Tandem BASE Jump

Price: $999.00

6 available for purchase

Quantity in Basket: None

Overview

Only ten (10) tandem BASE jump slots at Bridge Day 2013 on October 19, 2013 are available for purchase. For the third time in Bridge Day's 34-year history, people with no prior jump experience will be able to make a BASE jump while attached to a highly experienced BASE jumping professional. Students will be able to experience approximately 2-3 seconds of freefall and a 40-50 second canopy ride and landing in the New River Gorge. In the last two years, we helped 20+ people safely perform a tandem BASE jump at Bridge Day with no injuries and plenty of memories.

Pricing

Jumps are $999 each. See the "What You Get" section below that describes additional items that come with the jump. Jumpers now have the option of paying the entire amount now, 1/2 now and 1/2 next month, or three monthly installments of 1/3 each. Please review our Bridge Day Event Policy before your purchase.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age
Must weigh 200 lbs. or less and be capable of an active lifestyle
Must wear athletic shoes or hiking boots
Must sign our liability waivers and pick up ID badges at the Holiday Lodge Oak Hill on October 17, 2013 from 5pm-8pm or October 18, 2013 from 9am-4pm

CBS Video

Check out CBS News' report on tandem BASE jumping at Bridge Day 2012. Additional videos are listed at the bottom of this page

The Company

Moab BASE Adventures is the world's first tandem cliff BASE jumping operation and they'll be providing the instructors, parachuting gear, and all tandem BASE jumps at Bridge Day. Owner Mario Richard served as a tandem BASE jumping instructor at Bridge Day 2011 for the events first commercial tandem BASE jumps. Mario has more than 7000 skydives and 2000 BASE jumps over several decades. He has partnered with our company, Vertical Visions, the organizer of Bridge Day BASE jumping since 2003. Vertical Visions is owned by Jason Bell, a BASE jumper since 1993.

History

The first tandem BASE jump occurred at Bridge Day 1984 from the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia (more info here). The years since have been sprinkled with tandem BASE jumps being made around the world from various objects, proving the viability. At least two tandem BASE jumping operations now exist in the USA. Nonjumpers commonly ask how they can share in the BASE jumping experience and have always been told that hundreds of skydives are needed and tens of thousands of dollars must be expended prior to learning to BASE jump.

Tandem BASE jumping is nearly identical to solo BASE jumping with the addition of a student. Modeled on the tandem skydiving instruction method and its millions of successful jumps over three decades, Moab BASE Adventures opens the door to BASE jumping for all. The thrill of standing on the edge is no longer limited - with Moab BASE Adventures nearly anyone who seeks the ultimate rush can attain it. 20+ flawless tandem BASE jumps were performed at Bridge Day 2011 and 2012, and we're bringing tandem BASE jumping back to the East Coast at Bridge Day 2013.

Equipment

The core of any good tandem BASE jumping operation is a custom designed and manufactured set of gear that includes a specialized harness and container system, an Atair tandem parachute, and the student harness. Each of these items have been rigorously tested over the years by experienced BASE jumpers. In addition, the Atair tandem parachute is currently used by several tandem BASE jumping organizations.

Operation

The exit from the bridge is the crux of any BASE jump and tandem BASE jumping is no different. Moab BASE Adventures has perfected a simple exit technique that results in consistent, clean jumps. The Atair tandem parachute opens, flies, and lands with the predictability and precision that we have come to expect from a BASE specific parachute.

With a minimum of 500 BASE jumps, Moab BASE Adventures instructors begin as the sport's highest caliber jumpers. Instructors are then required to complete written and practical instruction and testing on Moab BASE Adventures Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) before being certified as Moab BASE Adventures Instructors.

All students are in the student harness prior to entering the exit area
Students are leashed to the instructor at all times
Students and instructors are subject to same gear inspection as all other jumpers
Students are fully connected to instructor prior to boarding the exit platform
Moab BASE Adventures pairs exit, open, fly, and land in the same amount of time as a solo jumper

Safety

BASE jumping is not safe, but history shows that it can be performed safely. Moab BASE Adventures takes all precautions to provide the safest environment possible within the realm of BASE jumping. Student harnesses include an inflatable PFD (Personal Flotation Device), with single pull activation, in the event of a water landing. All students wear helmets, knee and elbow pads, and proper footwear (athletic shoes or hiking boots). Bridge Day also offers a friendlier exit ramp that does not require climbing over a railing or climbing experience. In addition, all Bridge Day tandem BASE jumps will land along the shoreline in approximately knee-deep water to provide additional safety.

What You Get

One (1) tandem BASE jump at Bridge Day 2013
Bridge Day 2013 BASE jumper t-shirt or similar garment
Access to the BASE Videofest on Thursday night, October 17, 2013.
Goodie bag containing promotional items from BASE vendors (stickers, cups, flyers, Bridge Day 2013 magazine, etc.)
Water rescue in the landing area. Four boats will be ready to pluck you out of the New River if needed.
Bus and van rides to the top of the bridge after you jump and to/from the Holiday Lodge Oak Hill and other area hotels/motels.
The largest BASE jumper party in the world on Saturday night at the Holiday Lodge Oak Hill
Free pizza, beer, and soda during post-Bridge Day party (Saturday night).
Water and/or other beverages in the landing area and at the exit point.
Video and photos of jumps shown on big screen TV at Saturday night party.
Jump photos and enlargements available for viewing Saturday night and online purchase late Sunday night.

Schedule

October 1, 2013: Tandem jumpers will receive a document via email describing what to bring, how to dress, what to expect, where to be, etc. Jump time slots will also be assigned.
October 18, 2013: All tandem BASE jumpers sign our liability waivers and pick up their ID badges at the Holiday Lodge Oak Hill from 9am-4pm. There is a tandem BASE jumping briefing at 5:00pm in Room #209 of the Holiday Lodge Oak Hill. This is where you can meet your tandem instructor, see the gear, meet your fellow tandem jumpers, learn more about the jump, and receive any last minute instructions.
October 19, 2013: Bridge Day 2013 from 9am-3pm. Dinner, party, and video/photo displays in evening.
October 20, 2013: Photos available for online viewing and purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get video and/or photos of my jump?

Absolutely! Vertical Visions photographs the event using at least four still cameras, which are available for viewing and purchase 24-30 hours after the event. In addition, a video crew films the event from multiple angles and raw video and/or a DVD is available shortly after the event.

Can I jump by myself the first time?

No. Your jump must be tandem, in which you're harnessed to the front of a highly experienced instructor. In order to BASE jump by yourself, you'll need at least 100 skydives which will likely require hundreds of hours of training and tens of thousands of dollars over several years.

What's the landing like?

Most landings are quite soft, with many people doing stand-up landings. Sometimes, especially on calm days, the forward speed of the parachute will provide you with a smooth sit-down sliding landing. To achieve a safe landing, the student MUST follow their instructor's commands. At Bridge Day, nearly all landings will take place in shallow water (12-24" deep) near the shoreline or on dry land near the water to further insure your safety. In the event of a landing in deeper water, we've got four rescue boats with decades of experience that will pull you into their boat within seconds. In addition, each tandem BASE system contains a personal floatation device (PFD).

Is it safe, can I get hurt?

BASE jumping is not safe, but it can be done safely. BASE jumping is like any other extreme sport and there are inherent risks that require careful training and execution. Failure to follow that training can lead to serious injury or death. The equipment has improved considerably over the old-style round parachute days and is so reliable that, when used properly, BASE jumping can be as safe or safer than most other extreme sports. That being said, there is no perfect parachute, no perfect instructor, no perfect weather condition, and for that matter no perfect student. You can be injured or killed while making a BASE jump at Bridge Day. However, we've never had any tandem BASE jumping injuries at Bridge Day.

Will I be a BASE jumper afterwards / Can I jump by myself afterwards?

You will have entered the world of BASE jumping with your Bridge Day jump. However, having the experience of a tandem BASE jump will not permit you to jump by yourself in the future. Just as in skydiving, a single tandem jump does not prepare you for solo jumping, but is a start to whatever path you decide to take in jumping. If you enjoyed your tandem BASE jump and would like to continue in the sport, we suggest you visit a local skydiving dropzone and learn to skydive. In order to make a solo BASE jump at Bridge Day or any other BASE jumping object, you'll need at least 100 skydives. For many of you, a tandem BASE jump will simply be one of your most memorable "bucket list" items.

What do experienced BASE jumpers think of tandem BASE jumping

In our opinion, tandem BASE jumping is an exciting way to experience the thrill of BASE jumping at a reasonable cost. Actually, we're quite envious of the fact that tandem BASE jumping offers people something that normally takes years of training and tens of thousands of dollars to achieve. A few experienced BASE jumpers think that tandem BASE jumping will reduce the sport's "cool factor" now that anyone can do it. The bottom line is that tandem BASE jumping, just like traditional BASE jumping, will only attract an elite group of people who have the desire and courage to step off a perfectly good bridge and experience something so rare. As the organizers of Bridge Day BASE jumping since 2003, we're excited to offer this experience to the public.

Why is tandem BASE jumping so expensive?

Moab BASE Adventures is based out of Moab, Utah. They have to fly in their crew, secure hotel rooms, rent cars, and provide meals. All these expenses add up and we haven't even considered the price of gear, training jumps, etc. Tandem BASE jumping isn't for everyone, but each jump is well worth the price. If you live near Moab, Utah, you can always opt to tandem BASE jump from a cliff for around $499 and up.

Refund and Transfer Policy

Please reference our Bridge Day Event Policy for details.

Photos

Bridge Day 2011/2012 Tandem Jumps and Landings

Videos

Moab BASE Adventures performing tandem BASE jumps in Moab, Utah

One for Nebraska ! from Moab Base Adventures on Vimeo.