Thanks from Russel

[pBASEtobe 0]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that helped out this weekend. It always seems to be a chore for me to get one jump in. Getting my wheelchair down to the bottom and towels and an extra body on the boat (bbbrrrrrr the water's cold!!!). I really couldn't have made those jumps without the help of so many, especially Tom. From pretty much spending the entire weekend with me either packing, cooking dinner or building our little jungle gym (power tools rule!). I had an amazing time this past weekend. I loved the visuals from the full floater and the feeling of freefall again. Man that delay was sweet. It was really cool hanging on the bar and looking down before letting go.
I'm sure I'll be seeing many of you around more often. I'll be at Bridge Day again this year. Hopefully this year I won't be going AFF style but we'll see.

Thanks again!

P.S. I shot quite a bit of video this past weekend. Mostly on Saturday and Sunday (the days I didn't jump). If you jumped either of those days and want the video I can take a look for you. Only when I get my charger back though. :)

[brits17 0]

Russel,
Congrats on your jumps man. You simply rock. I'm sorry I missed you at the Perrine but certainly look forward to hooking up again at Bridge Day.

_______________________
aerialkinetics.com

[Bryguy1224 12]

Congrats Russel. I enjoyed helping you this weekend. Its an inspiration to see you jump. I hope to see you at bridge day.

[hookitt 1]

Russel, it was good to see you again. I wasn't able to stick around long enough to see you jump but seeing the video gave me chills of excitement.

Congratulations Russel. You are quite the inspiration to alot of us.

Tim

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[evilivan 0]

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....but seeing the video gave me chills of excitement....

i'LL second that.

....and sometimes we think WE are pushing the boundaries.....

"If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation."
David Brent

[Zennie 0]

Right on Russel!

Has anybody given you any good ideas for getting the other objects yet? I'm sure we could come up with something if we all put our heads together.

- Z
"Always be yourself... unless you suck." - Joss Whedon

[KMonster 0]

Russel,

That was a lot of fun watching you freefall off the jungle gym. Tom was right, that was certainly a feat of backyard engineering. Nice delay!

Katie.

[pBASEtobe 0]

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Has anybody given you any good ideas for getting the other objects yet?

Some people have given me ideas for other objects but haven't given it much thought yet. In the near future I will start picking people's brains. The next step is finding a good way for me to land on solid ground instead of just the water.

[Rauk 0]

I assume you could go places with that wheeled contraption of yours you used for the paraglider video I saw, or something similar maybe?
Adam

[pBASEtobe 0]

The only problem with that is the exit. It's just got lots of "junk" out there for lines or what not to get caught on. And my guess is that it won't stay stable in freefall. That's why I did a d-bag jump from the paraglider. No freefall for things to go terribly wrong.

[Faber 0]

Just wondering how much you can move?
At the pics it looks like you pull your legs up (as others)in freefall,or is that the wind??

If you can twist your body=making a plf you should be abel to do an antenna(whith elevator),i know it will be close(you wont get that far distance from the object) just a thourght..

Cool that you show that if the mind wants you can do it.

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

Just wondering how much you can move?
At the pics it looks like you pull your legs up (as others)in freefall,or is that the wind??

Russel basically has no movement or feeling below the chest. The leg motion is incidental, not conscious.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[Faber 0]

thanks for the head up..

perhaps some major events arround the world would let him jump(thinking of sponsors to get him arround the world),what i can think of it should be posible to get atleast an B and an A if theres goodwill all around,perhaps play on the music that he probaly is the first in his possision(sorry dont know the word,disabled??paralysed??)trying to gain a BASE#,i guess he could make it to Guinnes Record books,and get sponsors just doing it.
Russel i dont know how much your into this,or how realistic it is,i just returned from a 22hours workday and got this(in my brain)brilliant idea,i hope to flick whith you one day.

You show the world that(now that word again)aint sopoused to sit home watching tv all the time,and that people can more than they know.I look at you as a pioneer,i know you aint going to move the sport as much as other people has done,but showing that (this word again)can do what they like to do,and take the actions to do so,does mean that your a kind of a pioneer to my eyes.And as your doing it in BASE,your a BASE pioneer.

Tom A,feel free to correct my tekst by the #¤%¤&¤% word im not sure about

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[tafarezz 0]

I ain't no base jumper, but sneaking around the movement for years. What Russel lives is my near future as I live with a progressive muscular distrophy, I will loose strenght slowly, in maybe ten years walking will be finish.

It's awesome to see that Tom and other manage to look beyond the disability to teach Russel how to jump. It's awesome to see Russel doing what he deeply wants to do: base.

It's pretty hard for me to explain what I felt looking at Russel's jumps, I don't know how to say this in english, but in french it's "avoir la larme à l'oeil" : having so much emotions that it makes me cry.

Congrats, to all of you.

[pBASEtobe 0]

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...thinking of sponsors.......sorry dont know the word,disabled??paralysed...

I am thinking about sponsors and am in the process or starting to look for some.
As far as I'm concerned... I really don't care about terminology but to offend the least number of people disabled would probably be the best.

[pull_low 0]

How about lower extremity mobility challenged?

[NickDG 23]

Dear Russel,

We haven't met (but we will at Bridge Day) and my girlfriend mentioned I shouldn't say anything until I quit bawling like a baby, but, I just had to say you have my utmost respect, admiration, and support . . .

NickDG
BASE 194

[pBASEtobe 0]

Nick,

If you used to work at BR and at one point was an instructor at Perris then I'm thinking of the right person. You were my instructor for my level 5 AFF I think, way back in '94 some time. Anyway, thanks and I look forward to meeting you at Bridge Day as well. Look for me, I'm the guy in the wheelchair!

[NickDG 23]

That was I . . .

Nick
BASE 194

[NickDG 23]

I'm so very proud of you . . .

NickDG
BASE194

[pringles 0]

Now that gives me Goose Bumps!

Matt Davies