Bridge Day mods?

[346]

I was not aware of the other fatalities on Bridge Day. Thanks for the info!

Mark

[BASE359]

Mike Williams-Bridge Day 1983 Drowning
Rick Stanley-During WFFC 1986 Drowning
Steven Gyrsting-Bridge Day 1987 Impact
:-(

BASE359

[Nick]

Hello All,

BASE 359, as far as I know, is correct in the number of previous NRGB fatalities.

On the subject of setting up skydiving gear for Bridge Day, there is always one concept folks making the transition to BASE find tough to accept. (And it's understandable).

Jumping with one canopy.

Let's look closer and see what we see . . .

First off; I believe a jump from a reasonably high bridge, over a good landing area, using a Velcro closed BASE container/BASE canopy, and done by an experienced BASE jumper, is about the safest parachute jump you can make.

Here's why . . .

Compare any Velcro closed BASE rig and any skydiving system and one thing becomes glaringly apparent. BASE rigs are simple and skydiving rigs are complicated. Many times that complication is the reason for reserve rides in the first place.

Also at the DZ we find other reasons for reserve deployments such as A/C emergencies, snively mains followed by Gizmo fires, getting freight trained by neophyte flyers, etc. There is also the, "I've got a reserve," mentality that in itself causes reserve rides.

Back at that reasonably high bridge, in the BASE environment, you have more control over your fate. And you are not jumping without a reserve canopy. You are jumping without a main.

And isn't this the same thing you do at the DZ? Your final plan of action on any skydive is to land under a good reserve. You just don't always have to do that.

You can justify taking a second parachute off that reasonably bridge, but I'll always remember my friend John W. who took three parachutes off the NRGB and could get any of them to work. (The river saved him).

Nick D.
:P