Posts Tagged ‘extreme sports’

So, you want to BASE jump the New River Gorge Bridge?

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Maybe you’ve been a BASE jumper for awhile and the New River Gorge Bridge is on your jump list.  Maybe you’re an avid skydiver and looking for another way to get your rush. Or maybe you just showed up at Bridge Day this year and saw that an 82-year old man had jumped and thought you could do it too.

Whatever your reason, BASE jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge is an epic feat.  Depending on your experience level, there are some guidelines you’ll need to follow to get to the point where you can actually make the leap.

Experienced Jumpers

If you are already a BASE jumper or a skydiver, you may think this means you can just show up and jump. This is not quite the case. There are some requirements you must meet in order to jump at Bridge Day.

First of all, you need at least 100 parachute jumps (BASE  jumps and/or skydives), and at least one of those has to have been in the last two years prior to the event.

Tandem BASE Jumping at Bridge Day

First time BASE jumpers must attend a BASE jump training event prior to their jump. There are several opportunities to get this training.

You must have BASE jump-specific or approved skydiving equipment and need to make sure your stuff qualifies before registering and paying for your slot.

Unexperienced Jumpers

If you’ve never jumped before, you have a fairly long road ahead to get the required number of jumps before Bridge Day 2012. The bright side?  In 100 jumps you’ll probably realize whether or not jumping off an 876 foot tall bridge is for you. Plus you will have developed a pretty exciting hobby.

There is another way you can experience a BASE jump off the Bridge without going to all that effort. For the first time ever, the 2011 Bridge Day offered tandem BASE jumps.  Only 10 tandem jumps were available; stay posted on what might be offered in 2012.

The tandem jump isn’t cheap, but compared to the amount you’d spend to get your 100 parachute jumps in, its a steal. As long as you have an adventurous spirit and meet a couple of other small requirements, it’s safe to say that you’re going to have the ride of your life.

So, are you planning to jump in 2012?

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B.A.S.E. Jumping on Bridge Day: An Expert Tells All

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

One of the biggest draws for the Bridge Day crowd are the BASE jumpers.  Anyone who has ever watched these thrill seekers launch themselves towards the rocks and water waiting a mere 880 feet below wonders, “What makes these people do this?”.

Well, we found the answer to that question, and a few others, when we chatted with Jason Bell of Vertical Visions.  Vertical Visions is a parachuting and BASE jumping company in Bridgeport, WV and this is its tenth year as the Bridge Day BASE coordinators.  Owner Jason and his partner Bill Bird are the co-organizers and both have extensive skydiving and BASE jumping experience.

Jason and his wife, Jennifer

Jason is originally from Morgantown and has a Mechanical Engineering background.  It was at WVU where his passion for jumping out of and off of things was spawned.

It didn’t take Jason long to become an experienced skydiver.  After only one year and 150 jumps, he trekked down I-79 and Rt 19 for his first Bridge Day BASE jump.  Jason was kind enough to take a moment out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge.

How many years have you been BASE jumping now?

18 years, which is nearly half my life.

How many BASE jumps do you have total?

I stopped counting around 7 years ago after I reached 500 BASE jumps.  It’s exciting to quantify jumps when you first start, but it became time consuming and unimportant.

How many of those jumps are off the New River Gorge Bridge?


I’ve got 100+ jumps off the New River Gorge Bridge over the years.  This bridge is an amazingly safe object and hopefully jumpers will get to legally leap from the catwalk outside of Bridge Day in the near future.

How was your first Bridge Day experience?

I waited in line for over 5 hours to jump, but enjoyed every minute of the adventure.

What makes jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge so exciting/scary?


We BASE jump entirely because it’s scary.  After 18 years of jumping, I still get butterflies at the exit point.  The New River Gorge Bridge is one of the tallest bridges in the USA, which makes it an ideal location for safe BASE jumps.  As a mechanical engineer, I can also appreciate the structural beauty of this bridge.

Tomorrow, our interview with Jason continues…

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Another Extreme Sport Comes to the Gorge

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Whitewater rafting, ziplining, rock climbing – and now the sky’s the limit.  Yep. You heard it here first; skydiving is officially coming to the New River Gorge.

Two new outfitters are now in operation.  Tristate Skydivers and WV Skydivers are both operating with new drop zones for skydiving.

Are you ready to skydive in the Gorge?

Tristate Skydiving and Larry Lemaster are names that are known in the Gorge for parachutes and BASE jumping.  Larry and his team have assisted with Bridge Day for the past two years and have worked to train others in the sport.  Tristate’s location at the New River Gorge Airport was always his Bridge Day home; it’s now the permanent home for his second parachuting business. Tristate Skydiving also has a location near Huntington.

WV Skydivers is operating its new business from the Fayetteville Airport; this is its second operation in WV.  Skydiving from this airport is now yet another aviation activity at the facility, which already offers biplane and helicopter rides.  Ralph Osborne and his staff also offer a full service campground for those who want to experience everything that’s happening on-site.

Both businesses look forward to introducing the sport to tourists and locals this season.  And we’re pretty stoked too.

Are you gonna give it a try?

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What You’ll See On Bridge Day

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
The Bridge Catwalk

The Bridge Catwalk

Bridge Day is West Virginia’s biggest festival.  There’s a reason for that.

People can come to Bridge Day expecting to see things that, really, just aren’t assembled anywhere else.  And, some stuff that you will.  The old favorites.

Here’s a bit of an overview of both…

The big attraction is, of course, the world’s largest BASE jumping festival.  BASE, if you don’t know, stands for Building Antenna Span and Earth.  Those are the 4 catagories of fixed objects that people parachute from in the sport.

The basic setup goes like this: The bridge is open only to pedestrian traffic during the event.  Right in the middle of the span is a large platform- the launch ramp.

Jumpers are lined up around the launch ramp with thousands of spectators around to watch.  The atmosphere is pretty exciting.  After all, these people are about to leap from an 876 foot high bridge.

And then they jump.  One after the other.

Bright parachutes, rescue boats in the river below, and a hot landing zone are all par for the course while the festival is going on.  The jumpers go pretty much non-stop through out the day.

On the southern side of the bridge, 800 foot long ropes are visible, hanging down below the arch.  This is where the rappellers are rigged up and ready.

Rapellers actually kick off Bridge Day by raising the U.S., West Virginia, and this year, National Park Service flags up the ropes closest to the center of the bridge.

Vendors always help to make for a great festival.  But the ones at Bridge Day are… a little different.  Not only will you find eats of all stripes, but there are crafts vendors, musicians, and lots of artisans, as well.

The vendor area is just off the bridge on both the north and the south sides.

You’ll also see a lot going on in downtown Fayetteville.  The shops run specials all weekend, and you can shop for outdoor gear, art, clothes, and music.  After the festival, expect to find plenty of people um in town at the 1st annual Bridge Day Chili Festival.

The bridge is a one-of-a-kind place, and Bridge Day is a celebration to match.  If you’ve never been, you’re going to see a lot more than you’re used to.

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Why Is Bridge Day Awesome For First Time BASE Jumpers?

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Why Is Bridge Day Awesome For First Time BASE Jumpers?

‘Cause it’s in West Virginia?

Nice to know they're down there

Nice to know they're down there

Well, sure, there’s some hometown pride there, but there are other reasons, too.  I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the things that get a person ready for their 1st BASE jump, and why so many people come to Bridge Day in the New River Gorge to do it…

First off, there are two first-timer intro courses offered at the event itself.   Both courses are offered right here in Fayette County by instructors from the Snake River BASE Academy.

One is a four day long workshop that covers Bridge Day from A to Z.  The other is a specialized 6 to 8 hour run-down of all the essential training necessary for a great 1st jump.

Taking one of the courses is a requirement for first time jumpers at Bridge Day, unless they’ve been trained by an approved mentor.  Mentors have to have over 100 BASE jumps as well as previous Bridge Day experience.

All that speaks to just how in touch and safety oriented the BASE jumping community surrounding Bridge Day is.  With only 6 hours each year for bridge based jumps, the participants are very keyed-in to what makes a great event greater.  And that’s safety.

Bridge Day jump coordinators Vertical Visions have mapped out all the requirements for first timers in a FAQ that has pretty much everything you could want to know if you’re considering a jump.

First timers can’t register for Bridge Day without having at least 100 other parachute jumps (skydive or BASE).  That’s a good start to the experience needed to jump off the bridge.

And do you need to have gone skydiving before BASE jumping?  Well, let’s just say that it’s a really, really, very, extremely good idea.  Why?  Because BASE jumping without knowing how to skydive first is stupid :-)

I think we can all agree with the logic there.

There’s one more great reason for first time BASE jumpers to chose Bridge Day:  The New River.  The gorge is lined with trees and boulders, and the actual landing zone is room enough for seasoned veterans, but a river landing for a first timer is a great option.

Why?  Because the water is soft, and, as far as being a target, it’s easy to hit.  Oh, and the river is full of what might be the most experienced river rescue team in the world.  It’s said that the folks in the boats below the bridge on Bridge Day can get a jumper from the water before their head gets wet.

I’m sure there’s some truth to that, in most cases.  But what it really means goes back to the whole reason Bridge Day is good for first timers in the first place:  Safety.

Anyone out there going for their 1st jump at Bridge Day?  Share your thoughts with us in the comments…

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What You Need To Know About The Weather On Bridge Day

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Bridge Day happens rain or shine.  Or clouds.  Or cold.  Or whatever.

West Virginia’s largest festival wouldn’t let a little thing like weather get in the way, and this Saturday (October 17th 2009) there will be a 100% chance of some kind of weather.  So come prepared.

The BASE  jumpers?  They’re already prepared.  Short of very strong winds, which are pretty rare in the New River Gorge, jumpers can jump.  On Bridge Day, BASE jumpers use their experience and the combined experience of their community to determine when it’s safe to leap.

Weather is a concern, and delays can happen.  But Bridge Day BASE jumping has never -NEVER- been canceled due to weather.

For the 90-whatever % of us who aren’t jumping, the weather’s also a concern.  Here are some tips for proper Bridge Day weather-ization :-)

  • Dress Warm and Waterproof-  As the old saying goes, “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”   Bring jackets and raingear so you can be comfortable during the event.
  • Layer Up-  The best method of heat retention is to wear multiple layers of clothing.  On the  plus side:  if you get too warm, you can shed layers to adjust.
  • Wear A Hat-  Mom was right.  Always bring a warm hat that covers your ears to help keep that warmth inside.  A warm scaf, balaclava, or neck gaiter to go along with the hat is even more helpful.
  • Cotton Bad, Synthetic Good-  I love cotton.  Unless it’s wet and cold.  That’s because cotton is a terrible insulator once it gets wet.  That big ‘ol hoody sweatshirt?  Once it gets wet, it’s going to make you cold.
  • Plan Ahead-  There are no backpacks allowed out on the bridge during bridge day.  Make sure that you’re wearing what you need to stay warm if it’s cold out, and leave the backpacks behind.
  • Use your head-  If you’re out on the bridge and the weather is starting to get to you, find some shelter.  Grab a hot drink.  Go warm up.  It’s much easier to prevent hypothermia from happening (dangerous loss of body heat) than to fix it once it happens.

Bridge Day is always the 3rd Saturday in October.  So we always have to factor in weather for the event.  It’s just a part of it.  Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not, but it’s always there.

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Motorcycles? Safety? Bridge Day? You Bet

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Bridge Day 2009.  What a great day to be in Southern West Virginia.

Like this, but on the New River Gorge Bridge

Like this, but on the New River Gorge Bridge

The state’s largest one day festival is an absolute blast, and if you haven’t been to the festival, you don’t know what you’re missing. With arts, crafts, food, rappelling, high line rides, fall foliage, and plenty of BASE jumpers, the Bridge Day is not to be missed.

This is the one day during the year that you can walk on the Western Hemisphere’s largest single arch bridge, and take in the view of the New River Gorge. Fall colors are at their peak, and the bridge offers a wonderful vista over one of the world’s oldest places.

This Bridge Day is also the Second Annual West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program Ride. This ride is to promote more awareness of motorcycles on the highways and safe interaction with other motor vehicles.

As motorcycle ridership has increased, so have accidents. There is a need to make all motorists aware of motorcycles and to watch closely for them during the riding season, which runs April through November.

The ride will be held on Saturday October 17 at 10 am (Bridge Day). Riders will meet at Songer Whitewater in Hico and travel south on Rt 19 across the bridge then, following Rt 16 North and Rt 60 East, back to Hico. This route crosses the New River and the bridge to highlight motorcycles on the highways to a large number of motorists attending Bridge Day.

The route also offers riders a scenic route through Southern West Virginia with views of the gorge and the fall colors. Riders will then have time to return to the bridge to enjoy the festivities.

While registration has closed for this year, we do want people to know that this is an ongoing event.  If you ride, but aren’t registered, you can still watch for us to come rolling across the bridge, right in the middle of all the action.

If you ride a bike and would like to participate in the ride in 2010, check the website for details. If you have not been to Bridge Day, make plans to do so. You won’t be disappointed!

Special Guest Post By:

Len Hanger over at Songer Whitewater, he helps organize the annual Bridge Day Motorcycle safety awareness ride.

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10 Alternate Names For Bridge Day

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

What’s Bridge Day?  The short answer is it’s the largest festival in West Virginia.

But it’s more than that, really.  Just saying “the largest festival…” leaves out the whole community feel of it.  The tradition.  The adrenaline.

Maybe if there were some more names for it, it would help describe everything that goes down…

  • “Y’all Are Crazy” Day- The big draw, of course, is BASE jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge.  If you don’t know, BASE is parachuting from a fixed object- in this case, a bridge.  A spectacle.
  • “I Can’t Eat Any More… Well, Okay” Day If there’s one thing you’ll find everywhere at Bridge Day, it’s food.  From the Pancake Breakfast in the morning to the Chili Cookoff that night, (and all day long, too) there’s plenty of grub.
  • “This Place Is Awesome” Day When you see the big crowd, and the jumpers, and the rafters and kayakers below, and the fall colors, all from this engineering marvel of a bridge, this is exactly what you’ll think.  Promise.
  • “I Do Need Some Art” Day We’re lucky to have some of the most talented artisans in the state come and set up shop.  Almost anywhere you go on Bridge day, there’s great art for browsing and for sale.
  • “We Need To Stay Another Day” Day There is no way to do everything you’d like to do in the New River Gorge in a day.  Rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, ATVs, paintball, rafting, kayaking, and on and on.  Sorry about that.
  • “I Should Get A Motorcycle” Day It probably helps that Weest Virginia has more CRPC  (Curvy Roads Per Capita) than any other state.  Whatever it is, Bridge Day draws tons of bikes.
  • “I’ve Got To Show My Friends This” Day This year -the 30th anniversary- Bridge Day is full connected, online, and mobile. Text bd30 to 77007 to find out everything, and tag the stuff you share with #bridgeday or #bd30.
  • “I Could Get Used To This” Day The New River Gorge is the world’s greatest backyard, basically.  People move to this part of the Mountain State to turn life into serious play.
  • “Fat Guy With A Funnel Cake” Day Self-explanitory.
  • “We’re Definitely Doing This Again Next Year” Day If we renamed the festival after the phrase most often overhead at Bridge Day, this would be it.

It’s a lot of things.  More than anything, it’s fun.  And who are we to try to define fun, anyway?  We’ll just stick with Bridge Day.

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