Bridge Day?

guest · June 21st, 2002, 02:38 PM

Does anyone know the current status of Bridge Day? Who was chosen as BASE coordinator? I know that a lot of us feel betrayed by events of the past, but where does that leave us for this year. Will the gear manufacturers be there? What about Basejumpers? Is this going to be a "I'm not going because of changes" or is it going to be a show of unity among jumpers despite the changes. I would love to hear a level, unemotional response from all of you longtimers Avery, Dennis, Harry, Adam, Rick and Randy, Todd and anyone else who has something worthwhile to say. I know a lot of you probably want to keep a low profile and maybe you aren't sure what you are going to do yet, but I get the feeling that a lot of the prior posts on this subject never really answered the question I've posed above. I mean in spite of our differences this was always like a convention where you got to see old friends and meet the people from other areas so you could see if the stories you had heard about them were really true. Bridge Day started the sharing of information that brought the sport out of the dark ages and into a technical melting pot. I would hate to think we are going to lose that due to politics. So...?

guest · June 22nd, 2002, 03:15 AM

snafu

guest · June 22nd, 2002, 10:59 AM

ditto

Surber · June 22nd, 2002, 04:06 PM

The issues you raised about 1) loss through a political process, and 2) unity in the jumper community are realistically not open to further discussion. Earlier this year, lack of jumper unity combined with opportunistic self-promotion to produce political capitulation. Some people will certainly fall off the bridge this year, but the legacy we had was squandered for expediency. The event you recall so fondly is no more.

**base428** · June 24th, 2002, 03:00 AM

Goto: www.bridgeday.info
Bridge Day hasn't changed much since October 2000. There will be a few things, but it'll be the same old party we've always had.

Jason Bell
BASE428
jbell@vertical-visions.com

guest · June 26th, 2002, 09:02 AM

>>Bridge Day hasn't changed much since October 2000. There will be a few things, but it'll be the same old party we've always had.<<
ROFLMFAO!
You guyers are kidding yourselves!

guest · June 26th, 2002, 01:58 PM

Who is Jim Guyer?

guest · June 26th, 2002, 08:00 PM

I appreciate the responses to my original post seeking INFORMATION, however all I've received is an anonymous opinion and an advertisement for Bridge Day which really provides none of the information which I requested. It appears that no one wants to step forward and discuss this issue openly.
Correct me if any of the following information is incorrect. When Jean organized the first Bridge Day events she did so with no past data to use in planning. In fact, very little data was shared in those days because BASE jumpers did not know each other or communicate like we do today. Each year was a new learning experience and , in my opinion, she did an incredible job in planning the event. Times change and her conservatism was seen to be an obstacle to a new breed of jumpers who felt Jean was not representing them.
Andy Calistrat found a way to oust Jean and win the support of most of the jumpers. I will always remember Jean for what she did for the sport, she is a wonderful person. However, many older jumpers of that time felt as though they were betrayed as well. Others took a wait and see attitude realizing that all things must eventually change.
Andy took over with a lot of the data gathered during Jean's administration and encouraged communication among a large number of NEW jumpers. He did an excellent job for several years in organizing a much larger and more complicated Bridge Day especially considering the diverse personalities emerging into the sport. Considering I was initially skeptical, I must admit that he moved the event up to the next level and was a very effective BASE coordinator.
The sport of BASE itself was changing rapidly, however, and new jumpers were entering the sport making hundreds of jumps in a very short time. I believe Andy realized that there were new individuals, particulary Dennis, Harry and Avery, who had gained such popularity among other jumpers that he should step aside and allow the inevitable to occur. Their ideas continued the growth of Bridge Day and evolved into the IPBC and facilitated the opening of other legal sites. Their accomplishments in legitimizing an illegal sport are nothing short of incredible.
This brings us to our current situation. All things change. Granted, many suspect the current changes to be purely political. But politics, especially in an event this large cannot be ignored. Now a new group will run Bridge Day (whoever the hell they are since no one would tell me). Will it be more efficient or will it simply allow the Bridge Day Commission to police the jumpers and the overall event will suffer. I have to believe that this event is much larger than a group of jumpers who right now are the best in the sport. Remember, I watched a group of jumpers who were the best in the sport get replaced by a bunch of young upstarts who became the best. What I'm trying to say is time marches on and things change. You either become part of the change or you become history. I have much respect for all of the past BASE coordinators and the jury is out on the new coordinator or coordinators, but I believe that those people who walk away from this event are the only losers. I've watched this same thing happen now for years. Think about it.