Beginner question

[UhOh]

I'm new so please forgive my lack of knowledge, I did a little searching but couldn't really find my answer.

From anyones general experience, from the moment you started sky-diving and then once you started BASE. How much do you invest into your equipment, trips, reaching certain jump spots, etc...

Not trying to emphasize that my main concern is money, but I figure I can't get myself into something if I can't afford it.

[mknutson]

I'm new so please forgive my lack of knowledge, I did a little searching but couldn't really find my answer.

From anyones general experience, from the moment you started sky-diving and then once you started BASE. How much do you invest into your equipment, trips, reaching certain jump spots, etc...

Not trying to emphasize that my main concern is money, but I figure I can't get myself into something if I can't afford it.
Gear is the easiest to quantify and here are some ball park numbers:


Main parachute $500 to $1,500
Container $200 to $1000
Pads $20 to $500
Shoes $100 to $300

Now trips can cost a single tank of petro, to a world-wide tour to the end of the earth. Some jump spots are easy, yet many others take hours if not days to get to.

My suggestion would be to focus on getting gear that will last you a while, and find local or regional jumps.

[UhOh]

Well obviously I'm going to start skydiving first, but I wanted to get a rough estimate of what I have foward to looking for.

Now I'm just speculating, but I assume the more expensive the gear probably the higher quality? Or is it all individual preference and what you got your start on?

I've seen a lot of base jumping off of mountains over in Europe, I'm assumimg a helicopter HAD to be used to get to some of these spots, has anyone here ever had to reach a jump spot via rotary?

EDIT:

Anyone here from CA?

[mknutson]

Well obviously I'm going to start skydiving first, but I wanted to get a rough estimate of what I have foward to looking for.

Now I'm just speculating, but I assume the more expensive the gear probably the higher quality? Or is it all individual preference and what you got your start on?

I've seen a lot of base jumping off of mountains over in Europe, I'm assuming a helicopter HAD to be used to get to some of these spots, has anyone here ever had to reach a jump spot via rotary?

EDIT:

Anyone here from CA?
The gear can cost more due to personal preference, but also performance. 'don't be cheap' ;)

Most jumps in Europe are NOT heli-jumps. some are. I went to Norway, and I think the airfare was the most expensive thing being over $2,000 from SFO.

What do you mean 'Rotary'?

ps, there are plenty of jumper in CA (state and country)

[UhOh]

What do you mean 'Rotary'?

ps, there are plenty of jumper in CA (state and country)

Rotary = helo's.

I'm not gonna go buy gear tomorrow and throw caution into the wind, but how many jump spots are there in CA.

There's not too many tall towers in CA, or at least in so cal. I know because I used to be a tower climber.

[mknutson]

Rotary = helo's.

I'm not gonna go buy gear tomorrow and throw caution into the wind, but how many jump spots are there in CA.

There's not too many tall towers in CA, or at least in so cal. I know because I used to be a tower climber.
I don't think I could even begin to speculate how many jumps there are in California. Must be thousands for sure.

tall is relative. Base jumping from 300' to 500' is common.

[UhOh]

I don't think I could even begin to speculate how many jumps there are in California. Must be thousands for sure.

tall is relative. Base jumping from 300' to 500' is common.

Thanks for the help! And also I didn't realize there were so many. :eek:

[Johnny Utah]

Here is some more info about getting into BASE:

http://www.blincmagazine.com/cms/publish/KBGetting_Into_BASE/index.shtml

[UhOh]

Here is some more info about getting into BASE:

http://www.blincmagazine.com/cms/publish/KBGetting_Into_BASE/index.shtml

Yeah, I'm on a day off, have been reading it all day. Thanks!

[UhOh]

Here is some more info about getting into BASE:

http://www.blincmagazine.com/cms/publish/KBGetting_Into_BASE/index.shtml

Yeah I was reading that all day yesterday. There's a skydiving place in Lake Elsinore, its about 20 minutes from my house. Just found a friend of mine has an uncle who is an instructor there, so we'll see.

[BASE1190]

Expect to spend around $10,000 (US) in skydiving before anyone will take you seriously for BASE. That includes instruction, used gear, and about 200 jumps. Then expect to spend another $2500 on a BASE first jump course and a used rig.

[rthahn25]

Is there any specific equipment brands...or stores that stand out as a great place to buy beginner equipment? i'm willing to invest money or to travel to get it customized.