BASE jumping is leaping from a fixed structure or cliff with a parachute, where BASE stands for the four types of launch points: Building, Antenna, Span (bridge), and Earth (cliff). Unlike skydivers who exit aircraft at high altitude with time to deploy a reserve chute if needed, BASE jumpers work with low elevations and single-canopy systems, making every jump a high-consequence commitment.
If you’re drawn to river surfing because you crave the rush of reading natural forces and committing to a wave with no backup plan, you’ll recognize the same ethos in BASE. Both sports demand intimate knowledge of your environment, …