teacher/mentor

[DRT]

This is my current situation. I frequent a small one plane drop zone in the central valley of california, and there are no active base jumpers here. I met a guy visiting the DZ from tahoe who guided me to this site, and I've been lurking these forums and making like a sponge ever since. I forked over the money for the course run by CR (best investment I think I've ever made. Wouldn't take back the money if they offered.) I even bought gear. It has 3 jumps and a million packs. I base packed it twice a day for the first 2 weeks after the course (its been tappering off some ever since.) I jump the canopy at lease once a weekend.
The only object I have experience jumping is getting a little to much heat at the moment (and I'd hate to get banned from a sport I've barely started.) What I'd like to do is go to the perrine in the spring or summer (but that seems so far away!)
The guys at CR are great they've been extremely helpfull, but they have a business to run, I know they didn't take me on to raise. So please, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[imported_Tom Aiello]

You live in the middle of BASE central. You can't swing a dead cat in NorCal without hitting a BASE jumper (or a dozen).

Which DZ are you at? I'm guessing (from your desciption) that it's Paradise. Have you considered taking a weekend trip to Davis? or Lodi? or Byron? Or Hollister? Or Monterey? All of these places have active and experienced BASE jumpers hanging around, who you could easily make friends with.

Drop me an email if that doesn't help. There are so many jumpers in the area that I'm surprised you haven't run into them on an object.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@mac.com

[guest]

Is this who I think it might be?
drop me an email.
Johnny DaSilva
burlydog@hotmail.com

[mojo]

by fresno

[guest]

"Yeah" Marty!
any way to get ahold of that fool?
JOHNNYD

[DRT]

Dude I tried emailing you yesterday, as far as I know it went through. Anyway try mine laird_jr@yahoo.com

[guest]

check your email brother man!

[bps]

Hello --

As Tom mentioned, I'd consider getting to know some of the jumpers in Northern California. Sure, it's a 3 or 4 hour drive, but it would be well worth your time. I also know it's not as easy as "Hi Guys, I'm so and so, and I'd like to hang out with you." But with the right approach, it shouldn't take too long before you start to establish a network of BASE friends to jump with.

Along the way, you'll likely encounter folks that have different styles of jumping. In the last 5 years that I've been jumping, I've seen lots of things. I've seen jumpers with a very analytical approach, jumpers who were redefining the limits, jumpers who are on the verge of killing themselves everytime they step off the edge, and everything in-between. The trick is to evaluate everything you see, and then use that "experience" to make rational decisions that make sense to you.

Keep getting out there and beating the bushes -- there's lots of folks out there. You just may have to travel a little to find them.

And as you already mentioned, once the season in Idaho kicks up again, make lots of trips out there. From May to October, you're almost guaranteed to run into jumpers every weekend. And you'll definitely meet 50+ jumpers if you go out there on Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend. I've made dozens of new-found friends at that site.

Feel free to shoot me an email and if our paths ever cross, I'd be glad to make some jumps with you, discuss gear, drink beer, etc etc...

Best of Luck,

Bryan