BASE Jumping Basics

BASE jumping is surely an extreme sport and it has many followers. BASE is definitely an acronym for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth, where building refers to man-made structures; antenna means uninhabited structures like oil wells and antenna masts; spans means structures that span a distance like bridges; and Earth describes natural structures like ridges and cliffs. In BASE jumping, jumpers jump from some of these spots with just a parachute.

BASE jumping has been in existence for a long period. The earliest recorded jump is at 1912 when Frederick Law jumped from the Statue of Liberty. During that time, BASE jumping was more the stunt aspect than competition. However, inside the late 1970s things changed and BASE jumping was termed by Carl Boenish, who died during BASE jumping in 1984.

BASE jumping can be quite dangerous considering the fact that the parachute can malfunction or human error can cause serious injuries or instantaneous death. However, BASE jumping enthusiasts make sure that they check their gear thoroughly and stick to the basic rules.

It is very important look at the parachute before attempting Base Jumping. The jumps are often executed from low altitudes and that is certainly why parachutes made to open quickly must be used. Moreover, falling speed is low so the parachute should be created to open and deploy at low speeds. There are actually special BASE jumping parachutes available and you will use only those.

You must also be conversant with how to use a parachute. You need to understand how to deploy a parachute, the best time to deploy it and the way to land by using a parachute safely. For this you would need to practice and many experts suggest trying skydiving to perfect the art of handling parachutes.

BASE jumping is exciting and fun sport if you possess the nerves. However, make sure you learn each of the nitty-gritties in the sport before attempting a jump.