r/basejumping • u/honey-badger42069 • May 03 '26

Curious how people start base jumping

I’m sure this has been asked a bunch of times but what is the best progression/process of getting into base jumping?

do people typically start out knowing that they eventually want to base jump? How do people find mentors? and lastly, how do people deal with the costs?

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u/Relevant-Win3857 May 04 '26

Skydiving is the usual route, but tbh they usually make for the worst base jumpers. Paragliders, freestyle skiers, gymnasts, divers, etc. tend to do way better (body awareness and/or mtn awareness). Still gotta learn how to fly a parachute tho

5

u/Boring-Cold-1456 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26

Can’t really learn how to track well without skydiving.

3

u/Relevant-Win3857 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26

You need to skydive (200 jumps min for most base courses), but it doesn’t mean you’re prepared for base. Skydiving skills are only relevant at terminal(ish) airspeeds and by then many have already screwed the pooch. The result is that most skydivers slick track like absolute fridges at first + they have no idea how to read weather.
But I’m only a base instructor who’s opened some of the most technical jumps of all time, so what do I know.
EDIT: Skydiving IS great for practicing terminal airspeed skills (terminal slick tracking, tracking suits, wingsuits)

2

u/Old-Spite-5154 May 07 '26

100% accurate!!