peterk

Anyone use them, have anything to say about them one way or another? Just wondering if they are effective enough for me to go to Walmart, get some crappy pants, and cut mesh holes in them? How do the BASE pants differ from the normal pants? And most importantly, will my first homemade pants really outfly an S3? I'm pretty slim on the cash, I think I am looking at making my own... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Anyone have any experience with smoking pants or Birdman BASE pants? I was thinking about getting or making some of my own, any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. What are the difference with the BASE version vs. the normal version? How much thrust away can you get with the BASE pants, and how well will they inflate at subterminal? (Yes, I know, I have several BM jumps, I know it all depends on the flyer, etc...) Even better, anyone know how to build some cheapies with $10 pants from WalMart? The idea came from the fact that it is difficult to point the toes to track with rigid boots on... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Kind of along these tracking lines, has anyone tried the smoking pants or the Birdman BASE pants? --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I can always think of things to buy other than boots for $240, but I've never regretted buying my HanWags at the Turkey Boogie. I can't imagine jumping without them, and every time I land, I think about how little I need to hurt my ankle, putting myself out of BASE for months, and forever having a weak ankle. --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

When I first got into BASE, I bought a used velcro-closed Perigee2. I debated in my mind if I wanted a velcro or pin first rig, and ended up with the velcro for the following reasons: My biggest fear was misrouting the bridle on a pin rig and having a total mal. Reasonable? Probably not, but when I got the velcro rig, it made me a little happier knowing that there weren't any pins to lock up the system. The velcro would always rip, (modern ones with a shrivel flap), and I was happy. Simply, it made me comfortable, which for me is the most important thing when I climb over. The velcro were cheaper on the used market, which also helped, and since I didn't know any better, and they both obviously work for what I was going to use it for, I got the velcro. Then, after 25-30 jumps, when I knew I was hooked and wanted a new, fitted rig, there was NO doubt that I wanted a 2-pin rig. I love my Vertigo Warlock. Velcro wears out, it tears when you climb over a rail or structure, and I think it is difficult to close symmetrically. The pins are solid, terminal aerials and wingsuits "need" pins, and they release quickly. Try picking up one of each packed rigs by the bridle. The pin rig will hardly move by the time the pins are popped, the velcro can probably be lifted up off the ground. I've talked to a couple people about it, and when I told them about my misrouting concerns, they asked if I could try to mess it up to demonstrate. I really had to make a mess with the bridle going all over and under flaps for it to lock up. As far as pin tension, and inconsistent pin tension when learning? I've pulled up on the stiffeners, while the pin is in, as hard as I was going to, and they still slide out easily. In my one-person opinion, pins are the way to go... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

How do you train your body to fly flat? Freefly every jump, and then at about 4,500ft, cork out into a deployment position, and belly fly for a couple thousand feet... Hope this helps, P --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Thank you to Carl, and all the other BASE pioneers, who sometimes paid the price for advancing BASE to where it is today. Peace, my brothers... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Hmmm, the poll is 4 with no, 0 with yes. I think Johnny should stop teaching students to jump when the wind is directly down the wire, or even that cliffs and buildings are OK regardless of the wind too. I've been there during two of Johnny's courses, and love the fact that his students are leaving their FJC with 6 days and 25 jumps of video debriefed, instructor supervised jumps. How many have you watched over, and how many of his students have you jumped with? Tree, seriously, let it go. Find a girlfriend or an exit point, and step away from the computer. --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Ever wonder why skydivers who push the limits before its time get called either talented or dangerous? Some people get really good and lucky, push their limits, and remain just within their limits. The others push their limits, and exceed their abilities often, and become dangerous, an accident waiting to happen. Not to dis on the 112 skydives, but I remember thinking I was a badass when I had 20 skydives, and everyone cheered for my A license checkout. I knew it all then. When I did my 100th, I laughed about how little I knew, and laughed even harder when I thought about my 20th. Every hundred skydives, I feel like I am light years ahead of the last milestone, and still don't know it all. It isn't a thing if you can or can't. But the people that are telling you to chill either know you better than me, BASE jumped for a while and saw others like you come through and in, or went through the same thing you are going through now, and laugh about the way they were. When I thought that it was a good idea to start jumping off things, I valued my life enough, and my comfort level, caused me to wait until I had almost 500 skydives. You don't need to shop around to all the manufacturers and fish around for who has a skydive limit at 100, or if you have to lie that you did 50 more in the last two weeks. You are very lucky that a lot of guys with huge nutsacks figured out a lot of the stuff that seems basic today. The thing is that when you are the only person out of 99 others who thinks you are ready, it isn't that you're the only person right. You should at least listen to the things that they are saying. Think about the last time someone got hurt at your DZ. Out of the people that get hurt, some people are considered unlucky, since its dangerous, and it sucks. They did everything that they could to be prepared, but the black hand of bad luck swatted them. They get all the flowers in their hospital room. Others get hurt, and everyone talks that night about how surprised they are that it didn't happen a hundred times before... Its your choice, your life... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I think it might be specific to containers and bridles, but with my Warlock, it's frowny.. o^ (Nice graphic, eh?) --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I often find it fascinating how nobody would consider learning to skydive from a friend, who has his own plane and 200 skydives. But even after spending all that money on AFF and skydiving, and realizing how scary and dangerous skydiving can be, BASE should be absolutely free, seems like a no brainer, and a FJC is just too far, too much money, too something. Just remember that it is your life, and nobody will tell you twice how you should value it and your health, much less the object. If TF is too far, or you can't wait for Bridge Day, or you don't have money to buy descent BASE gear and have someone teach you how to do something that has very little to do with skydiving (but you still skydive $250/weekend), but can still convince people that you want it so bad, more than anything, then just figure it out on your own. All I'm saying is that skydiving is not BASE, and BASE is not skydiving. You probably went for a tandem, and then thought about how you didn't have extra money to get addicted to skydiving. But you found the cash for AFF, skydive gear, and 112 jump tickets. BASE costs money too, and requires training, much like jumping from an airplane. Simply, it is up to you to decide how unsafe you make it... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Very, very, very, very nice... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Why not look into a bullet-cam setup? You put the camera in a fanny pack, and the lens that is on your helmet is about the size of a thing of lipstick. The new ones have excellent resolution, and a couple jumpers on here use them reguarly... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Damn, 2500+ skydives... And Standard Issue is an incredible movie... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I think the fundamental misunderstanding is that skydiving and BASE are closely related... And it is not the natural, standard "it's whats next" progression once you think you've figured out skydiving. You don't know how to BASE jump just because you skydived out of a balloon. Yada yada yada. I just don't understand what the initial post is asking? Jump at TF with a manufacturers FJC, or with some guy that might potentially want to get in your pants. Yes, it is much more scenic, and longer freefall in South America! You can hurt yourself anywhere, but isn't the place to go to do your first "yea, I did a BASE jump" object... Just getting annoyed with the people at the dropzone who ask me about BASE, since they want to get into it. However, they don't know what a PCA is, don't know how many people get hurt or killed every year, don't know that a BASE canopy is a 7-cell and usually really big. And after 40 jumps, some of them lost the rush from skydiving and need something more. And it's free!!! There are so many things to read, people to talk to, websites to visit, before you should get into BASE. I don't understand how someone would be willing to endanger their own life so recklessly, just because it looks fun and their friend has an extra rig... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Everyone see this pic? --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

If you have time to panic, you have time to do something more productive... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I think that packing is as much of a part of BASE as the jump. I have learned something on every pack job that I've done, and can say that it has gotten better with each one also. I learn new tricks every time, get faster, and get better. I love the fact that when I'm at the exit point, it is me and the object, with gear that I've prepared as best as I can. The person that wants me to stay alive the most is me, and when I climb over, I think about my packjob, everything that I've done and every step, and know that it is the best that I can do. I don't let people pack for me in skydiving, mostly because I figure a couple pack jobs, which I can easily do myself and enjoy, is another jump ticket. But in BASE, even from a legal bridge, it is the confidence that I get in knowing that I did it right that gives me the confidence to enjoy the jump. --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I was thinking about how to keep this from happening again... Maybe kind of like marking pack jobs on reserves, mark "NOT FOR BASE!!!" on the warning label and FOX panels... Just an idea for next time? --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

http://www.wftv.com/news/3034324/detail.html Judge Sentences Man To Jump Out Of Plane As Punishment For Crime But don't worry -- Henry Szczepanski is being allowed to use a parachute. Szczepanski used to work in Buffalo's public works department but was fired for taking money from the sale of city-owned scrap metal and placing it in his personal bank accounts. He pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny and has since repaid the $5,700 he pocketed. As part of his sentencing, a judge ordered Szczepanski to perform 80 hours of charity sky diving. The unusual sentence came after his lawyer told the judge that Szczepanski has been performing sky diving stunts for years for Buffalo-area charities. --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

Damn, there is a little more to this story- mainly the other side! MH, Call the locals? WE ARE THE LOCALS!!! I've lived there for the last 15 years, Rauk has been born and raised there, etc... We all have over 100 BASE jumps. We are not young punks, disrespectfully tearing shit up. I've tried talking to you at the DZ, and you haven't had any interest in talking to me. Even after I have over 100+ BASE jumps. I've talked to several gear manufacturers asking them what to do when the locals are dicks, and we did EXACTLY as they said. Don't jump that site in the daytime? Isn't it one of your own crew that finally took us up there at 3pm, when the clouds were at the DZ? We jumped it several times in the middle of the night, never considering jumping it during the day, until we were taken there by one of your leaders, who had no concern jumping it anytime... And your crew made a regular habit of hitting it during the daylight. Wasn't it also you and two of your buddies that went to talk to the construction workers, offering them weed and Rum for a ride to the top of the construction elevator in September? Didn't your guise claim that you were concerned pilots, and that mutated into "We're BASE jumpers, can we have a ride to the top for some stuff?" That fell apart when the workers got to talking, and then the foreman and owners knew it was jumped, BY YOUR CREW!!! Wasn't that after two of your crew climbed late in the morning, when the construction crews showed up? And didn't your crew jump right on top of the workers, 100% visible, when it was still under construction and subject to more people talking to the people that didn't need to know it was jumped? Then you came back and asked for that ride? When did you figure out that we were jumping? How many times have we talked to your crew at the DZ, asking questions, checking in that we were going to hit it at night? Did you see me at your crews party 2 months ago, asking and asking questions? Did you even acnowledge me when I said hi hoping to ask you several questions? How many times did you go out there to fix the razor wire that some loner kept f-ing up? How many times did you go out there, 80 miles each way, just to see if you could catch the dickhead who was smashing down the razor wire? In fact, how many times were you guys going out there to this A? The problem is that there is a lone, incredibly disrespectful jumper, or jumpers, who was tearing the site up like there was no tomorrow. Did you ever try to fix the f-ed up razor wire? Did you ever take pictures and show them to the other crew and the top guys in the other crew? We've known about the damage to the wire for months, and kept your crew updated. If you are such a friend of the A, why weren't you guys up there fixing it and posting to the area loner jumper that you are going to f it up? Just wait until it gets burned and then post on dz.com for the whole world to see? How many new local BASE jumpers have you helped in this area with 4 turbine DZs, and 9 million people, within the last 2 years? I know of two. One just kept jumping solo until you would talk to him, the other was a friend of someone in your crew, with no skydiving experience. Your crew took him through AFF and then into BASE, now he is seriously hurt from an accident at the cave. All within the last couple months. I would love to jump some urban objects in our town, but, due to actions by your crew, again, there are laws specifically against BASE within the city and county. Anyone else have laws like that in their city? I'm not going to waste any more time on dz.com trying to protect my friends from your attacks. Does it make you feel better that you are threatening to tar and feather people for things that your crew has already done? And then only tell one side of the story? Your right, a lot of people are pissed- me included. Your crew was burning this site before they even put the last section on top. You and your crew feel that just because you are MH and the CC, you can do whatever you want, and blame whoever you want. Yes, we just started jumping within the last year, but I know from personal experience that we are FAR more stealthy and concerned about not being seen. Don't start talking all this sh*t. I can keep going and going about the ways that you and your crew has jeopardized this areas local objects. Thanks for nothing... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

We were bored the other day (it was windy), and it seems that the manufacturers have different ways of measuring PC sizes. I can't remember for sure, but Vertigo's were the only ones that measured true. 42" means 42". Seemed that the BR and CR PCs that we had were measuring 45" claimed, was actually 43". I think it has to do with cut and finished dimensions, but its worth a look and measure to see for sure what you have... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

There are a couple cheap hotels out there in Twin, starting at the Motel6, which seems to be about $35.99/nt. However, it is a Motel6. Its about a 3 minute drive from the B, and there are a couple big flags to drive by on the way. We're going to be there for Memorial Day, as are a lot of other jumpers with motel rooms and cars, so you might want to look into splitting rooms and getting car rides from new friends. I can't imagine that if you are jumping Memorial Day, you will have too much of a problem getting a ride to and from the motel to the B. If you are really interested, we're good friends with one of the TF local jumpers, and can get you in touch with him if you have more detailed questions that a local jumper could help with. I went out a couple months ago to TF with a friend who was doing a FJC with Johnny Utah. Johnny is not only an incredible BASE jumper, but a super cool guy to hang out with and talk to. One of those guys that you can pick his brain all day. I don't think my friend gets on the internet often, but we've talked about his FJC with Johnny, and he has only great things to say. As I was peeking into the course, I got the impression that it was an excellent course, and from what I've seen from watching over several other FJCs, I thought it was the best one that I've seen. Johnny is simply an incredible jumper, and also a great teacher. I would recommend going to Blockbuster and renting "SLC Punk", so when he gives you a nickname, it will make more sense... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

I would really love to hear other people's opinions on this. What if one of the "new" jumpers (80 BASE, 600 skydives) doesn't get along with the local crew? Is he supposed to just take a deep sigh every time he passes an often jumped A? What if he has made calls and attempted to contact the "locals", with no results? What if he just wants to visit this stuff without them, since that is what he likes about his BASE experience? Is he being reckless if he scopes the object and gathers as much info as possible, and then jumps it invisibly at night when others are jumping it during daylight? I haven't been skydiving since I started BASE jumping, since I feel like I go back to high school every weekend. Politics drive me crazy. I just want to BASE jump and be happy. I like who I like, and avoid those who I don't like. To those who have been jumping for a while, and have put the incredible research and dedication to open up new local objects- thank you. If you think that telling people not to BASE jump, to stay away from local objects, etc... will work, remember that you were figuring this stuff out on your own, maybe recently... You don't need to threaten to beat people with bamboo canes because they want to jump local As in the middle of the night. The word that comes to mind is sharing. It seems easier to show BASE jumpers that have paid their dues how to get up there safely and invisibly, reducing the chances of getting caught on the object. Just because someone got into BASE first doesn't mean they get to write the rules... How would it work if I could prove that the new 2000'A in my town was unknown to most jumpers in the area until I mentioned it? Would it be mine to determine who and how many could jump it, with my permission? (I still have my newspaper article from September) This problem won't go away, and will become worse in time. Skydiving is growing, and BASE will grow as a result. Skydiving grew by one when I started, and BASE also grew by one when I started. Same with most jumpers here. As far as the hangglider license thing, how about putting jump limits on the local As? Moab style. And then enforcing that number without prejudice... The solution isn't to tell people that they can't do it, but use the respect that those with a lot of jumps have to keep those coming through the ranks well behaved. The other logical opinion is to limit the number of people that can attend FJCs, and "prohibit" experienced jumpers from showing their friends how to jump... Maybe FJCs that require 500+ skydives, no exceptions. Otherwise, with every BR, CR, Morpheus, and Vertigo FJC class, the problem continues to grow... Just my opinion... --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime

How did that guy get to write the article by counting to 8 on a 600 ft cliff? --------------- Peter BASE - The Ultimate Victimless Crime