BASE is an acronym that stands for four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: buildings, antennas (referring to radio masts), spans (bridges) and earth (cliffs).[1][2] Participants jump from a fixed object such as a cliff and, after an optional freefall delay, deploy a parachute to slow their descent and land. A popular form of BASE jumping is wingsuit BASE jumping.
Good to know. I always thought it would be more exciting to jump from the top!
Seems bacronym-ish
Photographer Carl Boenish helped coin BASE as a description of the sport’s adrenaline-inspiring launch points (buildings, antennas, spans, earth) in 1978, when he videotaped early jumps from Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan rock formation.
TIL.
So technically, if I jump from the roof of my garden shed, it is BASE jumping. Free solo if I omit the parachute. Or is it mandatory to use one?
Get a tiny one from those army men toys, glue it to your shoulder. BASE jump accomplished!
Bonus points if you go inside and listen to Ace of Base afterwards.
I still prefer Big-Assed Splattery Execution
They had a chance to call it BABE jumping and didn’t take it. Weak. /s
Huh, and here I always thought it was rooted from “jumping from a stationary base” like a building or cliff. Neat!
What about BASS jumping?
I cooked you a delicious bass
That’s illegal unless you work for the FBI.
I’d like to see one jump from Earth to not-Earth.
I always jump from the Earth into the atmosphere.
It puts me in a very close orbit. 10 cm or so. This is much closer to impact than what the chickens with parachutes dare do.
I thought the base is what you hit when the chute doesn’t open.
I always heard it as Bridges and Skyscrapers, but since it is a very international sport then “spans” makes more sense.
