Base jumping : the ultimate guide / Jason Laurendeau.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Laurendeau, Jason.

Series:

Greenwood guides to extreme sports

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Extreme sports.

Jumping.

Physical Description:

xviii, 131 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Santa Barbara, Calif. : Greenwood, [2012]

Summary:

How does a human being get to the point where he or she considers jumping from deadly heights, simply for the thrill of it? BASE jumping-the four-letter term being an acronym for the four categories of jumping points: Building, Antenna, Span, Earth-is not a recently invented extreme activity. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the first fixed-object jump took place in the ninth century.

BASE jumping is an extreme sport that has gained significant popularity. To date, there are over 1,400 jumpers who have earned their "BASE number," which means that they have jumped from a building, an antenna, a span, and a terrestrial point. And at least one BASE jumper is planning to attempt landing from a BASE jump without a parachute. BASE Jumping: The Ultimate Guide examines the history, subculture, and technologies associated with BASE jumping. Additionally, the book considers what the relatively new expansion of this activity means within the context of how our society considers danger and risk.

After an introduction, its chapters cover BASE culture and ethics, the sport's origins and current developments, techniques and equipment, sites and events, pioneering jumpers and icons of the sport, and future directions. The author-a former skydiver and BASE jumper himself-draws from careful research as well as interviews with current BASE jumpers to provider historical context and represent the voices of those participating in the activity. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

2 BASE Culture, BASE Ethics 13

3 Emotion, Risk, and Responsibility 27

4 Origins and Developments 39

5 Techniques and Equipment 69

6 Sites and Events 79

7 Pioneers and Icons 89

8 Future Directions 109.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780313383977

0313383979

9780313383984

0313383987

OCLC:

729344408