BASE
From Skysurfer
Contents |
What Does the Acronym BASE Stand For?
- Building,
- Antenna,
- Span,(bridges) and
- Earth. (cliffs)
A general rule, which sometimes has exceptions, is:
- if the wind can blow around it, it's a building,
- if the wind can blow through it, it is an antenna,
- if the wind can blow under it, it is a bridge, and,
- if the wind blows up and over it, it is a cliff.
BASE Criteria
By Tom Begic
When people first started BASE jumping many years ago they used standard parachuting equipment with minor variations in packing techniques and equipment configuration.
Jumpers were also a special breed of person as it took more courage and skill to participate in skydiving. The average skydiver had a higher degree of equipment awareness and greater survival instinct. In comparison, modern day skydivers are protected by huge advancements in technology, AADs, altitude, and stricter operational regulations. The vast improvements in equipment and regulations have led to the evolution of "Ken and Barbie" jumpers. They are mainly concerned with the look of their equipment (as opposed to function) and the social aspects of the sport.
BASE jumping can be likened to parachuting of many years ago. Each participant needs to be proficient in all aspects of the sport if they want to survive. Technology has helped make BASE jumping much safer than it was years ago. But an underlying fact remains: Each jumper must take full responsibility for his/her actions. In a high pressure situation, a jumper cannot rely on safety systems and other people to stay alive.
Want to be a BASE jumper in Australia? Can you meet the following criteria?
- At least 200 skydives,
- good co-ordination skills and fast reflexes,
- ability to think and act quickly in a high pressure situation,
- experience flying 7 cell canopies,
- accuracy skills,
- CRW (canopy relative work) skills,
- night jumping experience,
- experience and ability to freefall in zero airspeed,
- packing and basic rigging skills,
- the right attitude/reason for participating in the sport,
- patience to get into the sport and to develop one skill at a time,
- a mentor/coach/instructor to guide you,
- access to BASE specific equipment, and
- access to relatively safe object (usually a bridge).
BE AWARE THAT SKYDIVING ABILITY DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO BASE JUMPING ABILITY.
In 1996 a Swedish "expert" skydiver (approx 2800 jumps) refused any BASE specific instruction. On her first jump from a 3000ft Norwegian cliff she went unstable in the low airspeed, clipped a ledge and died.
Several fatalities in Australia and many near misses have involved expert skydivers.
What Does the Acronym BASE Stand For?
- Building,
- Antenna,
- Span,(bridges) and
- Earth. (cliffs)
A general rule, which sometimes has exceptions, is:
- if the wind can blow around it, it's a building,
- if the wind can blow through it, it is an antenna,
- if the wind can blow under it, it is a bridge, and,
- if the wind blows up and over it, it is a cliff.
BASE Criteria
By Tom Begic When people first started BASE jumping many years ago they used standard parachuting equipment with minor variations in packing techniques and equipment configuration.
Jumpers were also a special breed of person as it took more courage and skill to participate in skydiving. The average skydiver had a higher degree of equipment awareness and greater survival instinct. In comparison, modern day skydivers are protected by huge advancements in technology, AADs, altitude, and stricter operational regulations. The vast improvements in equipment and regulations have led to the evolution of "Ken and Barbie" jumpers. They are mainly concerned with the look of their equipment (as opposed to function) and the social aspects of the sport.
BASE jumping can be likened to parachuting of many years ago. Each participant needs to be proficient in all aspects of the sport if they want to survive. Technology has helped make BASE jumping much safer than it was years ago. But an underlying fact remains: Each jumper must take full responsibility for his/her actions. In a high pressure situation, a jumper cannot rely on safety systems and other people to stay alive.
Want to be a BASE jumper in Australia? Can you meet the following criteria?
- At least 200 skydives,
- good co-ordination skills and fast reflexes,
- ability to think and act quickly in a high pressure situation,
- experience flying 7 cell canopies,
- accuracy skills,
- CRW (canopy relative work) skills,
- night jumping experience,
- experience and ability to freefall in zero airspeed,
- packing and basic rigging skills,
- the right attitude/reason for participating in the sport,
- patience to get into the sport and to develop one skill at a time,
- a mentor/coach/instructor to guide you,
- access to BASE specific equipment, and
- access to relatively safe object (usually a bridge).
BE AWARE THAT SKYDIVING ABILITY DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO BASE JUMPING ABILITY.
In 1996 a Swedish "expert" skydiver (approx 2800 jumps) refused any BASE specific instruction. On her first jump from a 3000ft Norwegian cliff she went unstable in the low airspeed, clipped a ledge and died.
Several fatalities in Australia and many near misses have involved expert skydivers.
