those portions of the discussions were not covered. No recording was done during review of accident footage. For general information: I know of at least 2 previous occasions when BASE training courses were covered in popular media, including MTV coverage of another FJC at this object. I neither asked for, nor received, any compensation for my participation in this project. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's closed now. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I've been teaching at least 12 hours per day for the last 6 days, so I'm not really up on this one. Feel free to give me a call, PM or email about it on Saturday, once I'm done. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I should so ban you for that... -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

From the forum you post in, unless you're making it a DZ.com wide issue by crossposting into unrelated forums. That decision is made by Sangiro, not the moderators of the individual forums. 14 days is typical. For worse offenses, longer. In more serious discussions, or in the Incidents forum, longer. In the Bonfire, usually shorter. Yes. PM's are pretty much fair game, because you can just block a poster whose PM's you don't want to receive. There are some exceptions to that guideline (threats of violence, moderation related abuse, etc). I'm teaching all this week, so my on-line time is limited. PM's, email, or phone calls are probably a better way to ask these kind of questions. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Let's keep the discussion in the original thread. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com