I saw "A Year In The Life". I went from there to the World Base Fatality List. I have never jumped from anything higher than the highdive.
With that said, I don't think I'll be jumping, though I have followed this sport somewhat tangentially since I first heard of it in the 80's, probably near its inception. I've been telling people about BASE jumping for years. But I can't bring myself to risk my life to that extent. Those who know that I ride a motorcycle almost exclusively might argue that last point, but there is basically no recovery from a total failure of a parachute. The worst I fear on my bike is a highside.
I would like, once I am in practice, to devote some of my pro bono hours toward the cause of BASE Jumping, if anyone thinks it is needed. I see where in Australia the Parks Service does more harm than good. I don't know the situation here in the states. In fact, I plan to do sports and entertainment law, so those of you who are approached about endorsements, I'll want to speak to you before you sign anything (in 2006 when I've passed the bar, that is).
So far I have not mentioned the subject of the post, so I'll get to it now. I plan to be an attorney. I will probably be able to afford to jump then. As a younger man I was certainly not in the position to afford lessons or a ride up. I watched Corliss' video and was amazed at the locations to which he went to jump. And all in a single year! I told my girlfriend, "He must be a trust fund baby." No 9 to 5 Joe could even dream of such a life. Nothing at all against Corliss; I hope he continues to push the boundaries and break new ground in his extraordinary way (safely, I will add). But it's pretty obvious he has backing from somewhere that allows such freedom.
I wonder if BASE and traditional jumping will ever be a sport that average people can afford. When I first heard of BASE jumping, since the jump location is a fixed point, I assumed that it was for the very purpose of having a free jump (of course, this does not consider the expense of the gear). Since it's basically free to climb an aerial, and one can pack one's own parachute with training, I figured it was a cost-saving endeavor intitially. I don't know if that is accurate at all.
So what are your thoughts on the affordability of the sport? How much does a BASE setup cost? Can a person be trained to jump starting with BASE jumps?
I am most likely showing my ignorance, but it seems like a bridge might be the safest bet for learning to BASE jump, since there it typically no wall with which to collide. If this is done over a dry riverbed, the threat of drowning is removed from the equation. Theoretically, one could be given lessons and taught to jump from a bridge and then move to the other types of jumps. Then the only cost would be new gear and travel expenses. That might make this an affordable sport.
I ask this because I don't think that talent and socio-economic status are inextricably linked. Nor are the elite the only ones who deserve to enjoy something as incredible as this sport. I know that starting with base jumping removes several of the benefits of the 10k' tandem training jumps with a reserve. I don't know if this can be worked around or not. I'm just asking questions.
Sorry for the long post; I'm always a bit wordy.
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Originally Posted by LawSchoolBlues
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