X Games

[guest]

I was wondering....

Has anyone tried talking to EXPN about doing a demo BASE jump at the X-trials or the X-games even?

If, someday in the future, BASE jumping becomes a part of the games, what do you think the competitors would be scored on? Would the competition be run somewhat like an IPBC comp?

I know in the sport climbing event, all climbers in the difficulty event are REQUIRED to participate in a more "TV rating friendly" speed climbing event. So, would BASE jumpers be required to do a Low-pull event (or some other proportionally dangerous event) in order to satisfy viewers?

Would the average person be able to appreciate the scoring system typically used in BASE comps?

Would most jumpers actually prefer BASE stay out of the X-Games? Just some early "I'm bored at work" thoughts.

Stay safe out there ---Dex

[guest]

So nobody cares huh?

[imported_Tom Aiello]

>Has anyone tried talking to EXPN about doing a
>demo BASE jump at the X-trials or the X-games
>even?

I believe that some Aussies did a demo for an X-games event down under. If I recall the story correctly, the event organizers were so horrified by the extreme nature of the jump that they essentially asked the jumpers not to come back ("too extreme for the X-games" was the upshot). I think the video of that demo is on "A Fist Full of F-111", but it might have been on "Beyond Extreme".

>If, someday in the future, BASE jumping becomes
>a part of the games, what do you think the
>competitors would be scored on? Would the
>competition be run somewhat like an IPBC comp?

I heard a rumor that the IPBC organizers had discussed this with the X-games, and that the X-games weren't interested because:

a) The sport was too dangerous, and
b) There wasn't enough participation/sales in the sport to indicate a good viewing audience, and
c) The sport was too hard for the spectators to understand.

I'm not sure which of these was really the deciding factor, but I would guess it was (b). For more info on this kind of marketing decision, see the skydiving press surrounding the X-games decision to drop freeflying, then skysurfing. Basically, they had some target audience (I think it was either one million participants in the sport, or one million dollars annual sales in the sport) figures, and decided that neither of the original parachuting X-games sports were big enough.

>I know in the sport climbing event, all climbers
>in the difficulty event are REQUIRED to
>participate in a more "TV rating friendly" speed
>climbing event. So, would BASE jumpers be
>required to do a Low-pull event (or some other
>proportionally dangerous event) in order to
>satisfy viewers?

Sounds like fun to me! Seriously, do you remember the reaction of climbers like Chris Sharma and Katie Brown to the mandatory speed events? I bet you'd just see a bunch of jumpers doing go and throws, and three or four oddballs (the Hans Florines' of the BASE world) doing low pulls.

>Would the average person be able to appreciate
>the scoring system typically used in BASE comps?

Doubtful. You'd need a more visually exciting criteria (maybe obstacle dodging, or low pulls, or aerials, or something). Who really cares if that guy got closer to the middle of the circle than the other guy?

>Would most jumpers actually prefer BASE stay out
>of the X-Games?

Good question. Maybe post a poll?

I'd worry that the X-Games would recruit Felix von Baumhitler, and some like minded sky gods, and they'd end up being BASE's representatives to the world. Remember Alex Lowe being disqualified from the ice event? The X-Games are about image, not about skill.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

do you have any ninja info tom?

[guest]

try www.realultimatepower.net

[imported_mknutson]

At least this waste of a good thread is funny as hell:


Testimonial:
Ninjas can kill anyone they want! Ninjas cut off heads ALL the time and don't even think twice about it. These guys are so crazy and awesome that they flip out ALL the time. I heard that there was this ninja who was eating at a diner. And when some dude dropped a spoon the ninja killed the whole town. My friend Mark said that he saw a ninja totally uppercut some kid just because the kid opened a window.

[Huckin Idiot]

Having competed in the X Games 3 times I must disagree with that very last part there Tom. "The X-Games are about image, not about skill." Yes they are about image. However, in recent years the quality of sports in the X Games has improved. Most all of the sports in the games are legit and have the best athletes. Unfortunatly image does help sell skill. I think you're pretty right on as far as the rest goes though.

[guest]

So do you think BASE jumping has a place in the american X-games?

Will there someday be jumpers who are full time, professional Base jumpers? They would utilize the latest in BASE technology and the competitive nature of these events would rapidly expand the limits of what is possible in our sport. I believe competition breeds development.

Whatcha think? ---Dex

[guest]

Nope.

The Xgames are about commercial interest and what sells to a target market of 11-17 year olds.

How do you sell Base Jumpiing to a 12 year old?

Base jumping has very little to offer to ESPN vs the severe consequences and reprecussions stemming from an accident/mishap. Think about it.