Want to learn what it takes to get into BASE jumping? I have no interest in trying this sport myself, but am fascinated with the men and women who do it. That's why this video was so interesting, as it gives us insights into the basics of BASE jumping from someone who is a trailblazer in this activity. Espen Fadnes is a Norwegian jumper and wingsuit pilot who also happens to be a backcountry skier, climber, and more. He has even helped develop some of the equipment and skills that are used in the sport today. In this clip, he describes everything you need to know if you want to join in on the action.
BASE Jumping 101 | Espen Fadnes from Negative4 Productions on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label Wingsuits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wingsuits. Show all posts
Outside Presents 8 Adventurers Who Changed the World
As you can imagine, the list is filled with distinguished and very worthy outdoor athletes, some of which have become household names. There are also several whose exploits we cover regularly here at The Adventure Blog as well, including the likes of Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, and Jeb Corliss. Beyond that, I won't say too much about who else earned a spot on Outside's list, but it is safe to say that there are some true legends here.
Narrowing down the list of iconic adventurers to just 8 couldn't have been easy. Personally, I can think of at least a half-dozen other men and women I would have put on here in addition to the ones that are named. But, it is safe to say that these athletes have certainly had an impact on the world of outdoor adventure, breaking new ground in their various fields of endeavor while also pushing boundaries in ways that we may not have ever considered before.
To read the entire article and find out who made the list – and why – click here.
Video: Watch Two Wingsuit Pilots Fly Into an Aircraft
Over the year's we've seen plenty of wingsuit pilots leap out of aircraft to make their flights, but this is the exact opposite. In this clip, two BASE jumpers leap off of the Jungfrau in Switzerland and then fly alongside a small plane before landing inside. It definitely has to be seen to be believed.
BASE Jumper Valery Rozov Dies on Ama Dablam in Nepal
According to reports, Rozov was in Nepal to train for a potential BASE jump from the summit of Mt. Everest. He had been working on a project in which he would leap off each of the Seven Summits and glide back to Earth using a wingsuit. To accomplish his goal of flying from the world's tallest mountain, he was first training on Ama Dablam, a 6812 meter (22,349 ft) peak in the Khumbu Valley.
Exactly what went wrong on this jump is not yet clear. Rozov did climb the mountain, and made his leap, but something went terribly wrong on the descent and he crashed into the side of the mountain, striking a cliff, and losing his life instantly. His body was later recovered and airlifted back to Kathmandu. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Rozov was known in the wingsuit community as someone who pushed the envelope in terms of high altitude flights. He had made record setting jumps from Changtse and Cho Oyu as he worked towards his goal of summiting Everest and flying from the highest point on the planet. He was an inspiration to many fellow BASE jumpers, and yet remained humble and modest about his accomplishments. He held the honor of making the highest wingsuit flights, as well as becoming the first to fly into an active volcano.
My condolences go out to Valery's friends and family during this difficult time.
Video: Airspace - Wingsuit Flying and BASE Jumping in Norway
We've seen some really interesting and beautiful videos shot in Norway over the years, but this one gives us a completely different look at the landscapes found there. In this clip we'll take to the skies with a team of wingsuit pilots and BASE jumpers, who captured some amazing footage throughout their flights. I still think this is a sport I'd never want to try, but I definitely appreciate the spectacular footage these men and women capture while in the air.
Airspace - Norway - A wingsuit BASE odyssé from Staffan Holmström - Oxydive on Vimeo.
Video: Wingsuiters Fly Incredibly Close To The Ground
Just how close can a wingsuit pilot fly to the ground? That seems to be the question on a lot of people's minds these days. This video gives us a frightening look at how far some are willing to push the envelope. It shows Brian Drake flying off the top of the ENSA Couloir near Chamonix, France and zipping down a gully just a few meters off the ground. Harrowing was the word that came to mind while I watched this.
Thanks to EpicTV for sharing.
Thanks to EpicTV for sharing.
Video: 61 Wingsuit Pilots Take Flight Together
Recently, 61 wingsuit pilots took flight over Perris, California to set a world record for the most people in such a formation. This video captured that moment in beautiful fashion, as these men and women drifted effortlessly through the air. Quite an impressive sight to see indeed.
Video: When We Were Knights - A Story of Friendship, Love, and Wingsuits
Last summer, Base Jumper and wingsuit pilot Ian Flanders died while jumping in Turkey. When he passed, he left behind a letter to his friend Matt Blank expressing his love for the life they lived and the adventure they had together. This video is a visual translation of that letter that includes some incredible footage of the two men jumping and flying together. It is a reminder to do the things we love and pursue our passions, but also let those around us know just how much they mean to us too.
Video: Wingsuit Pilot Flies Through a Ring of Fire
The title for this one pretty much says it all. Wingsuit pilot Uli Emanuele proves his skill by flying through a ring of fire at high speed. As you can imagine, this looks as crazy in motion as it sounds. Definitely don't try this at home folks.
Video: Wingsuit Flight Past Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil
A few weeks back I shared a preview video of wingsuit pilots preparing to attempt a flight past the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While intriguing, that clip didn't give us the full story, and left us wanting more. Now, we have the full video, allowing us to get the whole story of Jamie Flynn's Rio flight. Check it out below.
Video: Adventure Highlights From 2015
Now that 2015 is squarely behind us, we can look back at the year that has passed an think about some of the amazing adventures that took place over the course of those 12 months. There were some amazing expeditions, challenges, and accomplishments for sure. In this video, Redbull reviews their own very adventurous year with some great clips of climbing, BASE jumping, mountain biking, and so much more. It is a good video retrospective of some of our favorite activities. Here's to another adventurous year in 2016!
Video: Wingsuits Over Alaska
Considering I just returned from Alaska, this video seemed like a fitting one to share. It features a team of wingsuit pilots that traveled to the 49th state to check out all of the opportunities that it has to offer in terms of BASE jumping and wingsuit flying. The clip features plenty of levity to go along with the great scenery, which gives it a sense of fun that you don't always find in these videos. But the real star of the show is Alaska itself, a place that is simply stunning in scope and beauty.
Alaska! from squirrel on Vimeo.
Video: Night Time Wingsuit Flight Paints A Vivid Picture
There is no question that wingsuit pilots continue to push the limits of what is possible in the air. But this video takes things in a new direction. The pilot makes a night time flight that doesn't offer much in the way of scenery at first, but delivers a payoff with an excellent timelapse image in the end. It is a good example of what a little imagination and creativity can deliver as he uses a flare to dramatic effect.
Video: BASE Jumper Completes First Wingsuit High-Five
Wingsuit pilots continue to come up with some great stunts to add to their repertoire. In this video, we see one complete the first flying high-five in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the Project: BASE, an organization whose motto is "Human Flights for Human Rights." The organization is looking to raise funds for charitable endeavors, although looking at their website, it really isn't clear exactly what those endeavors entail. Still, they make a mean looking video, as you'll see below.
Video: One Way Ticket - Wingsuit Flying in Europe
We have another excellent wingsuit video today, this time coming from filmmaker David Walden, who put together this creative short-film on his adventure BASE jumping and flying in Europe. It includes some beautiful shots of course, intermixed with his travels along the way.
One way ticket from David Walden on Vimeo.
Video: Wingsuit Pilot on Close Proximity Flight
It has been awhile since we've seen a really good wingsuit flight video. This one doesn't give us any shots of pilot Darren Burke, but instead gives us a good point-of-view perspective as he sails through the air. At first, it just features some nice images of a quiet flight, but at about the 45-second mark, Burke flies incredibly close to the ground, as we follow him on his descent. It is an adrenaline-inducing piece of work that will probably leave you feeling happy you're just watching it on video.
Video: BASE Jumper Completes 49 Jumps in 19 Days
BASE jumper and wingsuit pilot Ian McIntosh traveled to France and Switzerland recently, where he was able to complete an astounding 49 jumps in just 19 days. The video below captures some of the action, as well as some of the other hijinks that occurred along the way. The best shots from the jumps come near the end of the video, but it looks like the entire trip was amazing.
Video: Meet The Red Bull Air Force
Over the years, Red Bull has become synonymous with adventure and action sports. The company sponsors some major mountain biking, paddling, and running events, and has a seemingly ever-growing stable of athletes. In the video below, we meet the members of the Red Bull Air Force, a group of BASE jumpers and wingsuit pilots who are pushing the limits on what humans are capable of in the air. The video is filled with amazing shots of these guys doing what they do best, flying through the air at breakneck speeds, and pulling off some unbelievable stunts in the process. Warning: May induce adrenaline overload.
Video: Wingsuits Over New York City
Often times when we get a video of wingsuit pilots flying through the air, they are doing so in some lovely, remote mountain locations. That certainly isn't the case here, as a team of wingsuiters zip over New York City, before attempting to land on a barge floating in the Hudson River. This may have been filmed in an urban setting, but the sport still looks exhilarating none the less.
Video: Wingsuit Pilot Flies Through Waterfall
This short, but sweet, video was shot by wingsuit pilot James Russell, who made the jump from a Via Ferratta in Switzerland, then proceeded to fly town the side of a mountain, directly through a waterfall. To say the view is pretty spectacular would be an understatement.