TomAiello

No they are not. BASE jumping is a hands-on activity. There are no prior jumps in the form of PCA during their corse at the BD unlike the ones they conduct in TW. Although it may seem odd, I agree with you. My Bridge Day FJC includes a lecture on the differences between the Bridge Day course and the Twin Falls course (primarily that there are 12-15 more jumps made in Twin, but some other things, too). I also offer discounts to students from Bridge Day who wish to seek additional training in Twin Falls. My Bridge Day course does include all the classroom and pre-jump material I cover in Twin Falls. It's unfortunately not possible to include all the jumps (although I'm hopeful that Jason will win his battle with the NPS to get us 3 days of jumping, and that will help things immensely). There is also a certain amount of reformatting to meet the scheduling requirements of Bridge Day, which may (or may not, depending on how you learn) make it more difficult to retain some material. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

All, This is obviously a discussion that many of us need to have. I'm sure that we can do that without resorting to name calling. Let's try to be adult about this, ok? Please remember that the Press, as well as family and friends of the deceased, are reading these forums, and conduct yourself accordingly. If you don't want to see your words reproduced by the media, you're best off not to post them here. Please have some consideration for family who may be reading this, as well. I'm going to ride herd on this thread as closely as possible. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Jason, that's a personal attack. You are central to this discussion, and it's a discussion that I think a lot of us need to have. I'm very reluctant to ban you from this forum for that reason, but please try to restrain yourself. Regardless of any copyright or other warnings, I will edit future posts of yours that include personal attacks. If you want to sue Dropzone.com over that, I'm sure that Sangiro will be amused. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Come on, you've been around here long enough to know better. That's a personal attack. And that's a direct threat of physical violence. Neither of those is allowed here. The second is way over the line. I'm banning you for 30 days. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Best source is Home Depot. Get the orange ones. The green ones right next to them are a quarter the cost, and you feel the difference when you pack with them. I've used almost every clamp on the market (don't ask), and I'm sold on the orange Pony brand ones you can buy at Home Depot for about 4 bucks. Oh, and as Maggot said, but in a more politically correct fashion, use the clamps as a tool, not a crutch. If you feel like you need the tools to pack, take a trip to Twin Falls and force yourself to pack without them for a weekend. After that you'll appreciate them for making things easier, without feeling crippled without them. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Did you also have the politically incorrect huck it t-shirt? "We all end up flat and stable eventually..." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I strongly disagree. If you want to have the argument, we can start another thread, but in short, my view is that: a) Toggles are better if you must conserve altitude; b) Risers are better if you must conserve distance to object strike. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

They're not waitresses/bartenders. They are our friends. They come out to BASE jumper parties, the hang out with us, and they also happen to work at an establishment we patronize frequently. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I always tip at least 5 bucks there, no matter what I order. If I spend more than about 20 bucks, I start upping the tip, but if all I get is free bread and water, it's still 5 bucks. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

All, if you have lost or found gear from Bridge Day, please post in this thread. I'll leave it stickied for a while so hopefully folks can find their stuff. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Super ancient footage from a TV program that was broadcast in the states maybe 5 years ago. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

In general, I'd say that the modern definition of "free packed" includes the use of a tail pocket. "Free stowed" refers to lines in the bottom of the pack tray (without a tail pocket), but "free packed" refers to a canopy not in a bag, regardless of whether the lines were free stowed or not. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Can you please re-post this in the "lost at bridge day" thread that's stickied to the top of the forum? I believe that Jason Bell ended up with all the lost and found from the packing area, which included many articles of clothing. You might try contacting him. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It depends on the angle you hit at. In most cases, the impact with the surface of the water is the primary mechanism of injury. However, there have been cases where jumpers were injured impacting the bottom of the lake/river (usually they sustained injuries both at the water surface and at the bottom). I have impacted at high speeds with a canopy at line stretch. Although I was seriously injured, I credit the canopy with preventing me striking the bottom of the river (because the thing that stopped my downward progress was the fabric of my canopy hitting the water--I was at line stretch below it, submerged). -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's T7. I edited my first post. My wife had already seen that and made the same point to me. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I was at the top in the jumpers area, and saw the entire incident from exit to impact. I have also reviewed video from several angles, shot by both jumpers and bystanders. The following is my personal analysis of the accident, and should not be construed as an official statement of any kind, by any person or group. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It did. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I got a chance to see Fly the Line at the Bridge Day Film Festival. I don't know if it's available for purchase or can be watched on-line anywhere. But if there is any way that you can get your hands on a copy watch it immediately. This video is to wingsuit flight what Superterminal is to tracking. The jumps are mind blowing. Go find it and watch it. Now. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'm going to sticky this for a week or so to make sure everyone sees it. Victor, can you let me know if you get it back before that and I'll drop this back down? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

He met the same minimum requirements for Bridge Day as every other jumper, and significant additional efforts were made by Jason Bell and his staff to provide him training and preparation for the jump. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

This is incorrect. The jumper who pulled low in the wingsuit was injured and life flighted out. He did have a spinal fracture (T7, if I recall correctly), but had feeling and control in all 4 extremities. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Jumping was allowed to continue after the deceased, family and friends had left the bridge. A significant number of jumpers chose to stop jumping for the day after the incident. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Brian Schubert -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

BASE 509 circulated through the line of jumpers asking people to call home in order to reassure their loved ones, because he expected the news not to include the jumpers identity, and knew that might cause undue panic. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I was at the exit point and saw the entire jump. I think there will be a video analysis of some kind done tonight. Jumpers family were present at the event, so there is no need to worry if you have not heard from friends. The only lesson to be learned from this incident is that it is imperative to deploy a pilot chute with sufficient altitude to allow canopy extraction and inflation. I do not believe there was any gear malfunction or rigging error. More detailed analysis and jumpers details to follow. I'd suggest we all refrain from posting details until Jason has a chance to prepare a statement and analysis. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com