Boat Seats Jump Seats
Athletes BASE Jumping BASE World Gather in Race in Norway
Two bridges in gear in the back of the exit ramps,
The match will ask …
Jumper's ready? "- Check
"Jumper ready B?" – Confirm
Jumpers take their position initial margin.
The match countdown begins, "5-4"
The only sign is repeated three times, Beep Beep, beep
Welcome to the World BASE Race
Imagine two men standing on wooden platforms on the edge of a cliff. Each man is dressed with what looks like a flying squirrel suit. At the signal, they jump and head the race to the finish line, deploying their parachutes and gliding to a safe landing. Mind blowing? Extraordinary? A testament to the human intestinal fortitude? innovative genius? A sporting event unlike any other in the world? If you answered "yes" for all items above, then let me introduce you to an event that PT Barnum would have billed as part of "The Greatest Show on Earth".
The World Base Race claims BASE jumping is the last competition held in a pilot suit / jumper as "The Flying World Fastest Human Being" and award the winner € 3000 as prize money. The 2009 event is composed of 32 athletes in 2750 million full bridge race, a contest in round 6. The event takes place August 12-14 Athletes who arrive during the week of August 06 to 12 jumps to warm-up/preparation. Norway-perfect image Innfjorden Romsdal arena and provides the setting for the activities after hours.
Before my interview with Brendan Nicholson, a jumper USBASE / pilot jumpsuit, will be competing in this race that year, I had an opportunity to brief Q & A with Paul Fortun.
Norwegian, Paul Fortun, director of the World Base Race acts as if the proud father of a newborn when it comes to discussing the event. He brags and hawks in a way that would make PT ol 'pride: "We have sporting events in the world's most amazing public in an arena located between the beautiful surroundings of nature itself. There is no registration fee for jumpers, or fee for spectators public. We want to make this party bigger audience for athletes and spectators. This event shows the world the kind of athletes BASE jumpers are a really exciting competition. This is a sport top qualified athletic, where you not only have to compete head to head, but performing in front of the public. All rounds have to be walked by athletes, because the winner will should be in great physical shape. "
Do you anticipate a larger audience for their time this year, since you had a year to advertise and publicize the event?
"We have a limit from 2000 to 2500 spectators, but we have a large fjord and charter boats welcome to come and enjoy the show. I hope we will see an increase in spectators, as we have seen an increase in athletes. "
The World Base Race is an event designed with spectators in mind. What type of vendors and entertainment that you have planned?
"We will have a rock band and talented young man, Ronald Nikolaisen with" Black Cat Bones "as the band World BASE Race this year. They will play on the final day of competition at the party and WBR evening. There will be a band playing soft music suitable for children under 90 years of age. This is an arena in a natural setting that we are offering a good time for any age viewer. We're not trying to copy other high profiled sports events with loud music and cool youth in the latest fashions. We hope to continue to be a public event for all. Horvli line and the local choir, and a group of local folklore Leikarringen and a race up running. The Norwegian national team with Ove Tillung paragliding and Pål Hammar Rognøy run a program for us. As well as 10 jumpers summit flying in formation with smoke. Finishing with three bridges smoke red, white and blue, representing the national colors for the opening of "The Fastest Man Flying Being the world "finale.
My goal is to raise the event one centimeter each year to the next level, take it step by step, from how the public is fascinated and takes part in the event enjoy watching Batman / Batgirl flying in the air. I believe this is the correct way to progress, making them want to come over the next year. "
Arrive at the 2009 event, the largest contingent of the bridges will be from the United States with 17 athletes. One of those 17 years, is Brendan Nicholson, age 27, a graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in Graphic Design. He spends his days working as an illustrator and animator, Department of Medical Genetics, University in which he graduated. Hailing from Salt Lake City, Brendan is a bit more reserved in their chances of reaching the podium, "I doubt that will put the race year. The level of competition will be significantly higher due to the success of the event last year. I await the day when I have more flights and wingsuit can be considered a point of veterans competing this year as Robert Pecnik Risvik and Ronny. "
Nicholson did not compete in last year's race, instead, he worked as a race starter. It was then, as he would jump and fly down following competitors using gear when tracking and Johnny Paul Björk saw a natural talent in Brendan. Paul says that the swiftness with Brendan has had to fly like cliffs difficult. I asked Paul Fortun that he was eager to attend, he said unequivocally: "I am particularly excited to see how Brendan Nicholson, Salt Lake City, Utah, just in this year's competition. When asked about his assessment Brendan, he credits his 11 years in Ski jumping Nordic for the early development of the pilot in the world overall. Declaring: "I like to crawl over because it has more freedom."
I asked the athelete Young as he approached "Race" another individual, usually when BASE jumping is not about "winning"? "Base has a long history competition early precision meets the World BASE Race. The smallest, largest, longest jumps are all know that the whole community of BASE jumpers because of the competitive nature between us. Each of the athletes of the World Base Race is so experienced in flight 'racing' in wingsuits is as easy as 'race' to refrigerator for the last beer. If you have questions about the psychological pressures of 'race' then it is better to wait until you are mentally prepared ahead of competitors. "
As for his philosophy of BASE jumping, "where he lived to see the next jump. While it may be fun for burn it down or flying near the wall, you should weigh that against all experience experiences future jump. It is more than 10 meters really worth losing hundreds experiences more impressive? "The jump that stands out in your mind," Clearing the edge on "Karl Big Mountain Cliff" (imperfect translation English Norwegian). This wall is where BASE jumping has become mountain flying and it was amazing to relive the experience that the transition form falling to flying. There a point where you must decide whether to pull or try to clean the edge and that security in their own skills is gratifying. "
We discussed how it felt BASE jumping is a "sport", "stunt" or "hobby" and that led to the World BASE Race. "I think it's different for each person and even change over time for that person. When I got was a lifestyle that consumes everything. Every word out of my mouth was on the base and every thought in my head was about where I was going to get my next dose. Now I try to find a balance between BASE, skiing, climbing, work and personal relationships, therefore, probably the field of sport for me. Some jumps are double, like when I jump out of money and sometimes out of my comfort zone. Many jumps do not have much skill and looks ridiculous to call them sport sports truth is out there. Hobby sounds a lot like needlepoint. "
"For me, the attraction for the World Racing Base is an opportunity to meet and cavort with the best mountain riders in the world. The event itself is very casual, with walking and talking together. The exchange of ideas and experience is as nothing, because only Romsdal could get this caliber of talent from all corners of the globe. The idea of human flight safer with superior performance is what attracts me to come and learn form the best. "
Besides the race, actually, what you like about the event? "The World BASE Race is an opportunity to meet with the best riders in the best mountain playground of the world. Fifty other walls in the region and to explore numerous ways to make the terrain. I love meeting new people and learn their approach to the sport. The barbecues are also impressive, given the nature of the organic and fresh food. "
Brendan technical training in preparation for the race in Norway, while it does not have the luxury of taking advantage of jumping there regularly, "I fly wingsuits out of plans as far as I can afford and skip some of the biggest cliffs legal in my area. Mountain flying has much in common with many other sports of gravity, such as mountain biking and downhill skiing. Flight of a pre-determined line is equal to carving through the snow, from planning to execution of a perfectly balanced and sculpting. "
His mentally prepared for a leap may seem a bit unusual for an outsider, but remains effective for him. "I have mild OCD so I need much repetition and physical touch to feel ready to jump. I'll play my buckles 20 times more, see my brake routing 10 times and repack my parachute before jumping almost every day. Also, I try to remember what a perfect way to feel like before I can repeat that the next jump. This includes views closed eyes and body movements simulated. "His last thought before you leap," There's a real void in thinking right before you leave. I'm trying to concentrate only in my body is telling me so I can leave without problems and set me flying. "
In response to my question "In your opinion, would a piece of an event in the U.S. if it could be done legally, you think it would help with the basic perception by the general public? "He offered these thoughts: "Yes, I think it would be a good way to introduce mountain flying to the American public. The popularity of the clip Matchstick Production of" Seven Sunny Days "proves that people are fascinated with mountain flying and I think that a U.S. BASED Race would fit well with something like X-Games. Bridge Day draws over 200,000 and people think the interest in mountain flying would be even greater. Paul has formatted the World BASE Race is very spectator friendly and also imposed a strict security protocol, which resulted in zero incidents last year. "
I asked him what he felt his contribution to the base was during his short career in the sport, his answer once again showed his humble nature, "So far I have contributed very little. I'd like to help Paul with the World BASE Race and showing the world that the sport of Base can have a competition, spectator-friendly insurance. I'm always trying to be an ambassador for the sport in the hope that it will be accepted in the United States as a valid of outdoor experience. "
Brendan favorite object to jump, "Big cliffs are high on the list. I love walking and exploring new places and beautiful mountains fly is just a logical extension of that. Building come in a close second due to the factor of James Bond sneaking along with the thrill of a flight technician. "
How many times did he jump? "I made 100 jumps in my first year. Now I try to savor them a bit more and just jump twice a month. During my vacation I'm going to Norway to jump two or three times a day for about a month. "
It got its number of bases jump around 50, but only applies to the basic card after about 100 jumps. Brendan had recorded only about 100 skydives began when BASE jumping. He says: "I I would have 500 skydives. I often wish that this right before I hit something hard that I could have easily avoided with more experience. "He attended Tom Aiello "Free Deathcamp" in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he made 40 jumps in about 8 days. Claiming to have "learned almost everything that can be taught to a young male and dumb. "He still jumps with his mentor, Skyler Beck, from time to time and watch it every week. The best advice of his mentor Beck, gave him:" He told me: " Do not be a "dummy. I took it to say, slow and see for yourself. This has proven to be good advice. When I arrived in Mountain Flying more I was also guided by Norwegian pilots who gave me very similar advice. "
I asked Brendan if he would consider being a mentor, "I think mentoring is one of the best things you can do to advance the sport of base jumping. It is a very time consuming activity and requires a lot of medicine for ulcer. Once the student has left the object you can not do anything to save them, then you need to teach it well. "He continues to point out what he feels is the biggest mistake of jumper's new brand," BASE jumping is ridiculously easy, so a false sense of security usually appears around the jump number 10. The problem is you have to run everything perfectly the first time, no second chances. Things go awry when only about three hundred jumps so it's very easy to let your guard down and call an expert. It is important to always be afraid. Once you stop being afraid, you become complacent and 180 degrees out of position just everything. The most important part the advice he has for new jumpers, "Slow down and be conservative. Build your skills over time. It sounds hypocritical to say this, but time and money spent going slow, pale in comparison to the friendships that you can lose. "
Brendan will be a student base and to absorb as much information as you can every connection he makes the bridges within the community is exemplified in his famous answer to "What is the most bonehead thing you've made the jump?" question. His answer: "Stay at the base without total control of my canopy flying. I liked to jump down objects, or removing large objects from low because I did not know how to make a standard or sink my canopy. Fortunately, I hurt myself before I learned these skills that I still have much to learn. "
The Nicholson Family take their participation in the base can be summarized as "cautious support". "My parents are concerned when I show my videos, but also like to show them to your friends later. My brother wants to know when I'm thinking about quitting. My grandfather is the most outspoken, saying, "Okay, you've proven have balls of brass, now stop. "They met my friends, who later died jumping, but also know how much joy it brings me. My girlfriend, Elizabeth Brand, an emergency medical room in Salt Lake City, Utah, will start this year's World BASE Race. She is very supportive of my jump / flight suit itself has 80 and is skydives looking forward to not having to walk down after you escort me to the edge. "
So when he wants to give up everything, if any moment, "When my ego gets in the back seat of my responsibilities. I hope what happens when I have a wife and son. I think the walls can be jumped with an acceptable amount of risk, but I may reconsider. "
What attracted this joint, talented, confident, yet humble young man to Sport Base? "Mountain flying is the closest humans have personal flying. From one day to learn to jump, I looked forward to when I could make a wingsuit through the mountains. "
In six short days, Brendan will be on top of the mountain, standing at the edge of that heart pounding wooden plank, as he hears the starter's signal to the voice, within seconds of a race toward the finish line in the air below, before safely deploying his parachute and glide to the ground in hopes that he won the race, only to climb the mountain again to face the next opponent, until finally there is only one that can claim the title of "World's Fastest Flying Human Being."
Word to the world all the other BASE Race competitors, "It always calm, polite you have to be careful, in other words, keep your eye on the kid's unpretentious American. "
Brendan Nicholson
Age: 27
Status: In a Relationship
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Children: None
Education: BFA in Graphic Arts, University of Utah
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Go 1 Year: 2007
Wingsuit: Phoenix-Fly Shadow (prototypes) and Phoenix-Fly Tracking Suit
Container: Gargoyle Hybrid and L / D +
Canopy: Blackjack and Trango
Occupation: Medical Illustrator
BASE Number: 1295
Nickname: McSquirrel Curls
Five Random Facts About Brendan This could be classified as weird, strange or different
I could ski (snow) before I could walk.
I have found elastane for the perfect climbing clothing.
I can not pack my luck no 13 staples.
I'm not Mormon, but I live in Utah.
I did not learn to drive until my twenties.
BASE jumping is a sport that uses a parachute to jump from objects fixed. Wingsuit pilots employ both a jumpsuit and parachute jumping from fixed objects.
"Base" is an acronym that stands for the four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump:
B uilding
The ntenna
S pan
E arth
BASE jumping is an extreme sport that can result in injury or death to its participants. Interested parties are advised to follow a training and proper orientation before attempting to BASE jump.
BASE The figures are requested from the U.S. BASE Association.
See more information and updates @ title = "World BASE Race www.worldbaserace.com>
About the Author
Cynthia Lynn lives in Chicago, Illinois were she works as a Freelance writer of short story’s and profile interviews covering a wide range of topics and personalities.
2004 Trophy 2002 Walk Around by Marine Connection Boat Sales, WE EXPORT!
