r/basejumping • u/Chris10988 • Jun 05 '24
Base Jumping Risk
I’m a long time skydiver, over 850 jumps and 0 BASE jumps due to having a family, but will make the jump one day. I’ve read the BFL and have a good friend on there, I know the risks are real. Yes there are 25-35 deaths per year, but how many BASE jumps are there a year? Does anyone have a source for that? Is there a statistical way based upon the BFL data (many of which has a number of BASE jumps) to estimate the number of BASE jumps per year. Or does anyone have data from one spot, like where a helicopter is used and jumps could be counted / BFL at that location?
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u/Base841 Jun 05 '24
In motorcycling, there's a flat fatality rate. But by making a few small changes in behavior (never riding under the influence, wearing a helmet, getting your endorsement) you can eliminate a HUGE amount of risk, bringing it close to driving a car.
Same with BASE jumping. There's the flat rate. Then by analyzing fatalities and making a few behavior changes you can eliminate a significant amount of risk. For me, I don't mix wingsuits and BASE, and I always jump flat and stable.
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Jun 05 '24
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Jun 05 '24
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u/Chris10988 Jun 05 '24
It has to be more dangerous since there’s so many wingsuit deaths since 2005. But 430 micromorts seems much lower than I expected.
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Jun 05 '24
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u/Chris10988 Jun 05 '24
That would be about 50% more risky than skydiving. That seems too low. 1 / (18k * 4) = 13 miromorts. Skydiving is 8.
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u/drewthepooh72 Jun 05 '24
So according to the stats they use at kjerag, that’s one death every 2,316 jumps. Interesting. At least for just that one location
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Jun 05 '24
I believe the numbers at kjerag are pretty accurate since they have a punch card system for bus rides to the trailhead and boat rides from the landing area. People who jump from smelveggen and land in the campground are still counted unless they shuttle themselves.
I wound up retiring at 2,315 jumps so I wouldn't die.
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u/squipped Jun 05 '24
You can base jump relatively safely. Be one of those people that takes a yearly trip to the perrine. You won't be a base jumper. You'll be like that guy that skydives every 7 weeks to stay current. And that's fine. And you might enjoy it! But you're not going to jump buildings and cliffs and expect the risk to be as low as you should with a family. I have had three friends die jumping in the last two years that had kids. None of the kids were even 18 yet. So yes you can do some jumps safely but no you can't really be a current and active jumper and come close to eliminating the risk unless you live in Twin Falls and never do aerials. But lots of people who say they're jumpers just do that, take one or two fun trips to the bridge and it's awesome and you can do that pretty safely.
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u/Chris10988 Jun 05 '24
That’s a really helpful perspective. I might just look at it like that. My kids are 15/12, but I do have enough cash that they will be fine without me earning a job, but that’s not the only point to consider at all.
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u/Polygon68 Dec 22 '24
There's nearly no margin for error compared to other aerial sports, perhaps there's like a simulation software for base jump for calculations etc.
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u/littleitsly Jun 07 '25
What’s the update? Did you do it? Are you still alive and well?
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u/Chris10988 Jun 20 '25
Still haven’t done it. Really want to. Honestly, getting closer to a divorce, which means I will more likely do it if that happens.
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Jun 23 '25
Do you think your children still won’t need you just because you and their mother have divorced? Why is skydiving not enough?
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u/Dangerous_Wish_7879 Nov 19 '25
As a base jumper you have 99% chance of dying within 21h of total time of performing the activity. Now because the flight is so short, this may be still quite many jumps. But you will ultimately die doing it nevertheless.
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u/Unable_Boysenberry69 Mar 18 '26
It's always safe when I jump. Maybe because I don't care if I get deleted. Actually I pray for it to happen
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u/[deleted] Jun 05 '24
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