BASE Jumping
Officially BASE Jumping (Building, Antenna, Span, Earth)
Extreme parachute sport — jumpers leap from FIXED OBJECTS (Buildings, Antennae, Spans/bridges, Earth/cliffs) with parachute deployment during 3-15 second freefall. Coined 1978 by Carl Boenish. Iconic locations: Kjerag Norway, Perrine Bridge Idaho, Angel Falls Venezuela. ~40 deaths per year globally; one of world's most dangerous sports.
What is BASE Jumping?
BASE Jumping is extreme parachute sport where practitioners leap from fixed objects with a parachute deployed during freefall of 3-15 seconds. Acronym B.A.S.E. = BUILDING + ANTENNA + SPAN (bridge) + EARTH (cliff). COINED 1978 by CARL BOENISH (filmmaker, El Capitan Yosemite jumps 1978); term standardized to differentiate from skydiving (which uses aircraft). HISTORY: Precursors 1900s (individual daredevils); modern BASE born 1978 Yosemite; Boenish + Jean Boenish + Phil Mayfield + Phil Smith first officially completed all four B.A.S.E. categories 1981 (BASE #1-4). Community organized around BASE JUMPER NUMBERS (assigned in order of completing all 4 categories; BASE #1 = Phil Smith 1981). MORTALITY: One of world's DEADLIEST SPORTS; ~40 deaths per year globally; estimated 5-8% career fatality rate for regular jumpers. LEGAL vs ILLEGAL: (1) LEGAL LOCATIONS: designated bridges (Perrine Idaho, Bridge Day WV), cliffs (Kjerag Norway, Lauterbrunnen Switzerland). (2) ILLEGAL: most buildings, most antennas (except organized events). Most professional jumpers focus on cliff/bridge locations. EQUIPMENT: single main parachute (no reserve typically for lowest jumps — insufficient time to deploy), pilot chute pack, jumpsuit, helmet, wingsuit optional. WINGSUIT BASE (WSBASE): added wingsuit for horizontal flight; extends jumps 20-60 seconds. FAMOUS: Kjerag Norway (Bridge Norway, 984m cliff), Angel Falls Venezuela (world's tallest waterfall 979m), Petronas Towers Malaysia (organized events), Perrine Bridge Idaho (year-round legal), Lauterbrunnen Valley Switzerland (deadliest — ~65 deaths since 1995). LEGENDARY: Phil Smith (BASE #1), Erich Beaud (deceased), Dean Potter (deceased), Steph Davis, Jeb Corliss (survived 2012 Table Mountain crash).
Quick facts
Category
Adventure & Extreme Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Duration
~1 min
Where played
outdoor
Field / court
cliff, building, bridge, or antenna
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
First modern BASE jumps 1978 El Capitan Yosemite; term coined by Carl Boenish; BASE numbers established 1981; wingsuit BASE 1990s+; Lauterbrunnen Switzerland popularized 2000s+
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Jump from fixed object, deploy parachute safely, land safely. Modern goals include long horizontal wingsuit flights + technical spot landings.
Match structure
Non-competitive typically. Some organized events (World Base Race, Red Bull events) time wingsuit runs.
Rules
Basic rules
Jump from fixed object with parachute
Building, antenna, span/bridge, or cliff/earth.
Deploy parachute during freefall
Freefall 3-15 seconds depending on height; deploy at safe altitude.
Land safely
Steer parachute toward safe landing zone; avoid obstacles.
Legal locations only
Most buildings + antennas + many cliffs are illegal; use permitted sites.
Weather + wind assessment
Wind conditions critical; wrong wind = fatal.
Bail-out plan
Alternate landing zones if primary compromised.
Advanced rules
BASE number tradition
Assigned to jumper who completes all 4 B.A.S.E. categories; sequential order; BASE #1 Phil Smith 1981.
Wingsuit BASE (WSBASE)
Wingsuit added for horizontal flight; 20-60 sec extended jumps; longest wingsuit flights 3+ minutes.
Static line vs freefall
Static line = parachute deploys immediately (safest for lowest jumps); freefall = brief acceleration then manual deploy.
Slider up vs slider down
Slider (drag device) affects opening speed; down = faster opening but harder on body.
Reserve parachute limitations
Most BASE has NO reserve (insufficient time); WSBASE + high jumps may use reserve.
Legal BASE regulations
Perrine Bridge Idaho open year-round; Bridge Day WV annual Oct; Kjerag Norway permitted; Lauterbrunnen Switzerland regulated.
Scoring
Non-competitive typically; success = safe jump + landing. Some organized events time wingsuit runs.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Safe jump + landing | Success + survival |
| BASE number qualification | Complete all 4 B.A.S.E. categories |
| Wingsuit BASE competition (World Base Race) | Fastest time / longest distance |
Win condition · Non-competitive: safe jump + landing. Competitive: World Base Race + Red Bull events time performance.
Playing area
Called
cliff, building, bridge, or antenna
Dimensions
minimum ~60m height for parachute deployment; typical 100-1000m
Fixed structures + natural cliffs; iconic sites globally.
Equipment
BASE parachute (single main)
Specialized BASE canopy (rectangular ram-air); no reserve for lowest jumps; €2500-5000.
Pilot chute + BASE-specific rig
Fast deployment; static line for shortest jumps.
Helmet + jumpsuit
Head protection; smooth jumpsuit for aerodynamics.
Wingsuit (optional for WSBASE)
Fabric between arms + legs; extends horizontal flight; €1500-4000.
GoPro / helmet cam
Ubiquitous for jump documentation.
Static line for lowest jumps
Deploys parachute immediately without freefall for <100m jumps.
Officiating
Non-officiated typically; organized events (Bridge Day WV, World Base Race) have safety officials + timing.
- Event organizers (organized events only)
- No formal governing body
Strategies
1000+ skydives before first BASE
Community strongly recommends extensive skydiving experience (500-1000+ jumps) before BASE.
Formal BASE course mandatory
Take First BASE Course (5-7 days, $2000-4000); learn from experts.
Start with legal sites
Perrine Bridge Idaho year-round; safest 'training' location.
Never jump illegally
Illegal jumps = arrests + fines + community exile + deaths.
Weather + wind assessment
Assess winds carefully; wrong wind on cliff = death.
Community mentorship
Find experienced mentors at legal sites; learn tribal knowledge.
Understand fatality statistics
5-8% career fatality rate; every jump could kill; accept + manage risk.
Progressive skill building
Static line → freefall → wingsuit BASE; each step requires 100+ additional jumps.
Camera awareness (GoPro etc.)
Documented jumps common; can distract from safety focus.
Terminology
- BASE
- Building + Antenna + Span (bridge) + Earth (cliff) — 4 jump categories.
- BASE number
- Assigned to jumper completing all 4 categories; sequential; BASE #1 Phil Smith 1981.
- Freefall
- Brief unpowered fall before parachute deployment.
- Static line
- Parachute deploys immediately from anchor; used for lowest jumps.
- Pilot chute
- Small parachute that deploys main canopy.
- Slider
- Drag device controlling canopy opening speed.
- Wingsuit BASE / WSBASE
- Wingsuit added for horizontal flight; extended flight time.
- Proximity flying
- Wingsuit flying close to mountainside; extreme risk.
- Bridge Day WV
- Annual October legal BASE event at New River Gorge; 400+ jumpers.
- Perrine Bridge Idaho
- Year-round legal US BASE bridge; 486ft/148m.
- Lauterbrunnen Switzerland
- Deadliest BASE location; ~65 deaths since 1995.
- Kjerag Norway
- 984m cliff; famous scenic BASE location.
- Reserve parachute
- Most BASE has no reserve (insufficient time).
Major competitions
Bridge Day (New River Gorge, WV)
annual October · West Virginia, USA (largest legal BASE event; 400+ jumpers) · since 1980
World Base Race (wingsuit BASE)
annual · Kjerag, Norway (wingsuit competition) · since 2008
Red Bull Aces (formerly BASE)
occasional · various · since 2010
China Extreme Sports (Zhangjiajie)
annual · China (wingsuit + BASE) · since 2011
Where it is played
Governing bodies
No formal international federation
N/A
BASE Jumping Association (informal community)
Founded 1980 · worldwide
US Parachute Association (skydiving-related)
Founded 1961 · USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Carl Boenish (USA, 1941-1984) — Coined 'BASE'; Yosemite pioneer 1978; died Kjerag 1984
- Phil Smith (USA) — BASE #1 (completed all 4 categories 1981)
- Phil Mayfield (USA) — BASE #2 (1981)
- Jean Boenish (USA) — BASE pioneer; wife of Carl
- Dean Potter (USA, 1972-2015) — Wingsuit BASE legend; died Yosemite
- Steph Davis (USA, b. 1972) — Rock climber + BASE + wingsuit; multiple major descents
- Jeb Corliss (USA, b. 1976) — Prominent wingsuit BASE; survived 2012 Table Mountain crash
- Valery Rozov (Russia, 1965-2017) — Highest BASE jump (7220m Everest 2013); died Ama Dablam 2017
- Erich Beaud (Switzerland, 1958-2003) — Lauterbrunnen pioneer; died in Lauterbrunnen
Records
First BASE term coined
Carl Boenish — 1978 Yosemite El Capitan jumps (1978)
First all-4 BASE completion
Phil Smith (BASE #1) — 1981 (Building + Antenna + Span + Earth) (1981)
Highest BASE jump
Valery Rozov — 7220m Mt. Everest 2013 (wingsuit BASE from Everest north face) (2013)
Longest wingsuit BASE flight
Various — 3+ minutes (multiple long-flight records) (2020)
Deadliest BASE location
Lauterbrunnen Valley Switzerland — ~65+ deaths since 1995 (2024)
Estimated annual BASE deaths
Global community — ~40/year (5-8% career fatality rate for regulars) (2020)
Legal BASE jump sites
Various — Perrine Bridge Idaho (year-round), Bridge Day WV (annual), Kjerag Norway (2024)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
1000+ skydives first
Community strongly recommends extensive skydiving base (500-1000+ jumps) before BASE. 3-5 years minimum.
- 2
First BASE Course ($2000-4000, 5-7 days)
Learn from experts; introduces static line jumps.
- 3
Start at Perrine Bridge Idaho
Year-round legal; supportive community; jump alongside experienced jumpers.
intermediate
- 1
100+ BASE jumps at legal sites
Build experience gradually; static line → freefall progression.
- 2
Attend Bridge Day WV (October)
400+ jumpers; social + educational; certified expert instructors.
- 3
Cliff jumping at Kjerag or Lauterbrunnen
Scenic international destinations; requires experience.
advanced
- 1
Wingsuit BASE certification
Requires 200+ wingsuit skydives + 100+ BASE; extends jump complexity.
- 2
High-altitude BASE (Everest, Baffin)
Rozov's records; extreme risk + logistics.
- 3
Professional/sponsored jumper
Red Bull, GoPro sponsorships for elite; requires media presence + world records.
Frequently asked
What is BASE jumping?+
Extreme parachute sport — jumpers leap from FIXED OBJECTS (Buildings, Antennae, Spans/bridges, Earth/cliffs) with parachute deployment during 3-15 second freefall. Acronym B.A.S.E. coined 1978 by CARL BOENISH (Yosemite El Capitan jumps). Requires extensive skydiving experience first (500-1000+ jumps). ONE OF WORLD'S DEADLIEST SPORTS — ~40 deaths per year globally; 5-8% career fatality rate. Legal locations: Perrine Bridge Idaho (year-round), Bridge Day WV (annual), Kjerag Norway, Lauterbrunnen Switzerland (regulated). Most buildings + antennas + many cliffs are ILLEGAL.
How dangerous is BASE jumping?+
AMONG WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS SPORTS. STATS: (1) ~40 GLOBAL DEATHS/YEAR from ~5000-10000 active jumpers. (2) 5-8% career fatality rate for regular jumpers. (3) LAUTERBRUNNEN SWITZERLAND alone had ~65 deaths since 1995 (deadliest single location). CAUSES: (1) Parachute malfunction (opens wrong direction into cliff). (2) Wind + weather misjudgment. (3) Cliff strike during opening. (4) Wingsuit BASE — mountain proximity flying. (5) Bad landing zones. (6) Human error at high stakes. COMPARISON: 40× more dangerous than skydiving (0.006% per jump). RISK MANAGEMENT: 1000+ skydive experience first, formal courses, legal sites, weather care, community mentorship. Still: every jump could kill; jumpers accept + manage risk consciously.
How do I get into BASE jumping?+
STEPS (5-10 year progression typical): (1) SKYDIVING FIRST — 500-1000+ skydives (3-5 years, $30-100K). Certified USPA D-license required. (2) WINGSUIT SKYDIVING — 200+ wingsuit skydives if planning WSBASE. (3) FIRST BASE COURSE — $2000-4000, 5-7 days; expert instructors. (4) PERRINE BRIDGE IDAHO — legal year-round; ideal training. (5) 100+ BASE JUMPS gradually; static line → freefall progression. (6) CLIFF JUMPING — Kjerag Norway, Lauterbrunnen. (7) WINGSUIT BASE — 200+ BASE jumps required. TOTAL COST: $30-150K over 5-10 years. TIME: 3-5 years minimum before first BASE jump. Community will REJECT you if you skip steps.
What are the most famous BASE jumping locations?+
LEGAL YEAR-ROUND: (1) PERRINE BRIDGE, TWIN FALLS, IDAHO — 486ft/148m; only US legal year-round BASE bridge; jumpable daily. LEGAL ANNUAL: (2) BRIDGE DAY, NEW RIVER GORGE, WV — annual October event; 876ft/267m; 400+ jumpers. LEGAL REGULATED: (3) KJERAG, NORWAY — 984m cliff; scenic + jumpable summer. (4) LAUTERBRUNNEN, SWITZERLAND — Alps valley; multiple exit points; regulated + registration required; DEADLIEST location (~65 deaths since 1995). (5) BREVENT, CHAMONIX, FRANCE. (6) MONTE BRENTO, ITALY — wingsuit BASE. RECORD: (7) MOUNT EVEREST 7220m (Rozov 2013, highest ever). (8) ANGEL FALLS VENEZUELA 979m (world's tallest waterfall). ILLEGAL (celebrity attempts): Skyscrapers (Burj Khalifa illegal jumps), antennas, tall towers.
What is wingsuit BASE?+
Wingsuit BASE (WSBASE) = BASE jumping with WINGSUIT for horizontal flight before parachute deployment. WINGSUIT: fabric between arms + legs creates airfoil; extends freefall from 3-15 sec (traditional BASE) to 20-90+ SECONDS OF HORIZONTAL FLIGHT. Enables PROXIMITY FLYING (skimming close to mountainside), long-distance flights (3+ minutes possible from high launches). REQUIREMENTS: 200+ wingsuit skydives + 100+ regular BASE jumps before WSBASE. EXTREME RISK: proximity flying = seconds from cliff impact; multiple fatalities annually. FAMOUS: Dean Potter (died Yosemite 2015), Jeb Corliss (survived 2012 Table Mountain crash), Valery Rozov (died Ama Dablam 2017). Red Bull + GoPro sponsor top wingsuit BASE athletes. Considered PINNACLE OF EXTREME AVIATION SPORTS. Iconic videos of proximity flying attract millions of YouTube views but underestimate danger levels.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — BASE jumping— Wikipedia