| BASE jumping is an extreme sport and has many | | | | enthusiasts make sure that they check their gear |
| followers. BASE is an acronym for Building, Antenna, | | | | thoroughly and follow the basic rules. |
| Span and Earth, where building refers to man-made | | | | It is important to check the parachute before |
| structures; antenna refers to uninhabited structures like | | | | attempting BASE jumping. The jumps are usually |
| oil wells and antenna masts; spans refers to structures | | | | executed from low altitudes and that is why |
| that span a distance like bridges; and Earth refers to | | | | parachutes designed to open quickly should be used. In |
| natural structures like ridges and cliffs. In BASE jumping, | | | | addition, falling speed is low so the parachute should |
| jumpers jump from any of these spots with just a | | | | also be designed to open and deploy at low speeds. |
| parachute. | | | | There are special BASE jumping parachutes available |
| BASE jumping has been around for a long time. The | | | | and you should use only those. |
| earliest recorded jump was in 1912 when Frederick | | | | You should also be conversant with how to use a |
| Law jumped off the Statue of Liberty. During that time, | | | | parachute. You should know how to deploy a |
| BASE jumping was more the stunt aspect than | | | | parachute, when to deploy it and how to land with a |
| competition. However, in the late 1970s things changed | | | | parachute safely. For this you would have to practice |
| and BASE jumping was termed by Carl Boenish, who | | | | and many experts suggest trying skydiving to master |
| died during BASE jumping in 1984. | | | | the art of handling parachutes. |
| BASE jumping can be extremely dangerous | | | | BASE jumping is fun and exciting sport if you have the |
| considering the fact that the parachute can malfunction | | | | nerves. However, make sure you learn all the |
| or human error can cause serious injuries or | | | | nitty-gritties of the sport before attempting a jump. |
| instantaneous death. However, BASE jumping | | | | |