A Brief History of Tandem BASE Jumping

The first recorded BASE jump took place on Bridge Day in 1984 with Ted Strong and his passenger Robin Heid off the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. In 1998, tandem BASE jumping was taken to cliffs in Norway. Over the years since these groundbreaking jumps, the practice of tandem BASE jumping has been refined to improve safety and decrease the possibility of injury.

What are the qualifications of tandem BASE Jumping Instructors?

 One of the ways tandem BASE jumping has improved safety is by guaranteeing the expertise of its instructors. BASE jumping professionals begin their experience by skydiving. A lot. In fact, in order to be considered a “professional,” a jumper must complete upwards of 100 skydives and be able to consistently land their parachute within a small, marked landing space.

Not to mention that BASE jumping mentors spend thousands of dollars securing all the necessary equipment to complete a jump. For professionals like David Helton, BASE jumping is a passion, and he’s invested his time and money into making sure that each tandem BASE jump is as safe as it possibly can be.

David is USPA UPT certified tandem instructor with over 6,900 tandem jumps completed.

Before jumping, always know the qualifications and experience of your instructor!

What experience do I need to do a tandem BASE Jump?

In order to be a passenger during a tandem BASE jump, there is no experience required. There may be specific qualifications on weight, height, etc. depending on the instructor or agency you jump through, but they do not require you to have previous knowledge of skydiving or BASE jumping.

With companies like BASE JUMP THE BRIDGE, you will be given a short introductory explanation of the process of BASE jumping. The instructor will give you tips and instructions to make sure you have all the necessary information to make a tandem BASE jump with minimal danger.

Where can I try tandem BASE jumping?

Because tandem BASE jumping is fairly new to the world of extreme sports, there are very few places that offer the experience. One of the most popular in the world is the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho.

The most affordable option is to jump with David Helton at BASE JUMP THE BRIDGE. For $250 you are able to have one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. The price also includes a video of your experience, a T-shirt, and a boat ride to Centennial Park from the bottom of the Snake River Canyon.

You can find testimonials of tandem daredevils here!

With any other questions, please feel free to contact David at 865-250-0666.