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BASE Jumping: Skydiving, Parachutes, BASE Jumps, Legal Issues And Videos
By:
Published: January 21, 2008
Thrill seekers the world over jump from planes everyday, searching for a better rush. Though skydiving was once regarded as the most extreme sport, a different type of adventure has taken its place. BASE jumping is similar to skydiving in many aspects, but the levels of danger and demise are heightened during this free fall.
BASE jumping was adapted from skydiving; both require the jumper to free fall from a high altitude to the ground using a parachute. However, BASE jumping occurs from a fixed object, not a plane. Also, BASE jumps are typically made from 2,000 feet or less, which leaves only a few seconds to deploy the parachutes.
BASE jumps can be attempted from four different structures, hence the acronym. The four fixed objects are: buildings, antennas, spans, and earth. Spans are typically bridges or overpasses, while cliffs or mountains are included with the earth category. Antennas are the most difficult places for BASE jumping as they are usually very tall and in dangerous areas. Once all four of the fixed objects of BASE jumping have been conquered, the individual receives a sequential number. As of 2005, there were 1,000 BASE jumping numbers appointed.
Obtaining a BASE jumping number is no easy feat. The fixed objects are perilous, the areas for landing are very contained, and the altitudes can be quite low. The lower the altitude, the less time there is for manual deployment of the parachute. Though the parachutes resemble those of skydiving, the type used for BASE jumping is the ram air chute which allows for more control over the landing.
Besides many safety concerns, there are also legal issues to consider when BASE jumping. Though the FAA has no jurisdiction over BASE jumping because there are no planes involved, the extreme sport is still not permitted in many areas. Permission must be obtained prior to attempting BASE jumps. If not, the jumper can be arrested on charges of trespassing, reckless endangerment, and vandalism. Other legal issues involve the safety of people below the jumpers, as many have been injured during jumps. Also, legal issues arise with polluting the environment, and BASE jumping has been outlawed in many areas where littering and disrespect of the environment occurred.
It is well known that BASE jumping is one of the most dangerous extreme sports. However, the secretiveness of the sport also prevents solid statistics from being published about successes, how many jumps have been performed, and fatalities. It is estimated, though, that between 1981 and 2007, there have been 120 deaths caused by BASE jumping. This most often occurs when the jumper takes off from an improper body position, causing the jumper to run into the sides of the object such as mountain walls or building surfaces.
BASE jumping is certainly not for just anyone. If it still peaks an interest without an actual desire to execute a jump, videos of these jumps abound on the Internet. The YouTube website has over 1,820 videos of BASE jumping attempts. Some of the videos are incomprehensible, and it's almost impossible to understand how anyone works up the courage to jump. So if BASE jumping is fascinating but just too risque, homemade accounts can help quell the urge.
Even for the average adrenaline junkie, BASE jumping is still something too far out there to attempt. However, for those who do choose to scale buildings and climb mountains only to jump from them after reaching the top, this extreme sport is incomparable to any other life experience. Though it may be the leap of a lifetime, there's always a chance it could be the last.
Sources:
"BASE Jumping." Wikipedia. 15 Dec. 2007. 28 Dec. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping.
Grabianowski, Ed. "How Base Jumping Works." How Stuff Works. 28 Dec. 2007. http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/base-jumpin g.htm.
"BASE Jumping." YouTube. 28 Dec. 2007. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=base+j umping&search=Search.
BASE jumping was adapted from skydiving; both require the jumper to free fall from a high altitude to the ground using a parachute. However, BASE jumping occurs from a fixed object, not a plane. Also, BASE jumps are typically made from 2,000 feet or less, which leaves only a few seconds to deploy the parachutes.
BASE jumps can be attempted from four different structures, hence the acronym. The four fixed objects are: buildings, antennas, spans, and earth. Spans are typically bridges or overpasses, while cliffs or mountains are included with the earth category. Antennas are the most difficult places for BASE jumping as they are usually very tall and in dangerous areas. Once all four of the fixed objects of BASE jumping have been conquered, the individual receives a sequential number. As of 2005, there were 1,000 BASE jumping numbers appointed.
Obtaining a BASE jumping number is no easy feat. The fixed objects are perilous, the areas for landing are very contained, and the altitudes can be quite low. The lower the altitude, the less time there is for manual deployment of the parachute. Though the parachutes resemble those of skydiving, the type used for BASE jumping is the ram air chute which allows for more control over the landing.
Besides many safety concerns, there are also legal issues to consider when BASE jumping. Though the FAA has no jurisdiction over BASE jumping because there are no planes involved, the extreme sport is still not permitted in many areas. Permission must be obtained prior to attempting BASE jumps. If not, the jumper can be arrested on charges of trespassing, reckless endangerment, and vandalism. Other legal issues involve the safety of people below the jumpers, as many have been injured during jumps. Also, legal issues arise with polluting the environment, and BASE jumping has been outlawed in many areas where littering and disrespect of the environment occurred.
It is well known that BASE jumping is one of the most dangerous extreme sports. However, the secretiveness of the sport also prevents solid statistics from being published about successes, how many jumps have been performed, and fatalities. It is estimated, though, that between 1981 and 2007, there have been 120 deaths caused by BASE jumping. This most often occurs when the jumper takes off from an improper body position, causing the jumper to run into the sides of the object such as mountain walls or building surfaces.
BASE jumping is certainly not for just anyone. If it still peaks an interest without an actual desire to execute a jump, videos of these jumps abound on the Internet. The YouTube website has over 1,820 videos of BASE jumping attempts. Some of the videos are incomprehensible, and it's almost impossible to understand how anyone works up the courage to jump. So if BASE jumping is fascinating but just too risque, homemade accounts can help quell the urge.
Even for the average adrenaline junkie, BASE jumping is still something too far out there to attempt. However, for those who do choose to scale buildings and climb mountains only to jump from them after reaching the top, this extreme sport is incomparable to any other life experience. Though it may be the leap of a lifetime, there's always a chance it could be the last.
Sources:
"BASE Jumping." Wikipedia. 15 Dec. 2007. 28 Dec. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping.
Grabianowski, Ed. "How Base Jumping Works." How Stuff Works. 28 Dec. 2007. http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/base-jumpin g.htm.
"BASE Jumping." YouTube. 28 Dec. 2007. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=base+j umping&search=Search.
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