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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:19pm PT
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I don't judge jumpers. Get going. Do what you love. You die, you lose. That said, watch out for the guys screaming go-for-it , some of those guys are sociopaths. And if they're selling something like fame, or red bull, or wing suits, well, buyer beware or worse. Xavier Bongard said it first " Don't BASE, it's too good, too addictive, too short, and I'm doomed" (paraphrased). Dan-O said it " I need to get scared down there" (less paraphrased). And all these mountain athletes, the highest echelon, are being killed by BASE jumping.
Xavier Bongard grew up in the Swiss Alps fergawdsake, they live and breathe the Alpine. It's in their blood. Listen to the man.
If you want to be a man and face the sh#t,try his Valley Tick List.
If you want to face a reasonable amount of risk, become a full rounded Alpinist, that means skiing, ice, rock, walls, rescue, leadership and judgement.
Then learn to swim. Everything. Big waves. Big water. And then be a waterman. Canoe, Raft, Sail. Surf goddamit.
You could probably fly para gliders, whitewater kayak, skateboard, MTB, skydive and some other stupid sh#t like taming snakes at Burning Man and being armed, loaded and loaded 24/7 and still die peacefully, boning your neighbor.
Above all, don't put importance where it doesn't belong. This is a Rock Climbing Website. BASE jumping brings mostly sadness and all too frequently, death. If you don't understand Semper Farcissimus, well, you should. And some guy cooler than everybody said, "Playing in the Mountains is a game. If you die then you lose that game.
Don't be a loser,
flip
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:22pm PT
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I wonder if the motorcycling community has similar armchair critiquers?
Great video. Right in the video it says:
The race has always had it's critics. But from the start it's danger was it's attraction.
Like climbing and BASE jumping, danger is part of the appeal. Personally I love other aspects more: the adventure and uncertainty, the physical challenge, the beauty, the planning and dreaming, the feeling of what your body is doing. But I understand other people do put more emphasis on and appreciation of risk simply for risks sake (and the adrenalin rush that often comes with it).
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Matt's
climber
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:31pm PT
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wow, that isle of man race has ~250 deaths in ~100years of doing the race....
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:58pm PT
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I blame the Queen. She is ultimately responsible for Mann. It is no coincidence that most of the deaths have occurred during her Reign. A pox on the phony Kings of England. The Occupation has gone on too long. Free Canadia!
Death to Empire.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jul 28, 2016 - 03:00pm PT
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I don't judge jumpers. Get going. Do what you love. You die, you lose. That said, watch out for the guys screaming go-for-it , some of those guys are sociopaths. And if they're selling something like fame, or red bull, or wing suits, well, buyer beware or worse.
Sounds pretty judgmental to me.
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Lurkingtard
climber
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Jul 28, 2016 - 04:36pm PT
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Dipshits are the most judgemental.
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 28, 2016 - 04:49pm PT
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This is a complex subject, risk. I have a group of friends who are into just plain bike riding, and it is astonishing how many of them have broken an arm, shoulder, ripping a hand and needing $20,000 worth of surgery, etc.
Each weekend, the emergency clinics in Los Angeles are strewn with injured bikers. I feel safer on the rock than on a bicycle. You're riding along, and suddenly someone opens a car door right in front of you...............
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Jul 28, 2016 - 05:21pm PT
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Meng, that Isle of Man stuff is CRAZY. Young men gotta push it. Some go too far. It's a damn shame.
BAd
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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Jul 28, 2016 - 09:47pm PT
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The landing target (circus net) ... has been tested repeatedly using dummies.
One of those 200-pound (91-kilogram) dummies ... crashed right through. I hope he takes the colon cleanse challenge duct-taped to the shitter, and loses about 75 pounds before exit day.
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jstan
climber
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Jul 29, 2016 - 09:44am PT
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astonishing how many of them have broken an arm, shoulder, ripping a hand and needing $20,000 worth of surgery, etc.
Arms are structurally complex and not nearly strong enough to stop a fall. How many people have you ever seen walking on their hands? For bicycle falls I found far superior the tactic of bunching the shoulder muscle and letting it take the impact. Never bothered the shoulder in the least.
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Gary
Social climber
Where in the hell is Major Kong?
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Jul 29, 2016 - 12:29pm PT
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What about jumping with no parachute?
What about being a spectator at rally? Is that irresponsible if you have kids?
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Jul 29, 2016 - 12:39pm PT
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Without people who have the BASE mindset and that ability to try and mitigate extreme risk with skill, we wouldn't have planes and would never have step foot on the moon.
The world needs bright (and a little insane) people with large cajones. Progress would be almost impossible without them.
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knucko
climber
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Jul 29, 2016 - 12:45pm PT
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Heisenberg
Trad climber
RV, middle of Nowehere
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Jul 29, 2016 - 02:52pm PT
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^^
which is why people like Brook Ingleheart are such a joke. They take themselves so serious. Their word is gospel. There's no room to argue. It's like talking to a child.
He's a complete joke.
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slabbo
Trad climber
colo south
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Jul 29, 2016 - 03:01pm PT
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I don't know, i got an old buddy back in NH named Base..he's very safe.
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Jul 29, 2016 - 03:01pm PT
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I think it is a personal decision.
I've had 2 very close friends die pursuing adventure sports (not BASE), leaving children behind.
A tough road for those children, but their fathers wouldn't have been the people they were without their pursuit of adventure.
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mc813
Sport climber
San Antonio, Texas
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Jul 29, 2016 - 08:28pm PT
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Not sure how BASE jumping gets compared to advancing space exploration (astronauts) or defending a nation's freedom (soldier). 2 of those involve a possible sacrifice for the benefit of a greater good, whereas the other is for self-fulfillment. I read the TR reports of the man who was the (likely) catalyst for this thread, and can't say I wasn't sitting on the edge of my office chair/couch reading them and admiring the hell out of someone who had the stones to do that. Then again, I'm a single guy with no long-term girlfriend or any children to speak of. I'd like to think (but obviously can't be sure) that I'd dial things back if/when I bring a kid into the world. I think, for me, the focus would shift off of self-gratification to giving everything I could to enhance my son/daughter's life.
In regards to the Isle of Mann, yes those people would fall into the irresponsible category (IMO) if they have a family and choose to do that race with an aim to set the fastest lap. I didn't watch the videos but I'm sure they show going flat out, with little to no safety barriers/retention walls as you fly along town streets with looming brick buildings, curbs, and other immovable objects which will end your day very quickly. This can't be compared to "normal" motorcycle racing much the same way two young punks street racing on public roads is not sanctioned racing.
Veered off topic but I just saw too big of a discrepancy in some of the arguments/comparisons, and having participated (and still participating) in motorsports I felt the urge to comment.
At the end of the day I think it's a healthy dialogue, as long as it doesn't devolve into "you'll never understand", name calling, or any other non-constructive debate.
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Jul 29, 2016 - 08:42pm PT
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That documentary on the Isle of Man TT was amazing. Thanks for posting. Definitely worth a watch. They die all the time at that event. Two went during the time period of the documentary. The reporter on the shorter vid said SEVEN died during the week he was there--three riders, four spectators. Amazing stuff. Effing nuts. Two blokes profiled crashed going 160 mph+, didn't die, and fully expected to go back to racing. A true blood sport. Can't say for road racing generally as I don't follow the sport, but the Isle of Man biz seems way sketchier than BASE or proxy flying for that matter. Phew....
BAd
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Jul 29, 2016 - 08:57pm PT
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Base is like a bug seeing how close it can get to the zapper.
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