Although prohibited and considered illegal in many countries, extreme base jumping or B.A.S.E. Jumping has evolved, as one of the extreme sports that attract a lot of people from all over the world. While the concept of base jumping is not new, it became popular after it became known to the wider audience through various Hollywood action base jumping movies that showed some of the stunts that involve extreme base jumping.
The number of base jumpers around the world is on the rise, and many people want to be base jumpers but base jumping isn’t just about jumping from a higher altitude. There are a few things you need to know before you step into the world of extreme base jumping
Quick Jump
4 Things you need to know before taking the plunge:
Do Your Homework
Even before you take your first base jump you need to do your homework well.
So, if you are planning to become a base jumper you need to read and research about everything related to basejumping.
You should read the interviews of professional base jumpers and get to know from their experiences and expertise.
Know about base jumping gear and how rigging and weather can impact your jumps and how you need to do the right coordination and balance and which are the best places in the world for base jumping, or for that matter in your own country.
You may also watch various base jumping videos or base jumping documentary available online for research purpose. This will help you to get a bigger picture of base jumping and allow you to make better decisions on whether you should really go ahead with basejumping or not.
Do You Fit In?
It might certainly seem like the most adventurous thing you should be doing, but do you really fit in as a base jumper?
Even before you start off with how to start base jumping you need to know about the pros and cons of the sport and that it could be dangerous if you’re not performing it well.
The sport is addictive and it can provide you with the adrenaline rush you want, but any mistake can lead to fatal injuries and also cause death.
Your Physical Abilities
Base jumps seem like just jumping from higher altitudes, but it takes a lot more than that to make the jump.
Base jumpers are fit and have physical abilities that allow them to make that jump. However, it is also not just about fitness, because you need to have a great coordination, reaction time and balance.
Hence, you will have to prepare your body for the base jumping training before you take that first jump.
Your Mental Abilities
Being prepared and ready and reacting in split-second time is crucial when it comes to base jumping. Hence, you should have a very quick reaction to ensure that you can make things right in the mid-air if things go wrong.
If you’re slow to think and react, base jumping is not the sport you should be looking for.
You should also have the courage to be able to jump from heights and be mentally prepared for it before you take your first jump.
Also, you need to ask yourself whether you make correct decisions when you are in pressure situations because in base jumping, split seconds decisions matters.
