Frequently Asked Questions about BASE Jumping
Learning BASE Jumping
What is BASE jumping?
BASE jumping is a sport which consists in parachuting off fixed points instead of jumping off an aircraft like in skydiving. The jumper takes different free fall delays depending on the available height and on his equipment. The term B.A.S.E jumping is an acronym that stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth, meaning the different fixed points the jumper leaps off. Over the years, techniques and equipment have never stopped evolving. As a consequence, nowadays BASE jumping exists under many different versions: acrobatic jumps, low altitude jumps, in urban or mountain environment, with a tracking suit, with a wingsuit …
Is BASE jumping legal?
It depends on where you jump. In most of countries BASE jumping is not regulated, it is then legal and you are free to jump. However, local and temporary restrictions can apply such as restrictions of flying in natural parks and cities or accessing private properties. Sometimes the protection of wild life can restrict the activity in some places and during some periods of the year. This situation is roughly the same all over the world. Take note that being a non-regulated sport BASE jumping doesn’t require a license. However, it is strongly recommended to get an insurance like for any other sport. It is the responsibility of the jumper to respect these rules. BASE Spirit campaigns for a free sport which remains as such. This freedom sometimes demands self-regulation to ensure good coexistence with those practicing other activities, with wildlife and with the owners of the places of practice. Once all these boxes are checked, you are free to put on your parachute and jump off a mountain without disturbing anyone!
How to do BASE jumping?
BASE jumping is a non-regulated sport, and as such, there is no rule for beginning. You are absolutely free to purchase a parachute and launch off a cliff on your own. However, regarding the risks involved this option is definitely not recommended. For your own safety and your longevity it is strongly recommended you get started under the supervision of an experienced jumper. Yet, it is difficult to enter this community and find someone to teach you. Sometimes you don’t even know where to start. This is why our school provides turnkey courses. We are professionals of BASE jumping instruction and we dedicate all our energy to your safe progression.
Which prerequisites for BASE jumping?
Learning BASE jumping first of all requires very good experience in skydiving. Several hundred jumps seems to be a bare minimum. Good physical and mental health are also mandatory. One more essential requirement is a good intellectual maturity. Your ability to listen to your doubts and to put your ego aside will guarantee your longevity in this sport. This comes from your personality and life experience. For that reason a wide range of skill in sports and aerial activities will be a great asset to start to BASE jump. Roughly all sports involving flight, proprioception and concept of commitment will benefit your learning. Eventually, every experience that makes you familiar with heights and verticality will benefit you (climbing, via ferrata, mountaineering). If you aren’t ready to take the plunge now, maybe you’ll be in the future! Therefore, do not hesitate to send us your questions to get your profile assessed and receive the guidelines to best prepare for your BASE jumping prerequisites!
Can I do BASE jumping without having experience in skydiving?
No. Although there are many different prerequisites to begin BASE jumping, a very solid experience in skydiving is compulsory. This sport will teach you the fundamentals of freefall that are mandatory for learning BASE jumping.
How many skydives before doing BASE jumping?
There is no rule in BASE jumping concerning a minimum number of skydives. However, it is important to have the maximum experience possible of skydiving prior to starting BASE jumping. It will be important for your progression and your own safety. People often mention 200 skydives, we think that number should be a bare minimum. Your safety is priceless and is worth being patient. Keep in mind that experience is not only about the number of jumps. It’s also about diversity and specificity of your training. Thus, it will be beneficial to practice specific exercises during your skydiving training. You can contact us to get advice in order to prepare your prerequisites for BASE jumping. This step should not be neglected. If you start too early, you may regret it later. Furthermore, some people stop skydiving after their introduction to BASE jumping. We therefore recommend that you lay the strongest possible foundation and even continue jumping off planes after starting BASE jumping. Experience is always beneficial!
How much does BASE jumping cost?
Expenses involved in learning BASE jumping vary. First of all, you have to learn skydiving. For an accelerated freefall course you will roughly need to spend 1 500 €. To make 200 skydives with a rented parachute (the recommended bare minimum) you must budget 40 € per jump or 8 000 € in total. When the time comes, you will need to get a BASE jumping parachute. For this, plan on around 4 000 € to buy a new one. Of course there is a large second-hand market where you will find cheaper equipment. If you opt for learning in a professional BASE jumping school, which is highly recommended, you will need to anticipate the price of your training. For example, BASE Spirit’s first BASE jump course is offered from 1 250 €. You now have an overall estimate of around 14 000 €. Once this initial stage has been reached, BASE jumping becomes much cheaper. It’s only up to you to go hiking and freely jump off a mountain. You have to understand that this sport requires a certain investment but this is part of the commitment required to start. Don’t be scared by the amount of money. Keep in mind the cost will be spread out over several years because learning BASE jumping is a long process. In the end you will see by the satisfaction and pleasure obtained from your progress in BASE jumping that it was really worth it!
Where to start BASE jumping?
BASE jumping being a non regulated sport, there are no rules on how to learn it. But leaping off a bridge seems to be the most reasonable option to do your very first jumps. This is why our first BASE jump course exclusively takes place on bridges.
Can I subscribe to an insurance covering BASE jumping?
Yes. In fact, it is essential! You must check with your insurer that your contracts cover the activity before taking the leap. If not, among others, the FFCAM licence with extensions provides insurance for mountain BASE jumping. Please note that most insurance companies do not cover damage occurring during illegal activities.
BASE Jumping Gear
Which parachute for BASE jumping?
Nowadays equipment has considerably evolved and people only use parachutes specifically built for BASE jumping. They usually consist of a single canopy container, a seven cells parachute and a pilot chute all purposely designed for BASE jumping. Several manufacturers now offer these types of parachutes.
How much does a BASE jumping parachute cost?
It all depends on whether you purchase a brand new parachute or second hand one. Presently, a basic, complete and brand new parachute costs around 4 000 €. This price can increase depending on the selected options and on different pilot chute sizes you might want to add to your purchase. Second-hand market has no rules. BASE Spirit can assist you in purchasing new or used equipment for the right price and which will be adapted to your needs. Feel free to contact us.
Which accessory gear for BASE jumping?
In addition to your parachute, it is essential to get a good helmet. It is possible to equip yourself with body protection such as knee pads and shin guards. Any equipment that allows you to secure yourself during difficult access will prove useful (climbing equipment, small descender, lanyard). Note that all of these materials will be particularly suitable for BASE jumping in their ultra-light version. This will help on long approach hikes and with the ergonomics when jumping with it. BASE jumping being an outdoor sport, all practical equipment that favors your comfort will be recommended (collapsible water bottle, telescopic hiking poles).
Which clothing for BASE jumping?
BASE jumping is an outdoor sport that requires you to be comfortable in flight. Mountain/hiking clothing which protects you against the elements is therefore recommended. For ergonomics, jackets and pants with zippered pockets will be very practical. Good shoes are essential with good support and grip. Be careful though, shoes with hooks should be avoided to prevent from interfering with the lines of your parachute. Finally, clothing that fits your size and allows you freedom of movement will give you comfort when jumping.
BASE Spirit
Who are we?
BASE Spirit is a BASE jumping school founded and registered in France. It was born from the experience of Polo, long term BASE jumper and skydive instructor. Its purpose is to teach BASE jumping in the safest way possible. We have tremendous experience of thousands of skydives and BASE jumps all around the world. We take you to jump in the most beautiful places in the world with all our courses and expeditions.
Is my instructor qualified?
BASE jumping being a non regulated sport, there is no license for practicing or rating for teaching it. However, your BASE instructor is a qualified skydive instructor. He has tremendous experience in teaching skydiving and competition, he holds several world records and his experience in BASE jumping is outstanding!
BASE Spirit Courses
Do you offer a complete BASE jumping course?
We offer two BASE jumping courses: a first BASE jump course and a terminal cliff tacking course. Because some of you want to get started but don’t have the ambition to jump slider up off cliffs eventually. Others already have a few bridge jumps but don’t know how to approach mountain jumps. If you are a beginner, the first BASE jump course and the terminal cliff course are designed to be complementary and take you step by step towards autonomy in BASE jumping. In fact, we recommend that you follow these two training courses together, in the shortest possible time, to better capitalize on your acquired knowledge. By contacting us, you can request dates to do these two complementary courses consecutively and thus have the most complete instruction possible!
Can I apply for the terminal cliff course if I haven’t attended your first jump course but already have a few BASE jumps under my belt?
Yes, after assesment of your level in skydiving and BASE jumping. If you have already been introduced to BASE jumping in an alternative way, it is totally possible for you to take part in our terminal cliff tracking course. However, contact us beforehand to evaluate your level and let us check that you have the necessary skills.
Can I come back to a course I have previously attended?
Yes. After completing your course with BASE Spirit, you’ll be able to come back to any of our next course dates for free! Thus, you don’t remain all alone and you can keep on interacting with your instructor. Furthermore, we consider our former students as family and it’s always our pleasure to see you evolve and to keep on sharing with you!
Do I need to have my own parachute in order to attend a course?
Yes. It is important to get familiar with your own gear to BASE jump. Taking marks on your own parachute will activate your muscle memory and will give you vital reflexes. Furthermore, we consider that learning BASE jumping must be a real process and not a passing whim. The acquisition of equipment will therefore reveal real motivation and commitment on your part. BASE Spirit will assist you in the purchase of a parachute, new or second-hand. Feel free to contact us.
Must I be able to pack my parachute prior to attending my course?
Yes. In order to optimize your training, we’ll send you an instructional video on packing that is specific to BASE jumping. You will have to watch it and get familiar with this before attending your course. Practice packing your parachute as much as you can. However, there is no question of letting you jump on a pack job simply learned from a video. Therefore, a time of your course will be dedicated to confirm your packing technique under the supervision of your instructor. You can then jump with complete peace of mind. 😉
Can I jump with a camera mount during my course?
Not in the beginning of your first jump course. Even if you are used to wearing a camera while skydiving, the newness of BASE jumping will require you to jump without it. We do not have the same safety margins and your first jumps will require great concentration which is not compatible with the worry of shooting footage. You will have to dedicate yourself 100% to the successful completion of your jumps. It will only be at the discretion of your instructor that you will be allowed to wear a camera. This usually only happens during the terminal cliff tracking course. However, all your jumps will be filmed by your instructor for debriefings. You will therefore be able to get the videos at the end of your course.
Can I jump with my tracking suit during my terminal cliff tracking course?
This will depend on the skydive practice you have with your suit and on the abilities you show during your terminal cliff course. You should neither expect to make your first tracking suit jump off a cliff (practice it a lot off a plane first), nor to jump your suit in the first jumps of your BASE course. This will only happen when your instructor judges it to be the right time for your own safety. Take note that it will be possible to jump slick during the whole course since we will be going to spots allowing this.
BASE Spirit Expeditions
Do you offer BASE jumping expeditions on demand?
Yes. If you are a group of at least three people, we organize expeditions on demand. It is important to keep in mind that each of our destinations has an ideal season for jumping depending on its latitude. Write to us so we can advise you about the best seasons for each trip. Depending on climate preferences and on availability that all our other teaching activities permit, we will determine together the best dates for your next BASE jumping expedition.
I haven’t learnt BASE jumping with BASE Spirit’s courses, can I apply for a BASE jumping expedition?
Of course you can! You should just assure us that you fulfill all the prerequisites for the chosen expedition. Contact us to tell us about your skydiving and BASE jumping experience. We will check together if you have the necessary skills to safely take part in our expeditions. We will be delighted to take you to the most beautiful jumping spots in the world!