| Two jumpers in gear at the back of the exit ramps, | | | | as mountain biking and downhill skiing. Flying a |
| The starter will ask... | | | | predetermined line is just like carving through the snow, |
| "Jumper A ready?" - confirm | | | | from planning to execution of a perfectly balanced |
| "Jumper B ready?" - confirm | | | | carve." |
| Jumpers take your starting position at the edge. | | | | His mentally preparation for a jump may seem a bit |
| The starter begins countdown, "5 - 4" | | | | unusual to an outsider, but remains effective for him. "I |
| A single signal is repeated 3 times, bip, bip, bip | | | | have mild OCD so I need a lot of repetition and |
| Welcome to the World BASE Race | | | | physical touching to feel ready to jump. I will touch my |
| Envision two men standing on wooden platforms at | | | | buckles 20 plus times, check my bridle routing 10 plus |
| the edge of a mountain cliff. Each man is dressed in | | | | times and repack my chute before nearly every jump. |
| what appears to be a flying squirrel suit. At the signal, | | | | Beyond that I try to remember what a perfect exit |
| they jump and race head-on to the finish line, deploying | | | | feels like beforehand so I can repeat it on the |
| their parachutes and gliding to a safe landing. Mind | | | | upcoming jump. This includes visualization with my |
| blowing? Extraordinary? A testament to man's | | | | eyes closed and mock body movements". His final |
| intestinal fortitude? Innovative genius? A sporting event | | | | thought before jumping, "There is a real void in thinking |
| unlike any other in the world? If you answered yes to | | | | right before exit. I am trying to focus solely on what |
| all of the above, then let me introduce you to an event | | | | my body is telling me so I can exit smoothly and set |
| that P.T. Barnum would have billed as part of "The | | | | myself to flying away." |
| Greatest Show on Earth". | | | | In responding to my question, "In your opinion would |
| The World Base Race lays claim to being the ultimate | | | | such an event work in the U.S. if it could be done |
| B.A.S.E jumping competition in declaring one wingsuit | | | | legally, do you think it would help with the perception of |
| pilot/jumper as "The World Fastest Flying Human | | | | B.A.S.E by the general public?", he offered these |
| Being" and awarding the winner 3000 euro as prize | | | | thoughts, "Yes, I think it would be a good way to |
| money. The 2009 event consists of 32 athletes, in a 2 | | | | introduce mountain flying to the American public. The |
| jumper 750m full on race, in a 6 round competition. The | | | | popularity of Matchstick Production's 'Seven Sunny |
| event takes place August 12-14th, with athletes arriving | | | | Days' clip proves that people are fascinated with |
| during the week of August 6-12th for warm-up | | | | mountain flying and I think an American B.A.S.E Race |
| preparation jumps. Norway's picture perfect | | | | could fit well with something like the X-Games. Bridge |
| Innfjorden-Romsdal provides the arena and setting for | | | | Day attracts over 200,000 people and I think interest in |
| after hours activities. | | | | mountain flying would be even higher. Paul has |
| Prior to my interview with Brendan Nicholson, a U.S. | | | | formatted the World BASE Race to be very |
| B.A.S.E jumper/wingsuit pilot, who will be competing in | | | | spectator friendly and has also instituted a strict safety |
| this years race; I had an opportunity for a brief Q | | | | protocol that resulted in zero incidents last year." |
| & A with Paul Fortun. | | | | I asked him what he felt his contribution to B.A.S.E was |
| Norwegian, Paul Fortun, director of the World Base | | | | during his short career in the sport, his reply again |
| Race acts as though he is the proud father of a | | | | showed his humble nature, "So far I have contributed |
| newborn when it comes to discussing the event. He | | | | very little. I enjoyed helping Paul out with the World |
| boasts and hawks in a fashion that would make ol' P.T. | | | | BASE Race and showing the world that the sport of |
| proud, "We have the world's most amazing public | | | | B.A.S.E can have a safe, spectator-friendly |
| sporting event, in an arena located among the beautiful | | | | competition. I am always trying to be an ambassador |
| surroundings of nature itself. There is no registration | | | | for the sport in the hopes that it will become accepted |
| fee for jumpers, or fee for public spectators. We want | | | | in America as a valid way to experience the |
| to make this the greatest public party for athletes and | | | | outdoors." |
| spectators alike. This event demonstrates to the world | | | | Brendan's favorite object to jump, "Big cliffs are at the |
| the type of athletes BASE jumpers truly are in an | | | | top of the list. I love hiking and exploring beautiful new |
| exciting competition. This is a top skilled athletic sport, | | | | places and mountain flying is just a logical extension of |
| where you not only have to compete head to head, | | | | that. Building's come in a close second because of the |
| but perform in front of the public. All rounds have to be | | | | James Bond factor of sneaking around coupled with |
| hiked by the athletes, therefore the winner must also | | | | the thrill of a technical flight." |
| be in great physical shape." | | | | How often does he jump?, "I made 100 jumps in my |
| Do you anticipate a larger spectator turn out this year | | | | first year. Now I try to savor them a bit more and only |
| since you've had a year to advertise and market the | | | | jump about twice a month. During my vacations to |
| event? | | | | Norway I will jump two or three times a day for about |
| "We have a limit of 2000 to 2500 spectators, but we | | | | a month." |
| have a big Fjord and welcome charter boats to come | | | | He earned his B.A.S.E. number around jump 50, but |
| and enjoy the show. I expect that we will see an | | | | only applied for the B.A.S.E card after about 100 jumps. |
| increase in spectators as we have seen an increase in | | | | Brendan had recorded only about 100 skydives when |
| athletes." | | | | he first started B.A.S.E jumping. He says, "I wish I had |
| The World Base Race is an event designed with the | | | | 500 skydives. I usually wish this right before I hit |
| spectators in mind. What type of vendors and | | | | something hard that I could have easily avoided with |
| entertainment do you have planned? | | | | more experience." He attended Tom Aiello's "Free |
| "We will have a young talented rock band, Ronald | | | | Deathcamp" in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he made about |
| Nikolaisen with "Black Cat Bones" as The World BASE | | | | 40 jumps in 8 days. Claiming to have "learned just |
| Race band this year. They will play at the final day of | | | | about everything that can be taught to a young and |
| competition and at the WBR party in the evening. | | | | dumb male". He still jumps with his mentor, Skyler Beck, |
| There will be a band playing mellow music suited for | | | | from time to time and sees him every week. The best |
| young children to 90 year olds. This is an arena in a | | | | advice his mentor Beck, gave him, "He told me, "Don't |
| natural setting that we are offering a good time to any | | | | be a dummy". I took it to mean, slow down and check |
| age spectator. We are not trying to copy other high | | | | yourself. This has proven to be good advice. As I got |
| profiled extreme sports events with loud music and | | | | into Mountain Flying more I was also mentored by the |
| cool young people in the latest fashions. We wish to | | | | Norwegian pilots who gave me very similar advice." |
| remain a public event for everybody. Line Horvli and | | | | I asked Brendan if he would consider being a mentor, "I |
| the local choir, plus a local folkdance group Leikarringen | | | | think mentoring is one of the best things you can do |
| and an uphill running race. The Norwegian national | | | | for progressing the sport of B.A.S.E jumping. It is a |
| paragliding team with Ove Tillung and Pål Hammar | | | | very time-intensive activity and requires a lot of ulcer |
| Rognøy performing a program for us. As well as 10 | | | | medication. Once your student has left the object you |
| dome jumpers in formation flying with smoke. Ending | | | | can't do anything to save them, so you need to teach |
| with three jumpers with red, white and blue smoke | | | | him well." He continues on to point out what he feels is |
| representing national colors for the opening of "The | | | | the biggest mistake new jumper's make, "B.A.S.E |
| World Fastest Human Flying Being" finale. | | | | jumping is ridiculously easy, so a false sense of |
| My goal is to lift the event one cm every year to the | | | | security usually shows up around jump number 10. The |
| next level, take it step by step, as long as the public is | | | | rub is that you have to execute everything perfectly |
| fascinated and takes part in the event enjoying | | | | the first time, no second chances. Things only go |
| watching batman/batwoman flying in the air. I believe | | | | wrong roughly once in three hundred jumps so it is |
| this is the correct way to progress, leaving them | | | | very easy to let your guard down and call yourself an |
| wanting to return for more the following year." | | | | expert. It is important to always be scared. Once you |
| In the upcoming 2009 event, the largest contingency of | | | | stop being fearful, you become complacent and that |
| jumpers will be hailing from the United States with 17 | | | | 180 degrees off-heading ends it all. The most important |
| athletes. One of those 17, is Brendan Nicholson, age 27, | | | | piece of advice he has for new jumpers, "Slow down |
| a graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in | | | | and be conservative. Build your skills over time. It |
| Graphic Design. He spends his work days as a | | | | sounds hypocritical even as I say it, but the time and |
| Medical Illustrator and Animator for the Department of | | | | money spent taking it slow, pale in comparison to the |
| Genetics at the university in which he graduated. Hailing | | | | friendships you may lose." |
| from Salt Lake City, Brendan is a bit more reserved in | | | | Brendan willingness to be a student of B.A.S.E and |
| his chances to reach the podium, "I doubt I will place in | | | | absorb as much information as he can with every |
| this years race. The level of competition will be | | | | connection he makes within the community of jumpers |
| significantly higher due to the success of last years | | | | is exemplified in his answer to the infamous "What is |
| event. I look forward to the day when I have more | | | | the most bonehead thing you have ever done in |
| wingsuit flights and can be considered a peer of this | | | | jumping?" question. His answer, "Getting into B.A.S.E |
| years veteran competitors like Robert Pecnik and | | | | without complete control of my canopy flying. I liked to |
| Ronny Risvik." | | | | jump low objects, or pull low off of large objects, |
| Nicholson didn't compete in last years race, instead he | | | | because i didn't know how to fly a pattern or sink my |
| worked as race starter. It was then that as he would | | | | canopy. Luckily, I didn't hurt myself before I learned |
| jump and fly down following the competitors using | | | | these skills though I still have much to learn." |
| tracking gear when both Paul and Johnny Bjørkås | | | | The Nicholson family's take on his participation in |
| seen a natural talent in Brendan. Paul noted how | | | | B.A.S.E can be summed up as "cautiously supportive". |
| quickly Brendan took to flying such difficult cliffs. I | | | | "My parents become concerned when I show them |
| asked Paul Fortun who he was looking forward to | | | | my videos, but they also like to show them off to their |
| watching, he unequivocally announced " I am | | | | friends afterward. My brother wants to know when I |
| particularly excited to see how Brendan Nicholson of | | | | am planning on giving it up. My grandfather is the most |
| Salt Lake City, Utah will fair in this years competition. In | | | | outspoken, saying "Okay, you have proven you have |
| asking Brendan about their assessment, he credits his | | | | brass balls, now stop." They have met friends of mine |
| 11 years in Nordic Ski jumping for the early | | | | who later passed away jumping, but they also know |
| development into the world of wingsuit piloting. Stating, | | | | how much joy it brings me. My girlfriend, Elizabeth |
| "I enjoy tracking the most because it has the most | | | | Brand, an Emergency Room doctor in Salt Lake City, |
| freedom". | | | | Utah, will be this years starter at World BASE Race. |
| I asked the young athelete how he would approached | | | | She is very supportive of my jumping/wingsuit flying, |
| "racing" another individual when generally B.A.S.E | | | | she herself has 80 skydives and is looking forward to |
| jumping is not about "winning"? "B.A.S.E has a long | | | | not having to hike down after escorting me to the |
| history of competition from early accuracy meets to | | | | edge". |
| the World BASE Race. The lowest, highest, longest | | | | So when does he plan to give it all up, if anytime, |
| jumps are all know throughout the community of | | | | "When my ego takes a back seat to my |
| B.A.S.E jumpers due to the competitive nature | | | | responsibilities. I hope that happens when I have a wife |
| amongst us. Each one of the World Base Race | | | | and child. I think the big walls can be jumped with an |
| athletes is so experienced in flight that 'racing' in | | | | acceptable amount of risk, but I may reconsider." |
| wingsuits is as easy as 'racing' to the fridge for the last | | | | What attracted this articulate, talented, confident, yet |
| beer. If you have any reservations about the | | | | humble young man to the sport of B.A.S.E? "Mountain |
| psychological pressures of 'racing' then it is best to | | | | flying is the closest humans have come to personal |
| wait until you are mentally prepared ahead of | | | | flight. From day one in learning to jump, I looked |
| competing." | | | | forward to when I could fly a wingsuit through the |
| As for his B.A.S.E jumping philosophy, "Always live to | | | | mountains." |
| see the next jump. While it may be fun to burn it low | | | | In six short days, Brendan will be atop the mountain, |
| or fly very close to the wall, you must weigh that | | | | standing on the edge of that wooden plank, heart |
| experience against all future jump experiences. Is that | | | | racing as he listens to the starter's voice for the signal, |
| extra 10 feet really worthy losing hundreds of | | | | within seconds racing towards a finish line in the air |
| awesome experiences over?" The one jump that | | | | below, before safely deploying his chute and gliding |
| stands out in his mind, "Clearing the ledge at "Karl's Big | | | | towards the ground in hopes that he has won his race, |
| Mountain Cliff" (Imperfect English translation of | | | | only to climb the mountain again to face the next |
| Norwegian). This wall is where B.A.S.E jumping | | | | challenger until finally there is only one, that can claim |
| became mountain flying and it was awesome to relive | | | | the title, "The World's Fastest Flying Human Being". |
| that experience transitioning form falling to flying. There | | | | Word to the all other World BASE Race competitors, |
| is a point where you must decide whether to pull or try | | | | "It's always the quiet, polite ones you have to watch |
| to clear the ledge and that certainty in your own | | | | out for; in other words, keep your eye on the |
| abilities is rewarding." | | | | unpretentious American kid". |
| We discussed whether he felt B.A.S.E jumping was a | | | | Brendan Nicholson |
| "sport", "stunt" or "hobby" and what drew him to the | | | | Age: 27 |
| World B.A.S.E Race. "I think it is different for every | | | | Marital Status: In a Relationship |
| person and even changes over time for that same | | | | Location: Salt Lake City, Utah |
| person. When I started it was an all-consuming lifestyle. | | | | Children: None |
| Every word out of my mouth was about B.A.S.E and | | | | Education: BFA in Graphic Arts, University of Utah |
| every thought in my head was about where I was | | | | Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah |
| going to get my next fix. Now I try to find a balance | | | | Year of 1st Jump: 2007 |
| between B.A.S.E, Skiing, Rock Climbing, work and | | | | Wingsuit: Phoenix-Fly Shadow (prototype) and a |
| personal relationships, so it would probably fall under | | | | Phoenix-Fly Tracking Suit |
| sport for me. Some jumps are stunts, like when I jump | | | | Container: Gargoyle and Hybrid L/D+ |
| for money and sometimes out of my comfort zone. | | | | Canopy: Blackjack and Trango |
| Many jumps do not take much skill and it seems silly to | | | | Profession: Medical Illustrator |
| call them sport when true sports are out there. Hobby | | | | B.A.S.E Number: 1295 |
| sounds too much like needlepoint." | | | | Nickname: Curls McSquirrel |
| "For me the attraction to the World Base Race is an | | | | Five Random Facts About Brendan That Could Be |
| opportunity to meet and jump with the best mountain | | | | Classified As Weird, Strange, or DifferentI could ski |
| fliers in the world. The event itself is very casual with | | | | (snow) before I could walk. |
| everyone hiking and chatting together. The exchange | | | | I have found spandex to be the perfect rock climbing |
| of ideas and experiences is like nothing else because | | | | apparel. |
| only Romsdal could draw this caliber of talent from all | | | | I can't pack without my lucky 13 clamps. |
| corners of the globe. The idea of making human flight | | | | I am not a Mormon, but I live in Utah. |
| safer with higher performance is what draws me to | | | | I didn't learn to drive until my twenties. |
| come and learn form the best". | | | | B.A.S.E jumping, is a sport that employs a parachute to |
| Besides the actually racing, what do you enjoy best | | | | jump from fixed objects. Wingsuit pilots employ both a |
| about the event?, "The World BASE Race is an | | | | wingsuit and parachute in jumping from fixed objects. |
| opportunity to get together with the best mountain | | | | "BASE" is an acronym that stands for the four |
| fliers in the world's best playground. There are fifty | | | | categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: |
| other walls to explore in the region and countless | | | | Building |
| ways to fly the terrain. I love meeting new people and | | | | Antenna |
| learning their approach to the sport. The barbecues | | | | Span |
| are also awesome, because of the organic and fresh | | | | Earth |
| nature of the food." | | | | B.A.S.E jumping is an extreme sport that can result in |
| Brendan's training technique in preparing for the race in | | | | injury or death of it's participants. Interested parties are |
| Norway, while he doesn't have the luxury of taking | | | | advised to undergo proper training and mentoring prior |
| advantage of jumping there regularly, "I fly wingsuits | | | | to attempting B.A.S.E jumping. |
| out of planes as much as I can afford and jump some | | | | B.A.S.E Numbers are applied for from the United |
| of the larger legal cliffs in my area. Mountain flying has | | | | States BASE Association. |
| a lot in common with many other gravity sports such | | | | |