TomAiello

The system used by Peter G (I think it was developed at least in part by BASE 283) had a rocket deployment and appeared sufficient to allow 30 foot jumps. There's video of it floating around somewhere, but I can't seem to find it right now. In the video I saw he does a motorcycle jump from a low bridge (maybe 50 feet?) and a snowboard jump from a low cliff (it looks like the canopy is pretty much inflated and flying as he leaves the exit, probably through a combination of the rocket deployment and the forward speed of the snowboard). Why do you think a round would work better? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Thread the Needle II has a whole "break the bottle over people's heads" section. There's a really funny segment where they can't get the bottle to break and just keep whacking the guy over and over. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

The tarp/yonkel/etc terminology was invented by Shane for deathcamp. Since the deathcampers don't know what the parts of the parachute are actually called, he just made up a new set of labels for them. There's a scene in Radix where Shane is giving deathcamp instruction using those labels: "You're wearing the backpack, and then the tarp comes out, and you grab the yonkels and schlare the tarp..." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

BASE is allowed on National Forest land. To the best of my knowledge, BASE is allowed on pretty much all federal lands (BLM, National Forest, etc) outside of the National Park system. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I believe Dennis M. got some guy a BASE number in 5 parachute jumps--a tandem from a plane and a jump from each of the four objects. As I heard the story, there was a significant monetary payment involved. It's obviously happened, and will continue to happen. The real question is how often it happens, and how large the percentage of never-skydivers (as in, never made a skydive or made very few skydives, distinct from "used to skydive") there are amongst us. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Jaap, these comments are based on my observations and experience with a broad range of jumpers. They are not intended to apply to you personally. I think that you have developed a good range of skills, and that you are developing your skills far more effectively than the vast majority of jumpers in your "generation." As an aside, I think that your personal path, which is highly atypical, may color the way that you views these issues. I think that the average jumper has a far less methodical learning approach than you. I disagree. I have observed the average skill level of jumpers in the sport dropping dramatically. While we still think of the same X number of jumps jumper as a "grown up" BASE jumper, the truth is that a guy with X jumps today has far less developed skills than a guy with X jumps 5 or 10 years ago. In fact, I'd speculate that the root cause of this drop in average skill level is inextricably linked to some of the things you point out (easy availability of safe FJC's, more wide spread knowledge of legal sites, ease of pounding out a bunch of jumps in a short time). I think that traditional mentoring produces jumpers with a much higher average level of skill and knowledge, and that an expansion of traditional mentoring could really help to boost the average skill level of jumpers today, and especially of jumpers who've started in the "modern" training system. While there may be other ways of helping raise the average level of skill, at this point in time I don't see anything really replacing the traditional mentoring that used to build intermediate skills amongst up and coming jumpers. Can you explain what you see as today's needs? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I think you may be oversimplifying. There is definitely a shortage of qualified, available, and willing mentors. Mentoring someone, in the real, old fashioned sense, is incredibly demanding, and a huge responsibility. It can easily mean guiding someone through more than a hundred jumps, over a span of time ranging upwards of a year. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's a cool little geographic search tool with satellite photos and such. Find it here. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Ok, enough joking around. I actually got a gash that was similar in location, but not nearly so deep, jumping a full face RW helmet (it was an Oxygen A3, if I remember the model correctly) with the visor removed. I took a relatively sharp stick through the face opening, and it slid down the side of my face, slashing it open. Helmets help stack the odds in your favor. No protection is perfect. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Actually, the Crispis have a (removable) stiff plastic reinforcement that you can't flex with your hands. I don't think it's the _only_ thing. I do think it's an important thing that can often be overlooked. If you can find a copy, I highly recommend Doug Robinson's essay on Running Talus. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

All, I've cleaned this thread up. Please try to take this in the spirit in which it was offered. If it degenerates again, I may move it out of SC. Freethefly, Let me know if you'd rather have this in the (somewhat more warm and fuzzy) Bonfire. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Wow. Good to hear that you came through relatively intact. I think that a lot of us take more or less for granted that we have more experienced jumpers around who've opened some objects that they can take us to, and that we know are fairly straightforward. You guys are blazing a whole new trail in that part of the world, and that's an experience that most of us can't even approach. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I believe Jimmy just covered that. It was clearly the _wrong_ helmet. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Jaap has come full circle. He was once the eager newbie, getting ridiculed by the jaded "old-timer" jumpers for asking every question that popped into his head. Now, he's the jaded old timer who is ridiculing the newbies. I can hear Darth Vader in the background somewhere: "The circle is complete--now I am the master..." -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I bought my Crispis from a BASE gear manufacturer when they were the only boot stocked by any BASE company. I'm not sure which of the Crispi's or Hanwag's is "older" or "newer" or that it makes any difference. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Pretty much negligible. The center cell valve has an effect on opening characteristics, but pretty much does not change flight characteristics. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

2-7 seconds. Very much so. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

It's _always_ best to err on the side of secrecy. You never know when the site you _think_ no one else could possibly jump is, in fact, a regular site for some group of jumpers. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

I'd consider #1 to be a fact. Can someone explain why? I'm always interested in avoiding potential line overs. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

"...I want to be embraced..." I doubt she's going to have too much trouble finding someone willing to do that. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

We've had some confusion with this before. You ought to clarify if you mean: NE = New England NE = Nebraska or something else? -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Everyone has experienced that. If it doesn't feel right, you definitely should not jump. It's good that you have a mentor who understands that. In all seriousness, why do you want to BASE jump? Maybe try doing some other things for a while, and see if BASE is still calling to you in 6 months or so. If it is, come back and see how it goes then. There's no rush, here, and BASE is not a contest. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Most of my advice is here. There's an updated copy of that article that hasn't made it up on DZ.com yet. If you want that newer version, let me know where you can get a 150k attachment, and I'll email it to you. For specifics: Don't bother looking at those buildings yet. You'll need to work up to them, and you'll want to make plenty of jumps of other stuff, first. -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com

Please make political posts to the Speakers' Corner forum, not the Bonfire forum. I'll move this one to Speakers' Corner. Thanks! -- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com