Yes, it's another FNG introduction...

[kaustik]

Hey folks,

I'm kinda going crazy here waiting on the spring winds to die so I can get back in the air and I've been reading/researching with this extra time in anticipation of my first rig showing up. There is a lot of informative knowledge to be found here. It's similar to a diamond mine for those who are hungry for information. Just wanted to say thanks to all of the folks who go out of their way to make sure the info is available for those who need it.

I started skydiving in the fall of 06 and began looking into BASE shortly after getting my A license. Since then I have made some contacts(whom are subsequently riddled with questions) at DZ's I've traveled to and tried to read anything I can find related to the subject. Trying to not be a complete idiot I did not pursue a jump until I had made ~520 skydives. My friend (the only active local I've met) had a travelling jumper stay with him for a while. The two of them death camped me last november and took me out to a local suitable object. I'm glad I waited as long as I did as it was quite the humbling (read as ) experience. And then I wanted to do it again, soo....

Over the winter I ordered a rig and was planning on doing a proper FJC this season, but lost my job before I could stash the funds for the course & trip. Bleh. I really want to take a course but the money now is an issue and I was wondering if people would share some advise with me. Does anyone have an opinion about whose course will be the most cost effective and not rob me of much needed information? Thanks again.

Jamison

[Timber_12]

I was happy with Johnny Utah's course. Lots of jumping and lots of knowledge. You have 5 whole days to ask away all your questions.

[extremewheelchairs]

this is a decent honest first post.

i like your approach, take the course, and which one do you have what to say about,

nice.

i read a lot of, 'why do i need 100 jumps?',
to
'who will teach me, i got 100 jumps now, who wants to be my mentor?"

posts.

I've heard lots of people speak highly of Utah's course, and I think in this circle, it says a lot.
not room for error, in anything.

[Greenmachine]

Hello Jamison,

Sorry about your recent unemployment, yep, the economy sucks.
I am currently under-employed and it also sucks. However, with
your skills and Juki machine you might be able to find piece work.

Now for the subject at hand: BASE FJC's

I have been to Twin Falls, Idaho four times, attended a course, and
have watched several other courses. It is definitely worth the time
and cost to be able to repeatedly jump a safer, legal object. Plus
you will get to meet many other jumpers from different areas so
when you travel you already have contacts.

In 2006 I paid Tom Aiello $800, however he has since moved away.
4 years later all courses are now running between $1,000 & $1,200.

I have watched Apex, Badseed, and Splatula train many jumpers.
All of them did a very good job helping, watching, stressing the
key safety things, etc. Also heard good things about courses by
Miles, Johnny, etc. I think any of them would be worth it.

I am glad I took an FJC in Idaho because there are zero BASE guys
in my area and the only BASE jumper within 3+ hours of me was
new to the sport in 2006.

Honestly all of the information one needs to BASE jump is online,
what you are paying for is the marginal safety gained by having
someone with experience watching, helping, advising, etc.

Please do not get me wrong, just because the information is available
does NOT meet it is used. For example, a guy showed up at my house
once with a rig he borrowed from a very experience jumper that had 2
rigging errors*.

* for the curious: the brake lines ran through the guyed rings slider
down and the pilot chute was attached in only one place on the bridle.

Hell just think about Bridge Day... every year the gear checkers catch
errors, a few of which would have been fatalies, plus pilot chutes still
come off of bridles there occasionally ha ha.


So what I am saying is basically: practice packing your rig a bunch,
then hitch hike to Idaho, and pay, beg, or blow your way into having
someone help you for a bit. It will be worth it.

Oh, and I see you have a wingsuit, please keep that fucker for planes
only for a very long, long time.

[extremewheelchairs]

Hello Jamison,
....
So what I am saying is basically: practice packing your rig a bunch,
then hitch hike to Idaho, and pay, beg, or blow your way into having
someone help you for a bit. It will be worth it.

Oh, and I see you have a wingsuit, please keep that fucker for planes
only for a very long, long time .

yes please do all of the above.

i have also things i do not ever need in BASE in my lifetime.

tracking suit, two camera helmet....
even using the Go Pro in BASE will be something to think about at some point.

the rest.. are not in my BASE realm.

nor in yours.

it is good you come to talk, ask, go to see,

i am understanding as green machine says,

if you do not go there, to places like twin,
where you get to meet many who come and go through there....

you will not eventualy find a group of people to jump with.

it is critical, thing.
to have others to jump with. if you go, then you will be integrating your knowledge, and understanding, even if you did not take the course, and jump -this year.

if i knew my life expectancy was 'average', i would have spent more $, WITHOUT THE $, i do not know what i would do, or how,
but somehow, i would have gone to twin, a few times./....
by now.

it is late, 3 yrs soon in to this...

but at the same time, i work very differently then walking people.
so to me it is often, and a long time.
lots to practice, watch, help, participate in some way,
within that time.

In BASE it's a fast jump and a slow path.

[kaustik]

Oh, and I see you have a wingsuit, please keep that fucker for planes
only for a very long, long time.

Let me assure you, I have no intention of rushing into fixed object wingsuiting. I absolutely want to do it at some point, but I'd like to be able to have the best safey margin that I can and be able do it more than just one time if I decide I like it.

Thanks for the info and advice. Much appreciated.

[Zephyr]

Jamison,

I know it's been over a year. Did you get a chance to attend a FJC?

[kaustik]

Well, actually, no I never did take an actual FJC. I did make my way out to twin for about 3 weeks though and camped out under the bridge most of the time (cleaned out the homless guys abandoned campsite too). I was able to get some help/advice from a lot of the locals out there and I was able to absorb a lot of information. Thanks again to all the locals.