Introduction: Embrace the Thrill of the Bacejump
Dive into the world of BASE Jumping with courage and respect. Recognize that this extreme sport demands discipline, skill, and careful preparation. Accept that by choosing bacejump, you choose one of the highest-risk non‑motorized activities in the world. Equip yourself with knowledge, commit to safety, and approach every jump with humility and precision.
Know What Bacejump Means
Define bacejump as BASE jumping — the act of leaping from fixed objects like buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), or earth (cliffs) while deploying a parachute. Understand the origin of the acronym: B.A.S.E. stands for those four object types.
Fix in your mind that unlike skydiving, bacejump usually happens from much lower altitudes, giving you very limited time to deploy your chute.
Respect the History of Bacejump
Trace the roots of bacejump by learning about Carl Boenish, widely known as the father of modern BASE jumping.
Acknowledge that Boenish helped define the sport by filming the first coordinated jumps from El Capitan using ram-air parachutes.
Value how the sport evolved from powerful pioneers who turned their daring leaps into a community built on skill and respect.
Accept the Risks of Bacejump
Face the truth: bacejump carries a very high risk of injury or death.
Rely on data: some studies estimate the fatality rate to be about 1 in 60 participants.
Know that severe injury is not rare — research shows roughly 0.2% of BASE jumps result in serious trauma.
Understand the common causes: object strike (hitting the cliff, bridge, or building), bad landings, and parachute failures account for a large portion of fatalities.
Recognize that lower limbs, spine, and back are often injured, based on clinical studies.
Build Your Skills Before You Bacejump
Prepare thoroughly before you even think of making your first bacejump:
- Train in Skydiving First: Build skydiving experience to master parachute control, deployment, and safety.
- Get a Mentor: Jump with experienced BASE jumpers who can teach you exit techniques, risk assessment, and decision-making under pressure.
- Use Specialized Gear: Employ parachutes made for rapid deployment, since you often don’t have much altitude to work with.
- Practice Emergency Procedures: Simulate malfunctions and learn how to respond quickly — in a bacejump, seconds matter.
- Study Exit and Landing Zones: Analyze your jump site for hazards, wind, terrain, and legal issues. Don’t assume every jump point is safe.
Prioritize Safety When You Bacejump
Never compromise on safety when doing a bacejump:
- Deploy early: Always open your chute with plenty of margin; a late pull is one of the biggest killers.
- Wear protective gear: Use helmets, strong harnesses, and other protective equipment.
- Conduct pre‑jump risk assessment: Check the weather, wind speed, object structure, and other external conditions on the day.
- Avoid complacency: Keep humility — many fatalities result when jumpers take risks because they feel overconfident.
- Plan rescues: Know how to contact help, and have a prearra nged emergency response plan in place.
Understand the Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
Respect the legal reality of the bacejump:
- Research local laws: Many jump sites are private property or subject to strict regulations. Illegal jumping can lead to trespassing charges.
- Seek permits where needed: Some locations permit BASE jumps under controlled conditions — don’t assume free access.
- Honor the community: Report incidents, near‑misses, or accidents openly. Encourage safer practices. The BASE community is small; your attitude affects its future.
- Promote responsible jumping: Advocate for safer designs, better education, and more transparent reporting of hazards and fatalities.
Make Every Bacejump Meaningful
When you decide to bacejump, don’t just jump for the thrill — jump with purpose. Approach each jump as a deliberate act of courage, not recklessness. Reflect on what drives you: the adrenaline? the mastery? the freedom? Use that self‑awareness to stay humble.
Document your progress. Learn from every jump — safe or risky. Share your lessons with others. Help build a culture in which bacejump is more than just adrenaline; it’s respect, community, and responsibility.
Conclusion
If you choose to bacejump, do so with full awareness. Honor its history, prepare meticulously, safeguard your life, and treat every object — cliff, bridge, or building — as sacred. Prioritize safety, train relentlessly, and always weigh the risks. By doing this, you make your bacejump not just a leap of faith, but a disciplined expression of skill and respect.
