guest
October 10th, 2002, 11:08 AM
As Bridge Day 2002 approaches here’s a look back at Bridge Day 1991. As I re-read this piece I realize in terms of BASE years (like dog years) 1991 was really a hundred years ago . . .
This first appeared in the Fixed Object Journal in late 1991.
BRIDGE DAY 1991
By Nick Di Giovanni
BASE 194
On the day before Bridge Day 1991 the sun beamed down on the New River Gorge Bridge. The temperatures are in the seventies and it is evident to the Bridge Day Staff and the jumpers that weather wise this year’s event would be a peach.
When it is over an October chill is in the air as a misty eyed Jean Boenish raised her head and announced, “This will the last year I’ll be involved in the organization of Bridge Day.” Jumpers, both friend and foe, who gathered at the post jump meeting expected it, but they got more. They got a visibly moved Jean who said the years of dealing with it all had taken a toll. This is in contrast to an otherwise fine Bridge Day where 256 registered jumpers made 550 BASE jumps.
While the jumping is great, the day is tainted by politics. Picking up the local papers I see the headlines, “Squabble Between BASE Jumpers Heads for ‘91 Showdown.” This referred to Andy Calistrate’s (an outspoken Boenish opponent) attempts to gain control of Bridge Day and also showed our inability to keep our problems in-house.
There is also a sidebar story concerning how Park Rangers want a list of all registered jumpers pre-submitted to them. Actually, Rangers demanded this list for years and Jean Boenish, right to the end, never gave in.
Bridge Day morning began as jumpers found light winds and (because the water level is low) a rather large landing area, a look-see over the rail reveals splendid Autumn color and the sand bar that’s been underwater for the last few years. The rock strewn shoreline is wide, long, and easy to get into, but will account for most of this year’s injuries. The dead-end clearing in the trees is also open and inviting. A plethora of landing areas.
Bridge Day is different things to different people. To hard-core BASE jumpers it’s a break from the cops and robbers aspect of BASE jumping, a chance to show and sometimes define the edges of the sport, to meet old friends and compare notes, and to see who survived another year. “I’d heard you were dead,“ is a popular refrain at Bridge Day.
Other’s, like Diane Borne, are here to face the fear. She has twice traveled to Bridge Day without a jump and again she is here to try. (Diane, with lots of support, made her jump later in the day). Chuck Ramsay, a young Naval Officer is here. Just a few days earlier he is steaming home aboard the Battleship Wisconsin from the Persian Gulf. Chuck has just two things on his mind, the second thing is Bridge Day. He made his first two BASE jumps and the glow lasted until I last saw him, still on his feet, at 4:30 in the morning in the lobby of the Holiday Inn. Way to be Navy.
Don Swayze, brother of Patrick, is here under the tutelage of Moe Viletto, and makes two very smooth BASE jumps to the delight of on-lookers. Jean Boenish said about one hundred skydivers made their first BASE jumps this year.
A special thanks to Master Rigger Larry Riddle for initially checking in people’s gear and to Joy Harrison who registered the late arriving. To avoid the problems of last year (bad weather and too many jumpers) only three hundred registrations are being accepted. “There is a definite limit,” Jean says, “on the number of jumpers and spectators this event can support.” Estimates of spectator attendance in past years has been as high as a quarter million. The number this year is 150,000.
After years of Bridge Days Jean cites the local Bridge Day Commission as a major stumbling block. “I’ve received zero co-operation from them. They are in over their heads for an event this size.”
There are almost no lines at the launch points all day as jumpers made as many jumps as they wanted. The staff allowed spectators into the launch area so they could snap photos as the bridge rained BASE jumpers. Injuries are up this year with ten admitted to area hospitals. Three required major surgery to repair broken bones. More jumpers are using large BASE pilot chutes then ever before. And there are more BASE rigs then ever before. However, on the side of the house still using skydiving gear we see a new possible problem. More came with their small zippy new nine cell canopies that caused one BASE jumper to remark, “Well, that’s fine for getting where you want to go, but what the hell do you do when you get there?“ More than a few of these hadn’t heard, you dry faster then you heal.
Another factor slowly surfacing at Bridge Day is the involvement of the Park Service. Since they acquired the land beneath the bridge landings there are now only granted by permit. When a Ranger stood to give a water landing briefing we sort of thought, “Gee, how many water jumps has he made?”
One Ranger is stationed at the launch point and certain jumpers returning from the landing area report being given field sobriety tests soon after landing. Jumpers tried to make in-roads with certain Rangers but it did seem they saw our presence there as an act of aggression. Jean went as far as calling it, “Meddling.” If you want a good video of Bridge Day ‘91 ask the Park Service. They videoed everyone.
The Fayetteville gym is once again the site for registration, assistance with packing, and again for a second year, a small BASE equipment trade show. T&T Rigging sold all the BASE rigs they brought and took orders for many more. Choice Rigging is there with the Vision BASE rigs and their “One Step” toggle system. Other participants are Tailored for Survival and California Connections.
One jumper this year pre-planned an American flag jump and the jump garnered much interest with the patriotic crowd and with the media. His first attempt resulted in line twists, never getting the flag out, and crashing into the trees. His second attempt didn’t work either, and by his third attempt he’s telling the media, “Yes, I’m having a bit of difficultly with the equipment.” His third attempt resulted in no flag and another crash landing in the trees.
In the past there have been a few close calls on multi-way jumps so now all such jumps had to be cleared by a staff member. The conversation as a group approached usually went like this; “Have you fellows cleared your jump with a staff member?”
“No, we didn’t know ya hadda.”
“What are you doing.”
“A three way.”
“Who’s dumping last?”
“I don’t know, we didn’t figure that out yet.”
The largest jump is a four way with Rich Stein doing a deep five second delay. Another jumper intentionally cutaway at about 400-feet, to the delight of the crowd in the landing area, using a slider-down square reserve. One of the Canadian jumpers donned his BASE rig backwards (container on his chest) and with the canopy hooked up backwards as well went face to earth on the jump and wound up in the trees so high up he’s out of reach of would be rescuers. The first attempt to rescue him involved stacking several rubber rafts to cushion his fall along with the admonition to, “Grab rubber.” This plan was abandoned after climbers rigged lines to finally retrieve him.
There are still skydiving sized pilot chutes at Bridge Day. I suppose there are so many new jumpers it’s just impossible to get the word out. The BASE fellowship award is given to Phil Smith, BASE number 1, and as Bridge Day moves into the nineties there are certain challenges to be overcome in order to ensure its survival. It’s already withstood two BASE jumping fatalities, bad weather, local mismanagement, and BASE community infighting. As the dust settles it is apparent that Bridge Day is a valuable asset and its worth doing whatever it takes to save it.
Nick
BASE 194
:P
This first appeared in the Fixed Object Journal in late 1991.
BRIDGE DAY 1991
By Nick Di Giovanni
BASE 194
On the day before Bridge Day 1991 the sun beamed down on the New River Gorge Bridge. The temperatures are in the seventies and it is evident to the Bridge Day Staff and the jumpers that weather wise this year’s event would be a peach.
When it is over an October chill is in the air as a misty eyed Jean Boenish raised her head and announced, “This will the last year I’ll be involved in the organization of Bridge Day.” Jumpers, both friend and foe, who gathered at the post jump meeting expected it, but they got more. They got a visibly moved Jean who said the years of dealing with it all had taken a toll. This is in contrast to an otherwise fine Bridge Day where 256 registered jumpers made 550 BASE jumps.
While the jumping is great, the day is tainted by politics. Picking up the local papers I see the headlines, “Squabble Between BASE Jumpers Heads for ‘91 Showdown.” This referred to Andy Calistrate’s (an outspoken Boenish opponent) attempts to gain control of Bridge Day and also showed our inability to keep our problems in-house.
There is also a sidebar story concerning how Park Rangers want a list of all registered jumpers pre-submitted to them. Actually, Rangers demanded this list for years and Jean Boenish, right to the end, never gave in.
Bridge Day morning began as jumpers found light winds and (because the water level is low) a rather large landing area, a look-see over the rail reveals splendid Autumn color and the sand bar that’s been underwater for the last few years. The rock strewn shoreline is wide, long, and easy to get into, but will account for most of this year’s injuries. The dead-end clearing in the trees is also open and inviting. A plethora of landing areas.
Bridge Day is different things to different people. To hard-core BASE jumpers it’s a break from the cops and robbers aspect of BASE jumping, a chance to show and sometimes define the edges of the sport, to meet old friends and compare notes, and to see who survived another year. “I’d heard you were dead,“ is a popular refrain at Bridge Day.
Other’s, like Diane Borne, are here to face the fear. She has twice traveled to Bridge Day without a jump and again she is here to try. (Diane, with lots of support, made her jump later in the day). Chuck Ramsay, a young Naval Officer is here. Just a few days earlier he is steaming home aboard the Battleship Wisconsin from the Persian Gulf. Chuck has just two things on his mind, the second thing is Bridge Day. He made his first two BASE jumps and the glow lasted until I last saw him, still on his feet, at 4:30 in the morning in the lobby of the Holiday Inn. Way to be Navy.
Don Swayze, brother of Patrick, is here under the tutelage of Moe Viletto, and makes two very smooth BASE jumps to the delight of on-lookers. Jean Boenish said about one hundred skydivers made their first BASE jumps this year.
A special thanks to Master Rigger Larry Riddle for initially checking in people’s gear and to Joy Harrison who registered the late arriving. To avoid the problems of last year (bad weather and too many jumpers) only three hundred registrations are being accepted. “There is a definite limit,” Jean says, “on the number of jumpers and spectators this event can support.” Estimates of spectator attendance in past years has been as high as a quarter million. The number this year is 150,000.
After years of Bridge Days Jean cites the local Bridge Day Commission as a major stumbling block. “I’ve received zero co-operation from them. They are in over their heads for an event this size.”
There are almost no lines at the launch points all day as jumpers made as many jumps as they wanted. The staff allowed spectators into the launch area so they could snap photos as the bridge rained BASE jumpers. Injuries are up this year with ten admitted to area hospitals. Three required major surgery to repair broken bones. More jumpers are using large BASE pilot chutes then ever before. And there are more BASE rigs then ever before. However, on the side of the house still using skydiving gear we see a new possible problem. More came with their small zippy new nine cell canopies that caused one BASE jumper to remark, “Well, that’s fine for getting where you want to go, but what the hell do you do when you get there?“ More than a few of these hadn’t heard, you dry faster then you heal.
Another factor slowly surfacing at Bridge Day is the involvement of the Park Service. Since they acquired the land beneath the bridge landings there are now only granted by permit. When a Ranger stood to give a water landing briefing we sort of thought, “Gee, how many water jumps has he made?”
One Ranger is stationed at the launch point and certain jumpers returning from the landing area report being given field sobriety tests soon after landing. Jumpers tried to make in-roads with certain Rangers but it did seem they saw our presence there as an act of aggression. Jean went as far as calling it, “Meddling.” If you want a good video of Bridge Day ‘91 ask the Park Service. They videoed everyone.
The Fayetteville gym is once again the site for registration, assistance with packing, and again for a second year, a small BASE equipment trade show. T&T Rigging sold all the BASE rigs they brought and took orders for many more. Choice Rigging is there with the Vision BASE rigs and their “One Step” toggle system. Other participants are Tailored for Survival and California Connections.
One jumper this year pre-planned an American flag jump and the jump garnered much interest with the patriotic crowd and with the media. His first attempt resulted in line twists, never getting the flag out, and crashing into the trees. His second attempt didn’t work either, and by his third attempt he’s telling the media, “Yes, I’m having a bit of difficultly with the equipment.” His third attempt resulted in no flag and another crash landing in the trees.
In the past there have been a few close calls on multi-way jumps so now all such jumps had to be cleared by a staff member. The conversation as a group approached usually went like this; “Have you fellows cleared your jump with a staff member?”
“No, we didn’t know ya hadda.”
“What are you doing.”
“A three way.”
“Who’s dumping last?”
“I don’t know, we didn’t figure that out yet.”
The largest jump is a four way with Rich Stein doing a deep five second delay. Another jumper intentionally cutaway at about 400-feet, to the delight of the crowd in the landing area, using a slider-down square reserve. One of the Canadian jumpers donned his BASE rig backwards (container on his chest) and with the canopy hooked up backwards as well went face to earth on the jump and wound up in the trees so high up he’s out of reach of would be rescuers. The first attempt to rescue him involved stacking several rubber rafts to cushion his fall along with the admonition to, “Grab rubber.” This plan was abandoned after climbers rigged lines to finally retrieve him.
There are still skydiving sized pilot chutes at Bridge Day. I suppose there are so many new jumpers it’s just impossible to get the word out. The BASE fellowship award is given to Phil Smith, BASE number 1, and as Bridge Day moves into the nineties there are certain challenges to be overcome in order to ensure its survival. It’s already withstood two BASE jumping fatalities, bad weather, local mismanagement, and BASE community infighting. As the dust settles it is apparent that Bridge Day is a valuable asset and its worth doing whatever it takes to save it.
Nick
BASE 194
:P