Skydiving From Space
My Interview With BASE Jumper/Mentor Tracy "Space" Walker
Tracy "Space" WalkerDate of Interview: September/2009 If ever there was a BASE jumper deserving a "E!" True Hollywood Story, that would be the man you recognize by his trademark "Take Care, Space" signature line.
Tracy "Space" Walker, born and raised in the deep south of the United States, is every bit a self made man. He was reared along with an older brother by his single mother and grandmother during the early years of his childhood. It was later, during his teenage years and surviving a heavy handed stepfather, whom Tracy would come to describe as the epitome of evil that life served up some tough knocks. Tracy set out on his own as soon as he was able to fly the coop, breaking a negative cycle in search of a positive life. To hear tales of his teenage years makes one cringe; to know the caring, loving man that he became against the odds, makes one want to sing his praises. Ask any of the BASE jumpers who have had the pleasure of his company on a jump, or the opportunity to spend time talking with him and you will hear the same descriptions over and over. "Space is the Yoda of BASE", "He is a guru of sorts", "He mentors the best of the best." As research progressed I soon heard, "He is mentor to Felix the glory hound of all glory hounds." I could almost hear the "booing and hissing" in the background as the words rang in my ears. Tracy "Space" WalkerDate of Interview: September/2009 In my first conversation with Tracy I decided to cut right to the chase, flat out hit him right between the eyes, "Are you responsible for the monster that is Felix Baumgartner?" He laughed and agreed to take full responsibility, before continuing on to explain the joy of having trained such an athlete as Felix. He assured me that Felix is no monster, a bit "misunderstood" by the general BASE population, has a bit of an ego, (gasp I said, "ego in a BASE jumper it can't be") and like everyone else on this planet has made some mistakes in judgment. In those few statements alone I gathered a basic understanding on how Tracy felt about mentoring. His love of all things BASE jumping could be summed up in the loyalty and concern he exhibits on behalf of his students. BASE jumping is a serious topic and is meant to be treated with respect. BASE jumps aren't just made, they are planned and executed, a spiritual experience to be savored and celebrated. He explained the qualities he has seen in each of his students that persuaded him to take on the challenge and responsibility of teaching and which characteristics he admired in them afterward as they matured as jumpers in this manner. "Perseverance in the quest for knowledge", he responded, I have had many students, but mentored only a few. Solid rigging skills, the ability to not jump, BASE ethics, and doing jumps that have not been done prior in the sport are characteristics I admire in my former students." Do you have basic guidelines that must be met by the student prior to you considering taking on the responsibility of mentoring them? "Rigging, tracking skills, canopy control drills, accuracy landings, etc. The amount of skydives is unimportant. What is important is the amount of skydives preparing for BASE and the mentality of the jumper." Rigging, scoping out the object and conditions, safety protocols, etiquette, and decision making are the 5 most important things Tracy believes a mentor must teach their student prior to the student going it alone. He adds, "of course this is assuming they have their exits sorted." I asked him to share his viewpoint on whether he felt it was important for every BASE jumper to have a mentor and how much control or influence does the mentor have over the jumper's activity? By Cynthia Lynn - My world is a canvas of colors, filled at various times with both strokes of anguish & joy. My life can get messy so if your hanging with me, best wear safety glasses.
Sky diving from space?
Rodd Millner was supposed to skydive from space in March '02. Did this ever happened?
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Poll Of The Day..................................................?
which would you rather do
A.be in a haunted castle alone with lots of evil vampires
B.go skydiving from space down to earth
C.be stuck on an island with flesh eating cannibals
please answer my other question
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqDrKHU5PYD9CKxhpgVFiLbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071027110618AAdyAky
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Skydive from space
23 Dec 2007 at 1:19pm
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