sabre210

Rob you sick fuck. that's a ridiculously low 16feet but enough to break a limb or two. What deployment method you use on that. ian

Here’s a little ditty for you. The jump story in itself isn’t really that out of the ordinary and could be summarised in a paragraph or two. I personally think it’s worthy of telling ,only in so much as it certainly should make those jumpers - who believe it couldn’t happen to them - sit up and take note. In addition it links back to some of the most vintage stories around – as told by Simon Jakeman in his book groundrush. Somewhere in the great metropolis of London lies a building known to many as ‘The House’; a block of residential flats towering a pretty unimpressive but nevertheless jumpable 240 to 250ft (depending on who you talk to.) This particular B features in Jakeman’s book, along with some stills and a gut wrenching description of the climb onto the roof from the top floor balcony which involves a precarious dangle 230ft above the streets of London. After the climb up, the jump itself is a blessed relief. Having jumped this B only a week or so earlier, I had noticed upon entering the foyer of this building (along with fellow jumper Dan-the-Man) that the long overdue construction of a security desk and concierge system was almost at a completion. Furniture – still wrapped in plastic - had been moved into the security office and the monitors, connected to those dozen or so new security cameras were in position and hooked up. As we headed home after the jump we realised this B would in no time at all become an altogether more difficult, if not impossible, object to jump. The most had to be made of the precious quality time we had left. Calls were made; discussions had; and a general, but loose plan was hatched. A group of us would visit the B and jump it at the next available opportunity. Within a week, the forecast looked good and so I made some calls. By the end of the working day four good friends were all committed to jumping that night. As I was seconds from leaving the house that night, my wife took a phone call: her gran had taken ill and was being rushed to hospital, things didn’t look good. I called the gang and made my apologies. I wouldn’t be able to make it. The three of them pressed on with the plan. At some point that night, after the last drunks had staggered home from the pub, Dan-the-man stepped over the edge of the house for the second time in as many weeks. As soon as he landed Neil Q followed, and moments later Duane joined them. As Neil spun round on hearing Duane’s canopy burst open he was confronted by two alarming facts. Firstly Duane had opened off heading and had landed in a tree and secondly a group of people were sprinting towards him at speed. Within seconds though he came to realise that they were not in fact residents but another group of jumpers who had the same plan in mind. After carefully extracting Duane unharmed from the tree (it was a rubinia by all accounts) the first group depart in a London cab, leaving the second group probably scratching their heads. Group 2 after weighing up all the facts decide to press on too. Later that same night canopy number 4 burst open after Mac steps over the edge, followed moments later by Tom who by all accounts experienced a rather funky canopy inflation. On the ground, acting as crew was the relative newbie Ivan. So ends a slightly crazy and almost comical night of urban jumping. Not much of a story I’m afraid, but the epilogue makes a rather interesting read. Not long after this event, Ivan lands in the pitch black after a jump, snapping his tib and fib. Mac opens low off a gasometer and snaps his tib and fib, requiring his foot to be turned around by a jumper at the scene, I turn low after a cliff jump and snap my left tib, only to go on a few months later and snap both my right tib and fib after stalling out my canopy. Tom lands badly and breaks lots including his femurs, Duane dies on impact after his first wingsuit jump in Switzerland and finally Neil dies after falling from a cliff he’s intending to jump from in Thailand. Of all the people connected to the jump that night, only Dan avoided injury. And I hope it stays that way fella. Make of that what you will but it’s certainly a reason to pause for thought. Sorry it’s not a happy ending but my wife’s gran did make a full recovery though. ian

sic sic sic sic Yeah, if you only wanted to do legal cliffs then i'd look down on you like you were utter scum. hope this helps ian

Oh dear, we've reached the name-calling a bit sooner than i expected. You still evade the question. It's not an attack, it's not rude, it's not unfair, it's not pious, it's not condescending. It's a simple little question. Do you BASE jump? I've tried to explain why I think it's relevent. I'm trying to get a grip on where you're coming from. Your feet analogy is just silly. It isn't the same at all and, deep down, you know it. If i piped up in a thread that i thought BASE jumping should be punishable by a minimum 5 years imprisonment, you would want to know where i was approaching this from. To discover i was a building owner would throw a certain light onto my opinions. To discover i was the parent of a dead jumper might throw an entriely different, and I assume more sympathetic, light on the post. If you discovered I was an active jumper then you would no doubt be dumbfounded; Why would I hold such a view? Surely you can see that your beliefs, your visions, your dreams make more sense when we understand the context in which they are set, and the mindset/personal experience of the person who makes them. I know very little about the sport of Caving/pot-holing/spelunking. I could find a forum for the people who participate and start expounding my theories on where they should be taking their sport, and how I think they should advance their sport from being underground (forgive the pun), to an extreme youth driven, marketable and highly profitable leasure pursuit. If i did so, i would expect them to ask me if i was a caver. That's not unfair. That's not them feeling superior. That's just a natural question to ask when you want to understand the context. Would I place more value on your opinions if i found out you were a jumper? No! JimmyH seems to agree with you and if i'm honest i really don't completely agree with him on this matter - he's a BASE jumper - way way way more experienced than me. I respect that, but i don't have to agree with him, i don't have to see eye-to-eye on every issue with him. Did it stop me ordering his DVD. No! I bought it, i watched it, i thought there was some great stuff on it. Do i agree that flat and stable is dull? No. Do i agree that aerials are dull, no, and do i think jumps need to now be stunts to push the envelope. No. That's me, Jimmy's him, you're you. Fill yer boots. Go for it. You state that your post is aimed at the top athletes, the photographers, the people with the passion for BASE, implying that this group would want to make a living - get something back from the sport financially. Well i'm no top athlete, I'm no top photographer but i have a passion for BASE which i think would be hard to top but easy to equal. I eat, breathe and shit BASE (forgive the cliche), from the moment i awake through to the moment i go back to bed. If i'm not jumping, i'm planning jumps, and if i'm not typing this shit, i'm checking weather forecasts and looking for new objects. That's what i'm trying to tell you. For many.....in fact, for all the jumpers i know....the life consuming passion that is BASE isn't about getting it out there to a bigger audience. It isn't about jumping up and down and demanding people take note. In fact, the lower the profile of BASE, the better for most of us. The less people know, the more likelihood we'll get to sneak onto our objects and jump them. I don't care if people don't really understand why i do what i do. I have no desire to have my face on a kids packlunch box. I couldn't give a fuck if i never see an advert or an article on BASE in a mainstream programme on TV. I really hope I won't be able to walk into Urban Outfitters and see a t-shirt with "shut up and basejump" on it. The more people become aware about what we do, the more they worry we'll sue them, the more they realise, "hey if basejumpers got onto my building then a terrorist/burglar/sniper/pervert could too, better install security cameras and put locks on doors". That's why i think mainstreaming BASE isn't a great idea. That's why I disagree with you. That's why I asked you if you jumped. Because maybe - not definitely - just maybe, if you were a jumper; were someone who spent hours planning a jump off an object, or looking for objects to jump from , you'd appreciate that public awareness of what we do is actually one of the last things we want. Money and the backing of a brand/corporation could buy you access to sites we could never get to jump as bandits. I understand that, but legal access isn't the be-all and end-all of BASE. Jumping is though, and on the whole we need LESS publicity to continue to do so, not MORE. Nowhere in my posts have i resorted to name calling or flaming. I just diasgree on this issue. I have tried to articulate my open and honest views on why i feel the way i do. Now, i must go. This is going nowhere fast and i feel i need to step aside and give you the last say. This thread has been a lot more interesting (for me anyway) than most which is why i responded. Your views are certainly your own, and i bow to that.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and guess that you're not a BASE jumper. I'm basing this on many, many things you have written, but a subtle example being: [B] I think the reason BASE is a good thing to share with the world **in it’s right light** is because it’s never been shown in it’s true glory. Has it? [/B] I don't know why, i just think that if you were a BASE jumper, you'd know (in your mind) one way or the other if video was ever capable of capturing what it is to jump. If I'm wrong, then I apologise. What does it matter whether you are a jumper or not? Well it kind of does and it kind of doesn't? You are certainly right that you're entitled to your views (jumper or not), and equally correct that a discussion forum is the venue to air them. For me, reading your posts, i feel a need to know if you are; a BASE jumper who has the fire, and who has a vision for where they see BASE taking them and indirectly maybe me; or a non BASE jumper who is fired up having viewed some footage, thinks they understand the motivations of jumpers in general, and wants to try to market it and deliver it to a mass audience, making a bit of money in the process. The former i would say is deluded , the latter over excited and arrogant. Either way, you seem to only be able to value BASE in terms of it's broader appeal or marketability. In Short, how can we make money from this. You said so yourself. To distill BASE down into this, to me, SCREAMS!!!!! out that you haven't even come close to understanding what it is that drives most people to do this. You're no doubt a very nice person, and i hope you appreciate this isn't an attack on you, but a criticism of what i believe are yout really misguided dreams.

"wallpapering over" - "they just don't show it" - semantics. Two metaphors for the same thing: Hiding aspects of the truth. This is BASE jumping. An activity where every option really, really ,really needs to be considered. Knowledge and harsh reality checks are our only weapons against certain injury and death....everytime; i repeat, every single time we jump. It's not the environment to be deluded. Knowing the facts, examining the evidence is what keeps us alive, so i disagree, not facing up to the grim realities is a bad thing. Painting a sanitized face on an intrinsically risky persuit is insanity. It displays a complete lack of understanding of the people who do it, and it utterly mis-sells to those who might consider doing it. Skyglider. Are you a BASE jumper? I think it's important for us to understand where you're approaching this from.

whoooosssshhhhh "What was that?" "That was the point!!!!.....and you just missed it." ian

respeck mike

From a strictly analytical point of view I would say there is zero harm. Even if McDonalds were to film some jumps and use them in commericals. Of course it would look ridiculuous and I doubt any base jumper would ever consider it. We'll agree to disagree then. For me, McDonalds - or MTV; or Pepsi; or Redbull for that matter - slapping a 'fun face' on BASE and pitching it as 'cool' with a capital C; conveniently wallpapering over the slightly nastier issues of injury and death and fear and sadness, well, for me that's harmful. It's harmful in many ways, not least because it's a selective lie. It's not the FULL picture. It's a distortion of reality; a misrepresentation. It shows just one facade, the marketable one, the one people want to buy into. Sponsorship IS advertising. It's about brand awareness, it's about linking things which don't necessarily belong together, it's about image placement and association. Associating yourself with a lifestyle, or a philosophy or a stereotype. Pitching BASE jumping as some highly marketable and ultimately desirable cool lifestyle is just an illlusion, aimed at the deluded. Look at the queues for the reality shows. People with zero talent and even less intelligence, all scrambling to catch a slice of fame and fortune at any cost. That's your generation of gonna-be basejumpers right there. That's what BIG money brings in. A sea of greedy, selfish, cut-throat wannabes. But hey, among them we might have the next BASE version of Tony Hawk. Like they say "you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs!" It's got to be worth it, don't cha think?

QuoteHowever much advertising and MTV may suck........[]......If advertising means that people can put more time and energy into the things they love, so be it. I don't think it has hurt skateboarding, snowboarding, or any other sport for that matter.Quote I'm confused where you stand on this matter. Are you saying it sucks or are you saying it's a positive thing for the sport? If McDonalds decided to throw money at sponsoring one or several individuals in BASE, providing them with Ronald suits and happy meals canopies, thereby enabling them to do the thing they love more, then that's a good thing right? Where's the harm there? ian

Oh man that sounds so cool......do you think once the marketing men with the vision and the money really catch on, we'll be as revered as like....skateboarders. Do you think MTV will have like basejumpers showing us their cribs and like: "doooood, this is my own personal 300ft Pepsi crane in the yard where i train for 6 hours a day, and there's like my crew just chillin and trying out nu shit. Yo bro's" How about "Extreme Baseover" - where we take an average jaw jutting redneck and transform them over a few weeks into a cool extreme basejumper. Maybe "America's next top BASE model" where average flat and stable Joes get put through the works and are dismissed by a panel of judges until only one EXtreme dude remains. Then of course i'll tune in to watch "Queer eye for the BASE guy" where Marty from Asylum gets told that black is sooooooo last year and what he needs is a new hip and cool image. They trundle him out with that spikey hair look like all the young studs wear, with his baggy jeans barely hanging onto his hips. Other suggestions could be "Pimp my Bridle" and "Hop and Pop Idol". This vision of the future (and i agree we're so close, i can taste it) is truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing. ian ps. I saw the 60minutes documentary too. It made me feel soooooo proud to be a BASEjumper when Miles explained how jumping was "like being born". I've struggled to articulate that view for so long now.

Jason and friends. I respect everything you're trying to achieve: You know I do. The freedom to jump from your National parks' cliffs is a hugely important right, as important as the freedom to climb them or even look at them. My only point being, it's so important that, legal or not, we should be exercising it regardless. I hope when legal access is gained, it will be on terms which are more inclusive than exclusive. In otherwords, i hope you get to dine at the King's table and not be expected to scrabble for crumbs on the floor. Mark A. - next time you place your nose upto the glass and inhale the bouquet, and you get fruit and nuts and "wood"....... think of me PS. ABP bronze member......and i don't even live in your friccccing country. Good luck guys and gals.

oh one other thing... FACT: if you're successful in campaigning for legal access (and i truly hope you are) it won't be achieved on YOUR terms. There will be rules and restrictions and provisos. FACT: The authorities who agree to give you access will be just waiting for the first sign of a fuck-up, a rule break, a low pull, an injury, or even worse a fatality, to justify ceasing the access you worked hard to secure. FACT: no matter how much you try, or how persuasive your arguements, you will never get 100% of all worldwide BASE jumpers to abide by your rules. Some people are in this to enjoy themselves, how they want, when they want, on their terms. The more you try to reel them in, the harder they will fight. FACT: someone WILL break the rules and someone WILL get hurt. How many of either will the authorities tolerate, having arrived at this tender agreement with no shortage of animosity and prejudice. The chances are you'll be back to page one before you know it. I'm not against the battle for legal access to certain sites, but like Nick i wonder if the freedoms you waive will be worth the freedom you gain.

There are basejumps and there are basejumps! I've done the legal bridges, the legal cliffs and I love them like little brothers. Great stuff! A lot of fun. Legal jumps will always have a bed to kip on at my house should they be passing through the vacinity. BUT, and this is no small but, they pale into insignificance against the full-on night-time ninja assaults. They weep at the feet of the stealth mission. They're that funny hair-lipped bloke in gladiator, compared to the Russell Crowe Warrior - cowering and ashamed and without stature. They're like a semi-lob-on, compared to the rigid; rampant; proud; masterful morning-wood. (girls might want to use their own analogy here). In short, they're only half a basejump, a baaaa jump if you will; and like sheep they follow in the footsteps of others. They blaze no trails, they break no new ground. Nick, fret ye not oh little one. There may be jumpers out there, bleating on about legal this and legal that, and ethics, and advanced ethics, and extended advanced ethics, and 'i want everyone to accept me for what i do and love me' , but as long as day turns to night (fade up heroic music); as long as things poke out the ground; as long as there are fools who do stooooopid things; the illegal jump, the 'up yours fella' sneaky one, won't be going anywhere fast. To slightly alter Bob Hoskins' immortal line in The Long Good Friday: "legal jumps......i shit em" Let the FLAMES commence.

Histrionic Personality Disorder. Textbook.

Brilliant Ade ian

Hi there I'm 843. If i recall i qualified somewhere around august 20th 2003. How close were you guys? and i wonder how far behind 842 i was..... ian

Get well soon Russell. Injury is just plain boring but you'll be back before you know it. ian

Neil wouldn't have minded. He never liked you anyway Hope your t-shirts have arrived. I swear i'm still waiting for paypal to complete a transfer so i can sort you out with the cash i owe. UK base misses you mate. respect ian

It aint over till it's over. keep positive. ian

like this http://www.sylvantech.com/~talin/trip99/0420.html Kevin : use the url button under the message window to open and close a section you want to make clickable. Pope : As Kevin said, the coasts of ireland are habitually battered by strong winds. To hit the perfect day, be prepared for a looonnngggg wait.

Tom and Mike Thanks. This is what i effectively try and do....however in the heat of the moment, i suspect i probably let the toggles up too quickly and get the surge. I'll keep this in mind on my next jump. Cheers ian

In answer to your question then, yes if you static lined a 2000 ft antenna you should expect to be under a flying canopy above 1900ft. Just the right height to watch a skydiver scream by at terminal under a pilot chute hesitation. Crwper: could you describe your toggle unstowing technique for low static line jumps??? I am curious as to how you limit the forward surge. ian

I couldn't really visualise what you described if i am completely honest but it sounded complex. Regardless ,unless i am missing something i'm not sure how it would help. To my mind (and it is a simple one) we're dealing with a relationship which is inversely proportionate. The faster you aim to open the canopy after stepping off the object, by that very nature the closer you will be to the object. The longer you take to open the canopy after exiting, the further you will be from the object (tracking being the extreme of this). On a very low static line jump you need a canopy fast and so by shortening the bridle by X feet, you will begin the deployment sequence X feet sooner, just as surely as by using a 100ft bridle on a 110ft jump you will bounce. Now if the object in question had a lot of filthy shit hanging off it just below the exit point (small localised antenna for example) then I'd consider walking away and just daydreaming about it.....after all, there's no shortage of 100ish feet objects in the world is there. That's just me.....i'm queer like that. ian

not much but....we're talking ultra low static line here, around the 110ft mark (maybe even lower).2 feet of bridle, whether a regular bridle attached 2 feet from the pins/flap or a specifically constructed one i alluded to earlier will indeed put your canopy closer to the object. What you have to weigh up is if that is a greater risk than losing say 7ft of your 110ft in altitude. On the one hand a potential snag with the object, on the other a very real appointment with the hard ground. These are the kind of dilemmas and decisions which really get the blood pumping don't you think? ian