GreenMachine

I have never flown RyanAir but I have flown many, many times on several domestic carriers, Korean air, and Alitalia with my rig and very little hassle. I once had to chat up a TSA guy to allow me to carry on an allen key, which I had in my camera bag to adjust the mount in my camera helmet. Half the time they just swab it with a piece of cloth to make sure that it does not have any traces of explosive material. FYI --- I used to carry the rig inside a bag which can be a pain, now I just wear it and endure the weird looks and funny questions, like "Do you know something we don't?" I usually act real scared and twitchy and reply, "No, just reeeaaal scared to fly and my shrink says its the only way". Lastly, my rig weight has never been an issue -- it was around 25 pounds or so when I used to fly a 190. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Gender: Male Age: 33 Location: Twin Falls Family Status (married, single, children, etc): Married Did you skydive before you started to BASE jump? Hell yes! How did you first get started in BASE jumping? Lots of research, lots of questions, bought used gear, learned to pack it, jumped the canopy out of a plane 4 times, flew to Idaho, watched people jump, watched a person die, and then attended a very good 4 day course in how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. Did you attend a jump school? Yes How long have you been jumping? 2 days: Thursday & Friday Did you plan on BASE jumping from the start? No way. How much does it cost to BASE jump (jump, gear etc)? $2,000 see my ad. What do you think of when you see others jump? God I hope their chute opens. What do you think before you jump? Why I am up here, what in the fuck is wrong with me that I am here, this is stupid, if i die doing this there about 2 dozen people I know who are going to be devastated, there are another 5 who are gonna laugh their ass off, my old boss is gonna say I told that crazy bastard you can only skin a cat 9 times, -- forget all that, breathe, relax, focus on the horizon, its physics it will work... What do you think while falling? Open, open, dear God please open. What do you think once you land? Depends on which jump, on #6, which was a 2 second hand held I thought man that was the shit!!! on #7 which was my first stowed jump with a delay of about 3 seconds from launch to extraction where I got slammed --- OUCH, that hurt, oh shit, my neck, I'm done, fuck this, I DON'T NEED, 7 is enough for me. Have you ever gotten hurt BASE jumping? Only bruised & scared. Do you illegally jump? No. Why do you BASE jump? I did it for many reason but I will not continue as long my wife is alive.

Since this was my first time: to the mid-west, in Idaho, attending an FJC, and BASE jumping I learned many things about BASE jumping techniques, rigging, its culture, but most importanly about myself. Here are 4 things I am willing to share: A) BASE openings are much, much harder than skydiving openings. B) Watching someone 'Go In' right in front of you is different than it happening on the horizon. C) 3 seconds of freefall is not worth 45 minute pack jobs, 30 minute climb outs, getting slammed, and the extra risks. D) BASE jumping is not free, it really costs a whole lot more than skydiving does in the long run. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

While the state motto of Idaho is not great, the state itself is!! This was my first visit to a very beautiful place filled with friendly people who picked me up from the airport, drove me around town, included me in meals, shared their beers and their laughter. Oh, and they nicely answered every stupid question a newbie BASE jumper could think of. Thanks to all of you guys and gals for your hospitality and patience. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Blue Skies Guys, I got a room at the Super 8 with 2 queen size beds for $50 a night after asking for the "BASE Jumper" discount....Honest. There are plenty of other options, check out this page for more info: http://www.snakeriverbase.com/about_3.htm Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Hey Michael, are you really loading your reserve at 6.68 to 1? Just curious, but definitely not going to offer you any advice

One Floridian is coming for sure but unfortunately not till Sunday --- better a day late than a dollar short. Definitely down for the big dinner Sunday night at Outback followed by a lot of watching and learning on Monday

This weekend I watched "Layer Cake" --- pretty good drug/ganster flick by the producers of "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels"... Anyways, in all three of these flicks I have heard the phrase "Fuck All" used to mean nothing or zero. Just curious if there is some reason for how that slang came to mean that?

Any word yet on events planned for Sunday night? Unfortunately I don't get to town till then. Thanks, ~Tom

Not sure what it was he launched from...kind of looked like a new age parking garage but the editing was sweet -- thanks!! www.Sky-Frogs.com

I agree with "Littlestranger", this thread has been very informative, thanks to you experienced guys. The video also helped...noticed differences in their inflation and glide. Questions: The Mojo & BlackJack are both 260s, was the weight of the two jumpers close to the same? Why would an unvented canopy have a lower chance of object strike? Thanks, ~Tom www.Sky-Frogs.com

To top it off the seller names the site where the photo was taken. www.Sky-Frogs.com

Best wishes for a speeding recovery!! Your 3 months makes my 3 weeks seem like a joke. Good luck with Rehab, staying positive will definitely help. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

I watched it a few times... So the first jumper doing aerials lost control, pulled too late, and went in on the higher landing while the camera flyer smoked it down low and had a hard landing? Please forgive if my understanding is wrong, I am still 3 weeks away from my FJC... Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

The numbers I have see/heard were: Skydivers 50,000 BASE Jumpers 5,000 Of course Tom A raises a good point --- how do you define it? I have heard some of the kids at my DZ bitching about people on myspace or friendster saying that one of their interests is skydiving when the person actually only has one tandem -- kind of funny to me. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Find the right wife, one who knows who you are, and she'll accept the BASE jumping. My wife was raised by some mythical TV family that I never knew but she has been extremely cool about me signing up for an FJC. In fact, I sent my wife some of the awesome vintage stories that were posted a couple months ago and she is now mildy excited about driving a get-away car for me if need be. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

You jumped from 6ft -- was it static line? Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

There was a bicycle cliff jump in the Australian BASE compilation I got from Plummy. Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Rock on Russel!! By the way, I recently watched some old, borrowed VHS tapes with raw footage shot by a guy named 'Moneky Boy'...anyways there was some jumps in Twin Falls including one of yours...like Brandy said: Balls of Steel. Take It Light, ~Tom Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

I did not see the show but from the summary it sounds like the subject was handled in the same manner as an "After School Special" or "Reefer Madness". Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Check out this page from Tom A's site: http://www.snakeriverbase.com/about_3.htm FYI: I am taking his FJC there May 30th and willing to share rides to/from the airport to Twin Falls. If anyone is interested PM me. Thanks, The Other ~Tom Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Happy Easter guys!

There are only 40 days till the course...probably quite a few eager candidates out there. This post is basically only meant to bump the thread back up in the forum. Take It Light, ~Tom

I can relate, I almost dropped out of grad school myself, but one of my friends pushed me to hack it out and I am damn glad I did. First job after grad school I worked as an economic consultant making good money...that combined with driving a used car, not having a cell phone, not having cable, etc. is how I could afford to start skydiving. Keep in mind once you get trained, licensed, and your own gear the cost goes down somewhat. Here is my advice man, if at all possible finish the degree, even if you don't use it that piece of paper can and usually will open doors or increase your starting wage. If that is not an option then learn to pack -- several of my friends have gone from 2 tandems to 300+ jumps and their own gear by the sweat of their brow. Best of luck, ~Tom

First Skydive: 28 years old, June 22, 2002 @ CSS in NC First BASE: Hopefully 33 years old, May 21, 2006 @ DeathCamp