The 1st Ozzie Nationals
Last WE saw the first sincere BASE competition in Australia. (There have been many other comps including "low pull") but this was our first impartially judged and methodically set out comp.
My own experience was not as a competitor but as an old die hard back at it again. My first cliff jump (since burning in) was to be shared with the majority of the Ozzie BASE scene. With the whole crowd around and a ghetto blaster at the exit point blaring out the theme song to “Rocky” I exited to kick the WE off. I use the word "exited” as I was not able to truly jump. I only got off but waddling up to the edge and falling off. My FF was spent winding up the windows trying to keep the shoulders level resulting in a spectacular 90 right opening. All was good as a nice 285 landing put me on the softest piece of mud in the landing area.
The rest of the crew followed and in contradictory Ozzie fashion the most uncurrent jumper put in a dead center. This set the tone for the rest of the WE. Competition was fierce between Al and Phil with Jason (flew in from Queensland) also in pursuit.
Some didn't take the comp too seriously and simply joined in for the fun. The new excitement was the opening of a new object - “the Bulge”. Aptly named by the swelling belly of rock that comes out to greet jumpers as they extend their FF’s. The exit is reported to be like sliding off a giant cheese grater winching as the canopy opens at the prospect of a sharp protrusion encountering a vulnerable expanse of one’s posterior. With the canopy open it is a simple matter of getting on course for “The Dead Tree” which is remarkably distinguishable amongst the old growth forest. On arrival it is a simple matter of making an aggressive right hand turn to sweep between it and “the big live one” for a “sink it in” pounding of the target. There seems little need for a comp as anyone who lands there is a winner IMHO.
The honours were taken out by Al and Phil after five rounds with Gary C and Jason coming equal second and Pete Fielding a mighty third. The glory was had by all who went. Entry fee - give Al a big kiss. Sponsors- Zen Studios and subsiduaries and WWW.basejump.org. Al’s energy and enthusiasm infected the whole group. I even got up a 5AM without a word of protest. No politics - just the usual Ozzie banter reflected any rivalries. Any troublemakers are going to answer to FERAL our discipline enforcer.
It was great to bring the group together and share experience. We’re as subtle as a biker gang but that’s what you get when everyone’s having fun. Cheers to the “Newbies” who put a lot of effort in scoring, marshalling and caring my gear out from the landing area.
Ozzie BASE is alive and strong!
SLIM
Oz BASE 69 and ABA Pres
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