base jumping famous people

Famous People

The articles about famous People in Base-Jumping world. Just Base-Jumping heroes!

BASE jumpers are the people that are using a parachute to jump from fixed objects. “BASE” is an acronym that stands for categories of objects from which they can jump: Building, Antenna, Span (bridge), and Earth (cliff). The term was coined by Carl (BASE #4) and Jean Boenish (BASE #3), Phil Smith (BASE #1) and Phil Mayfield (BASE #2), regarded as the fore-fathers of modern BASE jumping. In 1981 Carl began issuing sequential numbers for those who completed a jump from each of the four categories of objects, should they choose to apply.

Basenumbers.org is an unofficial website that tracks the numbers and their dates. It has a chart that gives an idea of the growth of the sport. It is not mandatory to get your BASE number. There are many successful BASE jumpers without a number. However, it is recommends applying when you qualify. It is the number that will link you back to the beginning of the sport and give you a place in BASE history.

Below we present the most famous people from Base Jumping World:

Zak Tessier
Matt Gerdes
Chris Douggs McDougall
Jeb Corliss
Hank Caylor: The Man, The Myth, and The Legend
Shane McConkey – Dying To Fly
Frank Gambalie
Felix Baumgartner
Carl Boenish

BASE jumping is an extremely dangerous activity where participants jump from fixed objects and use a parachute to break their fall. Surreptitious BASE jumps are often made from tall buildings and antenna towers. BASE jumpers have generally over 100 regular skydiving jumps done before they attempt a BASE jump, and they usually have an experienced BASE jumper who mentors them on the skills necessary to jump safely. No one should attempt BASE jumping without a lot of training, experience and a good life insurance policy. BASE jumpers have to overcome two major obstacles: low altitude and the proximity of the BASE object. Skydivers open their chutes at around 2,000 feet. This gives them time to deploy the parachutes gradually (reducing line tangles and a sudden jerk on the diver) using a device called a slider. If there is a problem with the main parachute, they can still deploy their back-up chute.

3 thoughts on “Famous People

  1. Hi, I am a 2nd year student studying sport and recreation at Lincoln University in New Zealand. I am at the moment completing an assignment about the motivations of extreme sports. I am specifically focusing on BASE jumping.
    I was wondering if you would be able to share with me why people are motivated to complete such a extreme sport where the likely consequence is death.
    Regards Sarah

  2. Hi..Nightbase 66 (Base 279) here. I often think about this myself and am, at the moment, reading the White Spider by Heinrich Harrer. His comments on motivations are instructive. The answer may lie in the question. The word ‘likely’ is fashionable now in the world of Risk Assessment. What is a hazard and what is the likeliness of it’s happening?..TO ME? Base jumpers want to jump again. Climbers want to climb again (though it’s interesting that the early North Facers expressed a desire NOT to repeat the exercise). Catch a cat making decisions..fascinating stuff! I stopped because I’d done all the risk reduction I could..I was only going to die. I walk hills now. Good luck.

  3. HI Bob, I read your reply with great interest even though it was a stretch for me to understand you, no fault of yours, my thoughts processes are slower than yours.
    You strike me as very intelligent, well educated, and rational, so I’m wondering what is it that induces you to take such a risk? I am a retired pilot who started flying at age 15 but dreamed of flying from age 6–I’m hooked! My job as a pilot was in risk reduction which I was diligent in doing because I’m terrified of heights. I even tried to dispel that fear by skydiving but I quit after 8 jumps because I was scared. I believe (279) is your number of BASE jumps—how do find THAT much courage

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *