The Future of BASE?

[Tom Aiello]

Is this it?

Love of flight, BASE jumping drew professional to Twin Falls

By Robert P. Mayer
Times-News correspondent

TWIN FALLS -- Freefalling, flying through the air, that’s what he lives for.

He’ll jump off a bridge or a skyscraper or even a tall TV broadcast antenna.

He’s been doing it for years for fun. Now he gets paid to do it, making enough money, in fact, to support a family.

Miles Daisher is a professional BASE jumper, and he’s just taken up residence in Twin Falls.

BASE -- which stands for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth -- jumpers are a growing tribe of adventurers who roam the world in search of the next tall site to leap from.

But until recently, the only reward was personal. But as the "sport" has grown in popularity, a handful of jumpers have been able to make a living as professional jumpers.

Daisher, 35, earns his cash in two ways: the first is as a jumper sponsored by Red Bull, the makers of energy drinks. He markets their product as he leaps through the air during demo jumps.

The bulk of his money, however, is through doing TV shows for such outlets as the Discovery Channel and articles for Outdoor magazine.

It’s on TV that he shows off his most inventive stunts such as the one in which he skis off a cliff, turns a few mid-air summersaults and then pulls his parachute with few seconds left to come to an exact landing.

He was among the first in the world to perform that maneuver. He’s also jumped a bicycle out of a plane and has fallen through the air while sitting in a kayak.

In the meantime, Daisher is opening up a BASE jumping school in town.

Admittedly a small operation, he already has a few skydiving students who began their lessons in August.

Daisher’s thrill-seeking behavior began early.

He recalls being the kid in the neighborhood who loved jumping his bike over other bicycles a la Evel Knievel.

It seemed inevitable that his activities would progress to bungie jumping and skydiving later on.

During the early ‘90s, that’s how he earned his money and it was a satisfying way of life.

But then a roommate turned him onto BASE jumping, which remains illegal in most cities and counties in the United States.

Twin Falls is an exception.

That’s what drew Daisher here. Well, that and his wife Nikki, whom he met elsewhere, grew up in Twin Falls.

"I love Twin Falls. God Bless Twin Falls. I’m surprised I haven’t moved here sooner," he said. "I don’t [have to] go sneaking around at night and jumping off things anymore at all."

And he takes advantage of having a bridge in his backyard (he lives just a few hundred yards from the edge of the Snake River canyon.) He gets in at least one jump a day.

Each jump is made with perfection in mind as he tries to polish a new maneuver or stunt.

He does so with safety in mind.

"I don’t push myself to the danger level," he said. "I’m comfortable doing all the tricks that I do. I practice them off a diving board or off a trampoline."

That’s why his wife isn’t concerned given there’s a new baby in the house, Dorothy Sarah Daisher.

"I totally trust his ability," said Nikki Daisher. "I’ve seen him back down and I know he will if he’s not comfortable."

Indeed, if the winds aren’t favorable, he’ll let the cameras continue rolling, burning up expensive film and have the production crews stand around waiting if it means sparing his own life.

"Momma didn’t raise no dummy," he said.

BASE jumping should be limited to those who already feel comfortable with skydiving, Daisher said.

After all, jumping from a skyscraper or bridge is more dangerous than jumping out of plane. The time falling through the air is usually much shorter, not allowing time for a reserve parachute.

He keeps careful track of his gear, replacing whatever looks questionable.

As a professional, Daisher has to be creative. He’s always thinking up the next stunt however crazy it may sound.

But, why?

"I love to fly," he said.

[Tree]

Wow, aunty Daisher moved to TF? that could be the title of their latest coolio film. A professional BASE jumper? More like a professional BS artist. Dude, those winds are NUKLEAR! Maybe now the Red Bull ass-hats will treat the bridge with a little respect, given that aunty Miles is a local. More likely, though, is that there will be even more ass-hats fu(king up the bridge, and the inevitable closing of the bridge is that much closer.

The competition amongst BASE schools is getting intense. You can go to the tanning salon, Tom's House O' Base (highly reccomended), Aunty Miles School of Geriatric BASE (no ethics 101 taught), Johnny Winkelkotter's Travelling Circus (twice a year), and of course, Vertigo, BR, Morpheous, and I guess CR's course is probably being offered by Martin through Asylum. With supply far outstripping demand, I expect a price war soon. Demand a discount, free beer, and other enticements.

See you all this Spring. Bringing the missus out for her first jump. She already knows how gravity works, so save the marketing blitz.

[ZegeunerLeben]

>>It might be. Perhaps as BASE jumping becomes more socially acceptable fanatical object preservation will become less necessary. Perhaps in the future there will be a number of legal objects across the country where one can jump during the day if so inclined. I think the emphasis will shift to "how do we preserve these legal objects?”. Miles is a nice guy, I don't believe he'll do anything more to endanger a legal object he's moved across the country to be near. There’s no glory in BASE, but if they want to fluff it up to sell some energy drinks I don’t see the harm, so long as it doesn’t ruin things for the rest of us.

[Tom Aiello]

Perhaps in the future there will be a number of legal objects across the country where one can jump during the day if so inclined.

Um, there already are quite a few legal daytime objects to jump in the US. Most of them are cliffs, but there are others. And if you count them all up, I'd bet there are well over 100 legal exit points in the US. Legal still isn't the same as safe, though.

[Tom Aiello]

I'm actually really interested in hearing what people think. I'm not looking to start a flame war.

Is this the way that our sport is moving? Is that desirable?

Some specific points in the article that I'm curious for people's views on:

1) Sponsorship: Is it desirable to have corporate sponsorship of whatever variety in the sport? What are the effects, both good and bad?

2) Television: Is it a good idea to do TV shows and other demonstration events? What are the effects of that on the sport?

3) Teaching: Is it desirable to teach people who have just completed their skydiving training? Should skydiving students be learning to BASE jump concurrently with their skydiving training? Or is the traditional "learn to skydive first" desirable? Regardless, is it feasible to keep that approach to BASE, given that more and more people are teaching jumpers with minimal (if any) skydiving experience?

4) Stunts: Is it a good idea to do "stunts" that are offbeat in order to gain publicity? Do we care if the general public understands which jumps take more (or less) skill?

Thoughts, anyone?

[Outrager]

I'm actually really interested in hearing what people think. I'm not looking to start a flame war.

Corporate money is coming to BASE big time regardless of what people think about it. There is a noticeable difference between people who bring it, though.

Some are clowns and publicity sluts. They project a foolish image, disliked by many other jumpers. Example: Red Bull types

Some are serious and quiet. When they do their job, the outcome is a real work of art. They also make a whole lot more money Examples: Jeb, Tim, BR folks.

The sport itself... well, the golden age is about over. It has reached a critical mass and is closely following skydiving towards mainstream. Fortunately there are plenty of new things to get into for those who like a brand new field.

bsbd!

Yuri.

[Skinflicka]

Sadly, I fear that Yuri is right. Our hayday is about done. Newbie punks are becoming past-masters. Chicks who used to be gymnasts are about to overtake the old men who had a thimbleful of talent but made up for it with giant knackers and a big lump under their left tit. Our Edmund Hillarys and Reinhold Messners are about to put on their carpet slippers and sit in their comfy chair in front of the tv while the 14 year old climbing wall gymnasts take over.

Hurts the ego somewhat.

For better or worse change is upon us. I guess we have to hope that the climbing wall punks turn out to be Dean Potter.

I suppose there is a hurdle yet to be jumped. Either the sport goes mainstream due to the new influx of jumpers or they fu(k it up completely and we get a lifetime ban. At that point, we revert to (as Yuri would say) "business as usual".

For the outlaws among us, we'll always be able to find a way to make it attractive regardless of whether the top of the IBP starts to look like Fayetteville with it's roadside billboards promising days of guided excitement.

The nature of change is such that you can embrace it or resist it...but to believe you can prevent it is pretty dumb.

The king is dead...long live the king.

Skin.

[Tree]

I agree that things are chnging and nothing can or ever could be done to stop it. Mainstream BASE? Its an oxymoron. The sponsors are only interested in base so far as it sells more stuff. With only a few hundred active jumpers, and maybe 1000 total in the states, its hard to really call that mainsteram. However, even at the miniscul level of participation we currently see, the seams are bursting on what the objects can handle. Mainstream base, howerver can be look at as agood thing. It will surely last only a little while, and as jurisdictions begin to actually outlaw BASE due to the lack of base ethics being displayed, BSAE will head back to its roots with the Jolly Roger flying high.

Bring on the "death camper" wannabes, and AFF students. We have a lot of tapes to fill with new carnage, and lots of time to make jumps.

Cya.

[CrazyThomas]

2) Television: Is it a good idea to do TV shows and other demonstration events? What are the effects of that on the sport?

3) Teaching: Is it desirable to teach people who have just completed their skydiving training? Should skydiving students be learning to BASE jump concurrently with their skydiving training? Or is the traditional "learn to skydive first" desirable? Regardless, is it feasible to keep that approach to BASE, given that more and more people are teaching jumpers with minimal (if any) skydiving experience?

Thoughts, anyone?

2. Television is a bad thing in most cases. It is a good thing when Bridge day gets featured, or when Petronas gets featured, and a positive image is shown to the public.
But when all the bandit jumps get shown, I think it is a bad thing. I see it as more opportunity to expose the "not-in-the-know" people to what's really going on. I like to think that safety on some of the objects comes from whuffos complete lack of imagination or knowledge.
Bandit jumps are much easier to get away with when the antenna engineers see bent barb wire, and think..(must be kids trying to climb it), as opposed to thinking.......(feces, must be them whacko BASE jumpers, time to start watching/hunting for them).
When building owners think "a 400 foot building is lower than any skydive, therefore unfeasible to jump, so why install silent alarms on the roof door? And cameras on the roof access points."
Or better, when the cops will actually believe a street landing is due to bailing out of an aircraft at an improper location, as opposed to jumping off that building two blocks back.

3. Teaching is where money comes into play. No, I don't think that it would be economically sound practice to offer FJC's for free. But it also doesn't mean we have to MASS market them. But without marketing, the demand is not generated, and blah blah blah (whole bunch of economic talk), business wouldn't pay for a lifestyle. I like to imagine some kind of entrance requirements, such as a recommendation from an experienced jumper (tells the people giving the course about your skill set, and whether or not a person seems ready), or even doing some ground crew for the FJC instructors. I am stuck here in my fictitious world in which money does not produce a BASE jumper, but knowledge and desire, along with communication skills and patience.

just my thoughts.

Thomas

[sabre210]

If BASE were to go the same way as other "extreme sports" and become more mainstream (read Cool), then it inevitably will mean more legal sites becoming available, but at a cost, and that cost will be regulation. Sponsorships will attract more jumpers, more jumpers means greater demand for products and events and when something becomes a viable business, you'll find there will be no shortage of people offering up their sites for use at these events. However no sponsor would want their name flashing in lights for the whole world to see as the cameras catch a brutal fatality. So they regulate to make it safe(r). Some equipment becomes mandatory. Some jumps are forbidden. Low (it's relative) pulling is banned. Aerials become the focus.

For those who like their jumps on a platter, this is great news.

But in the background, BASE will go on; business as usual. Bandit jumps will always be there for those who want them. Some sites will take too much traffic and burn, others will become available. People who see a jumper landing in the dead of night might just shrug and walk on rather than call the police. Security might be more inclined to turn a blind eye if it's more acceptable. Ebb and flow and all that.

In the immediate future, Twin falls is gonna get even more hammered for sure. You may lose the right to legally jump it...who knows. That would be a huge shame, but at the end of the day it's only one bridge, it isn't the end of the line for BASE. For the dedicated, they'll jump it anyway like they do all the other sites in the US where jumping isn't legal. In fact, the stealth aspect will certainly make it a more satisfying jump.

When one door closes another one opens so they say. BASE jumping is no exception so it continues to have a future for those who want it to.

ian

[Iiro]

Hey,

here are my thoughts on the future of base:

In my own opinion, the best jumper is the one who has the most fun, but the sport has changed in the last 5-10 years quite remarkably and now there are a few athletes (base-jumpers), who take this sport very seriously and practice accordingly.

It's already possibly to organize an event, where we have enough skillful jumpers, who can do a large variety of well executed aerials and we also have a few jumpers, who understand what these individuals are doing, how difficult each maneuver is and can judge them.

There are big events around the world: Petronas, China, Moscow, Colorado, BD and there will be more

We are moving into a direction, where jumpers are doing aerials technically correctly, but they are have also created their own "style". This truly recognizable style comes after many years of practice and hundreds and hundreds of base-jumps. Cross-training trough other sports: high-diving, trampoline and jumps with snowboard etc. have also proved to be helpful.

In my personal opinion - after a while - the traditional delay/opening/accuracy competition is not very interesting to watch and it is not very spectator friendly form of competition - some might even say it gets boring to watch... On the other hand, beautiful aerials against a cool background with instant replays on jumbo screen is the future of competitive base-jumping. This is just a personal opinion - not a fact.

I'm not saying that all base-jumping should move towards corporate world and big events, but that's definitely the direction where the best athletes are moving.

Trough well organized- and publicized competitions, we can prove some jumpers are real athletes and they should be treated accordingly. A public acceptance makes it easier to open new legal sites, apply permits for productions and organize more events.

This also brings pressure to event organizers. Their task should not end after the award ceremony, but they should also do a follow up with a professional and connected PR-agency, which should make sure all so-called "real" sport news would acknowledge the sport and the current champ.

Both the event and the athlete will benefit from this. The more serious attention base-jumping generates, the easier it gets to find sponsors.

Sponsorship is NOT a charity. Companies don't throw money away to athletes to support them, only because they believe in them. Companies sponsor an event or an athlete to sell more products and make more money.

The methods of sponsorship have changed quite a bit in the last ten years. In these days, the brands don't usually need visibility trough one individual or a group of individuals, which they would personally create. A small add in your rig is not much, unless you are a superstar and your sport has a large "following". A few magazine interviews + some television appearances here and there is peanuts for big companies and approaching them them on that level is most likely not going to lead you anywhere - because you can't prove that because of your sponsorship deal they sold more products.

You can naturally approach your local hometown companies and you can probably creative some local visibility, but I'm talking about "bigger picture", which is trying to introduce base-jumping for mass-markets.

Big companies are usually looking for (and this naturally depends- and varies on the company) is: Content for advertisement, natural product placement for big time productions (television or movies) or launching a new product, which would be tied to your production etc.

Sponsorship also builds pressure to success. There are many examples from high mountain climbing expeditions where a group have tried to summit in bad conditions, because they tried to keep their sponsors happy. This led into causalities and I'm hoping this would not be the future of base-jumping, when sponsors get more interested.

There are already bad examples on base-jumping and sponsoring. Some of those Red bull clowns burn sites, lie in their press and show a lot of disrespect to base-community. They are monkeys for money and it's an example how NOT to do things.

Red Bull athletes have pressure to get attention from media and they do all kind of "STUNTS" to please their masters. This separates base-jumping from being a sport into a level of circus acts.

An example from skateboarding: Tony Hawk is superhero, because he has incredible skill, but he also has a passion for skateboarding. Tony Hawk is a household name, worldwide. I saw some other skateboarder who jumped from a ramp over a few bus (or something like that). In my opinion, that was a stupid stunt, for media and his sponsors, and that's why i remember him as some guy, not an interesting individual who passionately did something he believed in.

This same applies to base-jumping. Felix will always be some silly little "stunt-man", who no-one really cares about, because he loves fame more than he loves the sport. He is fake and large audiences are not stupid. Take someone like Jeb, who does incredible and breathtaking beautiful jumps and watch the how his jumping effect on people. It's like a day and night.

In a nutshell:

Base-jumping and sponsorship can work together and in my personaln opinion it will good for the sport, but it should be done respectfully.

Base-jumping should be inspirational and a beautiful - not some stupid monkey loads, wearing tight pants and a can of energy drink in their hands.

Base-jumping will never be "mainstream", because it will always be very dangerous, but it will definitely get "bigger" and more recognizable very soon.

iiro

[brits]

Sadly, I fear that Yuri is right. Our hayday is about done. Newbie punks are becoming past-masters. Chicks who used to be gymnasts are about to overtake the old men who had a thimbleful of talent but made up for it with giant knackers and a big lump under their left tit. Our Edmund Hillarys and Reinhold Messners are about to put on their carpet slippers and sit in their comfy chair in front of the tv while the 14 year old climbing wall gymnasts take over.

Hurts the ego somewhat.

For better or worse change is upon us. I guess we have to hope that the climbing wall punks turn out to be Dean Potter.

My goodness. Whats wrong with challenging/applying oneself in BASE? Just because someone is an aerial artist doesn't make them a newbie punk. I would hardly label Jeb a punk.

[Skinflicka]

You're right. It's not the "aerial artist" bit (took a while for me to stop giggling at that Cirque du Soleil-esque expression) that makes one a newbie punk. It's being a newbie and being a punk that does it.

Shouldn't you be over at "the other place" with the rest of the "atmospastical ballet dancers"?

In fun,

Skin

[zennie]

Brit may be a newbie but she ain't no atmospastical punk... that's my job.

[460]

Agreed. She ain't no punk!