Teachers in BASE (Part II)

[Mac]

I was recently looking through posts I made on BLiNC as I was trying to get into BASE, these were around 2000 / 2001. One of which was a post I made after having the possibility of being taken out on a jump, and my concern for the experience credentials of this person.

One response I had was

I think this is an important subject. Anyone want to start a discussion about it?

Here are my thoughts:

1) More than 200 BASE jumps.
2) More than 20 different objects.
3) At least five jumps from each of the following: (a) sub-200 ft (usually static line--possibly free fall, especially if you are Down Under), (b) slider down free fall with some delay (1-3 second delay, generally objects around 400 ft), (c) slider up sub-terminal (4-7 second delays, generally objects in the 600-1000 ft range), (d) terminal objects.
4) Solid knowledge of industry standard rigging (i.e. line release modification, tailgates, mesh sliders), even if they don't personally use them.
5) At least 75 jumps in the past year.

The general idea is that a qualified BASE instructor ought to be (a) experienced (in a wide range of jumps), (b) knowledgeable, and (c) current.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

Which to be honest, I think is a pretty good standard. I have heard of people being taken by people with less jumps and experience, which is fine as a point, I have taken people with a handful of jumps places, but they are under no illusion that I am not a mentor, just going jumping with them (of course you keep an eye over them).

I am just wondering after reading my old posts of breaking in and how I was so cautious and trying to do the correct thing, and the changes now with people wanting it now and now and now, that the hit on effect has brought people in who now want to teach now and now and now.

Has anyone seen a marked drop in standards of mentors and teaching, and are people less picky about the people that teach them nowadays?

Just a thought thats all to chew over....

Michael

PS) My original thread is here: http://blincmagazine.com/forum/origi...hers-base.html

[mknutson]

This awesome! I think this would make a great BLOG or Knowledge BASE document.

[hamsandwich]

Booya nigga, i qualify! :-P

I know its poor taste to keep ripping on that guy, but in all seriousness its funny how the author hasn't qualified in years (#5- 75 jumps in last year) but beleives himself to be base-zeus.

Anyway, I agree with his list too on qualifications.


-a

[skydive1224]

I am about to embark on my first real student this memorial day weekend out in twin. i keep going through in my mind how and what I am going to do. I meet all the criteria originally posted,but I still don't know if am ready to teach someone. It is in my mind a large responsibility. I figure lots of jumpers around to learn from that weekend, as well as a lower stress environment than say 3 am on an antenna. I think I am going to make a spread sheet so I know I covered as much as I can for my student. We'll see.

Ody

[Mac]

but I still don't know if am ready to teach someone.

Not only if you are personally ready, but if you are able (thats the royal you not you personally Ody). I know of people that have the skills and knowledge in skydiving and BASE, who on paper have the criteria, but as people, just cant teach (but actually still do).

Also, one of the biggest things in BASE to learn is that this can (and will) result in deaths. I think although people say "they accept it" it actually takes new jumpers awhile in the sport to really understand the consequences (normally after loosing more and more friends). As teachers, who if entering teaching after a short time in the sport themselves, may actually not truely understand the consequences. Their student may die from their own failure or teaching method. Thats a hard deal.

I am a great believer in not only getting the number of skydives under your belt before BASE, but actually time in skydiving so you experience people femuring in, people dying, the stuff that a year in the sport and 250 skydives actually does not teach you, that the earth is a big thing to hit. So a jumper with a year in skydiving, then a year in BASE, goes out teaching.... what really can they bring to their student over and above some rough idea on how to jump?

Anyway, just throwing more thoughts, just to chew over........

Michael

[skydive1224]

The person I am teaching has been skydiving for 8 years and flies C-130's in the airforce for a living. So he is pretty heads up. As for the death reality thing...I have had a few friends go in and watched one of them do it. I have made jumps with 6 or 7 people on the fatality list. The reality is there for me. I made a excel sheet with everything I want to cover during my training so I don't forget anything important. Hopefully 5 straight days of jumping and nothing but talking about jumping will cover most of the bases.

Ody

[Johnny Utah]

cool Bryan, another generation spreading the love, I love it.
Ody knows his stuff - first of all he's a natural, secondly he went through one of my BASE Camps years ago.

[Mac]

cool Bryan, another generation spreading the love, I love it.
Ody knows his stuff - first of all he's a natural, secondly he went through one of my BASE Camps years ago.

....and he can drink! Thats VERY important!

I wasnt critising or questioning Bryan at all, just throwing up some discussion....

[skydive1224]

Drinking aside. I appreciate constructive critsism. Just want to do whats best for the new ones coming along in this ever evolving sport of ours.

Ody