GaryP

Roland (Slim) Simpson - 2 broken femurs - 3 broken vertibrae - smashed pelvis - punctured lung - returned to life after CPR - teetering on the brink for days in ICU - spinal unit for months Jumping again (with wingsuit!!!) after 12 months. Hobbling to BASE exit points and on to aircraft with determination and a zeal for life. My goodness, if there ever was a lesson in not giving up and jumping no matter what the odds are against you here was one. RIP Slim mate g. "and who said cripples can't fly" "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

He got jail for killing a little girl while driving drunk then leaving the scene. He's not a popular person. re: the "other" vid - I would love to see that - can it be uploaded somewhere??? John Vincent tarred and feathered by his loving peers. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

If your looking for one of these in your area they seem to be common in gymnastics training centres. They're more correctly called "foam pits" and a google search should reveal one close to you. They range from 7' - 12' deep and usually have some kind of vaulting equipment or a trampoline next to them. Pictures attached. As for the rope slide - yeah a pulley or U-bolt would've been much better than the bunch of socks I had slung over the rope. It was a pretty spontaneous decision and being in the outback - I just grabbed whatever was at hand for the job. Will be better prepared for it next time. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

You could probably go head-first into one from about 10' max. Ring around any major aquatic centre where they do dive-training and ask. If you find somewhere with one of those "pendulator" thingies Tom talks about then no doubt they'd have a foam-pool as well. They are great for practicing running exits, or doing minor aerobatics off a small platform (like a gym horse) or trampoline. They are similar in concept to those rooms full of plastic balls that parents love to huck their little kids into and watchem dissapear. I don't have a pic on-hand but will see if I can get one. TVPB & Dwain can be seen training in one on the old BASE vid - Beyond Extreme. As for the clapped out ABA balloon - exits were usually from 400' to 800'. One day I put a sling over the rope when it was at about a 70degree angle and attempted a rope-slide down it - but the sling broke from friction as soon as I got up some speed. Fun though - I was always thinking to myself "OK - mustn't get tempted to ride it all the way down..... gotta let go before 200'..." g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Taking your rig into a gym/pool situation where they have one of those foam pools (pools filled with foam squares) would be pretty much invaluable - they'd take you pretty seriously when they saw how serously you're taking their discipline of choice. The foam pool allows you to take pretty much any exit whilst wearing your rig allowing true experience of the types of inertial loads experienced when doing aerials with your rig on. Fast Al has allowed many new Aussie BASErs to do their first aerials from his tethered hot air balloon on a number of balloon meets he has held. It's getting a bit clapped out now but it has been an invaluable catalyst none-the-less. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Actually... I've always wanted an audible that said in a quasi-sexy cyber-fem voice something along the lines of : "TWENTY seconds to impact....DING" "TEN seconds to impact....DING" "This skydiver will impact in FIVE seconds.... have a nice day" g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

I use my visuals and alti to keep height aware. The audible only is there to confirm my heights for me - not to indicate them. 1st - break-off 2nd - pull time 3rd - get something above my head NOW Usually I hear the 2nd alarm as I am deploying, i.e. I don't deploy when I hear it, I hear it when I deploy which just confirms my height. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

I heard it was the "gust of wind" that's to blame.... ...Damn that gust - always pushing us back into the objects - always lurking g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

That story of John Hoover reflecting how his life would have looked had he made different choices as he lay on his back on that office floor looking at that picture on the desk of that guy's wife, and after being pulled back out the window by his reinflating canopy, how that thought stayed with him as he repeatedly bounced off the building on the way down, is one of the most poignant, lovely and insightful stories I've ever heard in BASE. Thank so much Nick for that Thanks John RIP PS - Media are scumbags. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Getting the launch right is of prime importance in my jumping. How the kinetic energy of the launch plays out and the affect that the inertia of my arm and leg movements have on the end resulting body position is a subject of never-ending thought and rehearsal for me. As I was discussing with Jaap recently, I call this "inertial interplay". Look at the BASE fatalities for a moment: # 11 Launched head-down / fouled with lines # 12 Launched head-down/cliff strike on opening # 27 Launched head-down/cliff strike on opening # 37 Unstable launch/lost height awareness/impact # 38 Unstable launch/lost height awareness/impact # 42 Over-rotated launch/ impact ledge # 44 Unstable launch/cliff strike on opening # 47 Over-rotated launch/ impact cliff # 56 Slipped on exit/cliff strike on opening # 60 Over-rotated launch/ impact cliff # 63 Unstable launch/impact cliff # 64 Launched head-down/cliff strike on opening # 67 Unstable launch/impact cliff # 84 Over-rotated launch/ impact ledge 16% of BASE fatalities due to poor launch. Just an observation. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

You've answered your own question. If YOU find it demanding then IT IS. I find sub-200' freefalls very demanding of my reactions, of my experience and possible very demanding of my bones. JesseP is very current, having done hundreds of low altitude Aussie jumps in a very short space of time. 200' freefalls place less demands on him than they do on me. Someone of his calibre perceives the risk differently than I do. I'm sure you perceive the risk of a 200' f'fall differently than your friend does. After all, it's our perception of what we think we can and can't do that ultimately protects us from ourselves. If we did things that are outside our ability on the insistance of others we get hurt. This is why some people walk away from a jump and some don't - and walking away can never be regarded as a bad choice. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Each time I've seen a whuffo chucked from a bridge it's always been followed by "gees... guess we won't be doing THAT again anytime soon..." If mass-training is what's being put forward here then let's not forget the calibre of student that sometimes fronts up for AFF training - and the amazing (scary) antics that they are capable of coming up with sometimes - perplexing even the best AFF instructor. (up goes the fatality rate!) PG or Skydiving are the best sports to learn canopy control. Skydiving is the only precursor that I can think of for tracking. What about progressing to wingsuit?? I just can't think of any substitute than what we already have. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

I love my pullout - basically the crux of the matter was that I wanted to be the one that opened the container. I didn't want to leave that job up to the PC. In the late '80's the choice was either that or leg-strap TAP and I didn't like the idea of bridle running down to my thigh Actually - not far from the truth. For me, pullout (or bunnytail) was the natural choice to progress from ripcord. It basically IS a ripcord, just one situated on the back of the rig and attached to a hand-deployed PC. Both systems work fine as long as they are used and maintained within their design spec's. Work outside of what's required and you'll get bitten. Why ppl always blame equipment and not themselves I'll never know. TAP is chosen for BASE because: 1: It requires less movement and energy from the jumper to get the PC to bridle-stretch. TAP - *reach back *grab PC *throw PC Pullout - *reach back *grab pud HARD *peel velcro *pull pin & throw PC 2: It allows the jumper to go hand-held 3: Half the BASE rigs out there use velcro to close the container and some also use 2-pins making pullout system impossible So don't try to make an argument that because BASErs use TAP that this proves the system is superior for skydiving. I have over 100 BASE jumps and I know that TAP is the best choice for this application. Remember, I'm a hard-nut pullout supporter but I had to give that up to go BASEing despite my desire to be in control of opening the container myself because I knew it's the correct setup for the application. It doesn't make it the correct choice for ALL parachute applications though. Would I push a newbie in the direction of pullout - probably not because the BOC is proven to be effective and most gear on the market is BOC anyway so it'd make sense to have someone choose something they'd be more likely to come across in the mainstream of gear. I would certainly introduce them to pullout though. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Looking for a moment at the BASE portion of this jump - it doesn't really fit in with what I'd consider "modern" BASE jumping to be. Whilst "The List" isn't really to be used as a useful statistic there's many ppl, especially the media, that use it in this way. Having this jump (stunt) on the top part of the list would only increase the number and make the "statistic" less pertainent to modern BASE and the type of jumping that most ppl on the list were undertaking when they died. In other words - it'd make the list less valuable as a reflection of modern BASE jumping statistics. So I vote NO. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

4-line check: outermost A/B & C/D lines run clear to the outermost lines on the riser of the same side Brake line check: L & R steering lines running clear and outside ALL A/B/C/D lines from toggle, thru riser keeper, and thru slider to respective L & R side of tail without crossing each other. Min line check req's: A brake line check should be done at every pack. If rapide links have been reconnected prior to jump: A complete continuity check of all lines is needed. If one or both risers have been reconnected via 3-rings prior to jump: A 4-line check on BOTH sides is needed. Continuity has been checked before and canopy just being repacked (not been disassembled): A 4-line check on one side only needed to check for step-thru. As said before, a brake line check is needed as well on every pack-job. Also note that a canopy that has been connected backward can still show continuity from riser to canopy on a 4-line check if attention isn't paid to WHICH SIDE of the canopy the riser is connected to. On a canopy that's known to be assembled correctly it's not possible to step-thru the lines and it not show up on a 4-line check on both sides - this is why only one side need be checked when the canopy is being repacked from a jump. And to answer the question if I'm to read it right - it's not possible to PACK a canopy so it flys backwards, it's only possible to CONNECT a canopy backwards. Hope this is of use

While I have to agree that the risers are the best choice on this wall, it seems your toggle input was pretty non-responsive. When the Line-Mod is being used you'll get less response from your typical arm's length "stroke" than you would get if the lines were routed in the riser keepers as for slider-up jumping. Always keep this in mind and try to develop a steering technique for slider-down jumps that pushes deep and forward of your hips rather than the tendency to pull down and behind your hips as is the habit when skydiving. Also, having the toggles tied on a few inches higher than normal may help you get more tail down when you bottom out on the control stroke and it will help negate some of the effect that the Line-Mod has on the input. Also, there's not many walls that will allow you to have a 180 & make an input one way, then change input and try another direction, even this highly overhung one -but I guess I'm not telling you anything you don't know now eh?? Don't take all advice as Gospel. Question evrything you are taught and understand the reasons for evrything you chose to do. Don't just go for the toggles 'cause someone told you to. Think WHY you are making particular choices (eg. toggles, risers, two-way, longer delay). Make your choices after assessing everything. Each site is different and needs to be assessed all the way to the ground. Even the same site can have different requisites and possible outcomes on different days or situations (weather, multiple jumpers, light, etc). Ultimately, we have to think it thru for ourselves. Glad ur ok! Take care mate! g. BASE985 "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Dexterbase - agreed - fair point - pause - reflect - breath. My agenda getting ahead of my keystrokes. Thx. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

With all that said - in keeping with your quesion and my opinion: All systems (Velcro - single & dual pin) have their strengths and weaknesses. For wingsuit and acrobatics and long delays I'd have to reccomend pin rigs. For ultra low I have to say the single pin Prism (for reasons of simplicity of pack-opening) but for most BASE of the 0-7sec range then all systems are fine. It's the human that's the variable in the equation. Each system has a particular way to pack, maintain and operate it and as long as you are in keeping with what's required then either will serve you well. Just know the limitations with packing, mainainence and execution and stay within those confines and you'll be fine with whatever choice. Work outside the performance envelope of your choice and you'll be bitten. Maybe know your application (wingsuit, high, low etc.) and that would help you with your choice. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

agreed to all the advice and that there's definitly more to BASE consequences than fatalities - there's plenty of time to get into BASE. I can't stress enough how important it is to have canopy input become nothing short of 2nd nature - instinct that requires no thought. Most cliffs have been there for many thousand years and there for many thousand more. There will always be new bridges and bldg to access so there's no need to rush into BASE and it'd be foolish to enter into it without the prerequisite of instincive canopy control and much time studying BASE. I was tempted with the quote that my old BASE friends are still around but in actual fact - most old skool in Oz stopped jumping - attributing to their longevity. My point that I do press is that information shouldn't be conditional - that it should be given to WHOEVER seeks it. When Joe Shaw - (BASE fatality #27 - love ya mate) died it wasn't his inexperience in skydiving that killed him it was the DAMN CODE OF SECRECY AND NON_DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION that was the practice of the time that contributed to his death. Ever since he went in I was adamant that the "code" should and would change and I would do whatever possible to change the code of secrecy that was the norm of the time. That's why whenever I sense that info is being held from someone on condition that I speak up. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Sorry, I'm mistaken - they are NOT all still alive today but their deaths were'nt attributed to their low jump#'s when starting. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

I beleive in palliative information - that is that the guy has stated that he "is buying his first BASE rig" so whilst I agree that 68 jumps is not the std requirement, the choice is whether or not to supply him with information. If we don't - he makes his choice with less information available to him than if we do give him information. Whatever we chose - he has made his choice to buy his rig and I think that information should be disseminated to him regardless. This has always been my stand. I agree that whilst the norm for 150-200 skydives is a good GENERAL standard to have it 'aint gospel - I've seen ppl with 50 jumps who are more "switched-on" than some with 500. I don't think info should be conditionary. He has made his choice - we either help him or we don't. My signature was actually take from a saying that "INFORMATION is birthright to any individual who seeks it". As a footnote I must say that I've not seen any BASE fatalities attributed soley to the jumper having under 150 skydives. When I started BASE there was no 150jump pre-requisite - I had about 50 jumps before 1st BASE and so did all my friends. They are all still alive today. (BTW - go for the pin rig) g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

As a rough rule - unless prompted to - people rarely look up. I live for this kinda shit! g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

Sorry - my bad - just MY flat-line experience with skydiving where RW (flat flying ZZZzzzz) just didn't do it for me. Sorry to be so linear minded. Choosing a new discipline should bring you new found enjoyment if you're looking for that "something else". I described my experience of what earning altitude means to me but I am very much awed and appreciative (even envious) of the newer disciplines out there today like freefly and the like. CRW is the other discipline that gives me a "rush" - actually it scares the pants offa me and it (along with 7-cell accuracy) compliments BASE quite well. It's just that BASE gave me that challenge and something new like nothing else. Cya - g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

I moved primaraly to BASE a few years ago but it had nothing to do with a rush - a common misconception of BASE whuffos is "oh I bet you do that for the rush" Don't get me wrong 'cause I'm not saying this 'aint so for others and I think if a "rush" is what you're after then BASE can certainly fulfill that need as it does for some. For me BASE was a chance to be a student again - to challenge myself, to experience more progressive learning and to find that "internal conversation" again - you know the one . For me it's a form of meditation - a martial art of merging adrenaline, serenity, inertial interplay, internal conversation, altitude, stress management, rigging and gymnastics. All this and more - too much to be defined as just "a rush". Also - a new dimension in friends and going places and discovering new places to jump and to share this with your friends. I found that skydiving was too easy and the rewards were much better if I "earned" my altitude. To skydive you just drive to the DZ, pay your fee, order breakfast, walk to the plane, sleep to height, flop out the door, pull some strings, pull some more strings and land. This started to become predictable and unchallenging. With BASE it's about site assessment, weather assesment, walking down sometimes, climbing or hiking, travelling, waiting and generally earning altitude the HARD way. I always find that the harder road has the best rewards for me. Like 321seeya who finds peace and solice in jumping I also find that THE most focused and relaxed time in my life is just before exit from a cliff, bldg, dam, antenna or whatever. I get a major RUSH just beforehand when gearing up but come exit time and during the launch/jump - pure utter peace and focused existence like no other. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .

With the exception of points 3,4 & 5 I can't see how these matters impact YOUR first jump (which you said would be a tandem) or how you'd be in a position to judge them (equipment condition, aircraft condition). What you are suggesting is akin to requesting breathtesting to every other driver on the road and checking their vehicle roadworthiness and mental efficiacy prior to taking your 1st driving lesson!! I support you asking questions that are pertainent to YOUR TRAINING and YOUR INSTRUCTION but as for the actions and choices of other (non staff) jumpers - they don't affect you so please MYOB. g. "Altitude is birthright to any individual who seeks it" .