"If riding in an airplane is flying then riding in
a boat is swimming. If you want to experience the
element, get out of the vehicle." -- unknown
BASE Jumping
Although BASE jumping doesn't technically
fall under the category
of skydiving the sport is related. The skill required to BASE jump is considerable
and someday I hope to acquire enough experience skydiving to start doing
it. Unfortunately the sport is frowned upon in most countries around the
world. In fact many of the BASE jumping web sites have large sections dedicated
to promoting its acceptance and fighting for the right of (supposedly)
free citizens to take part in it. Here's a little definition from the
321CYA
-
BASE jumping -- An acronym for the four types of fixed objects that
are utilized for these foot-launched skydives: (B)uilding, (A)ntenna, (S)pan,
and (E)arth. Jumpers spend years training by skydiving from aircraft and
finally progress to BASE jumping, the world's most extreme sport. Unlike
skydiving, BASE jumpers typically use only one carefully packed parachute
as the lower exit altitudes (200-1200 feet above the ground) do not normally
permit deployment of a reserve parachute.