A local experienced skydiver recently decided to "get into B.A.S.E".He lives about a mile from one of the largest B.A.S.E gear manufacturers in the U.S who also offer excellent training [not cheap,but cheaper than a femur].
Instead,one night in the d.z bar he persuaded another B.A.S.E jumper [fairly inexperienced,with about 65 jumps off 6 different objects,I think] to take him for his first jump.So,after borrowing a suitable canopy and packing it into his recently-purchased used velcro container they set off for our local, silly little 180' E.
His instructor then decided that this would be a great opportunity for him to try doing a pilot-chute-assist for the first time.
I'm told the p.c.a didn't go too well and our intrepid new B.A.S.E jumper opened very low and biffed in pretty hard at the base of the wall,lucky to escape with just a badly sprained ankle.

Ok,as B.A.S.E jumpers we all have "jackass jumps" we like to tell funny, scarey stories about [oh..how I cringe...!] but there have already been 13 too many B.A.S.E fatalities this year and this could easily have been another.
Not funny.
PLEASE,if you want to B.A.S.E. jump be patient,take the time to get proper instruction,make the effort to travel to a suitable object for your first jumps [like a high span] and be carefull!
Lloyd.





:o