Do you know what Salto B.A.S.E. consists of? It is an extreme sport in which the jumper is launched from the top of a building, an antenna, a ravine or a bridge and after a few seconds in the air, he has to open the parachute.
Ricardo Navarro is a parachutist who one day decided to go further and jumped into the void from just a few meters high. Without a doubt he is an expert in the field, representing Spain in position number 7. In an interview for Yumping he tells us how he started his career and how he lives each jump. Do you want to know him too?
Yumping.- How did you get started practicing B.A.S.E. Jumping?
Ricardo Navarro.- I started 3 years ago, after completing the sports skydiving course and doing some How many jumps from the plane. Later I decided to take the first step off a bridge with a friend's parachute. Some time later I bought my B.A.S.E. jumping equipment and since then it has always been a constant learning process, since each jump is a world...
And.- Have you been in the world of skydiving for a long time?
R.N.- Well the truth is that not, since mid-2007... But it is true that in 2000 I did a tandem jump and then I knew that that was my world...
Y.- To be able to dedicate yourself to this type of skydiving, you must previously have a lot of experience as a skydiver. Why did you decide to take a step further?
R.N.- Honestly, because that was my main goal… I have more experience in B.A.S.E jumping. that in sports skydiving, that is, my time in skydiving was to gain notions of canopy handling, stability in the air, flying with a wingsuit... But I also have to say that it is not the most adequate -they recommend having between 150 and 200 airplane jumps to start in this sport- (laughs).
And.- What do you feel when practicing a jump in which the ground is so close?
R.N.- It is difficult to explain what it feels like, I think that I will agree with many other B.A.S.E jumpers. …it is a feeling of freedom, speed, well-being, everything depends on you, your movements, decisions…
Y.- The B.A.S.E jump. It can be practiced from buildings, antennas, bridges or ravines. Where do you prefer to jump from?
R.N.- Buffff!!! Difficult question... I think that from any place that has enough height, a good landing and above all do it with good friends with whom to share sensations. But frankly, my weakness is walls, and above all, making new openings, new jumps where my friends can enjoy.
And.- What does your family think about you dedicating yourself to this sport?
R.N.- At first, the most normal thing due to the lack of knowledge of the subject, they were a little afraid. My father comes with me whenever he can to be calmer (and because he likes it too) and helps us with the rescue, he is the official ground support of the AESBASE... (laughs).
On the other hand, my wife doesn't find it very funny, she respects it because she knows I'm passionate about it but she doesn't usually come with me, although she has done so sometimes; without going any further in the Base Jump Extreme World Championship, but he was only able to see two jumps live, he had a bad time. Whenever I'm going to jump, after landing I call her...
And.- Do you think there is risk in their practice?
R.N.- Yes, there is a certain risk compared to other adventure sports, but it is not the most... The number of accidents/incidents is not entirely low, but I think that with a refined technique, training, doing things well and without overdoing it, the risk can be reduced. But yes, never let your guard down, the danger is latent...
And.- What does it take to be a world champion in B.A.S.E. jumping?
R.N.- Base jumping world champion is a very debatable term, it would be a way of calling the one who has best achieved a series of objectives in a competition where a small representation of jumpers have participated. It is difficult to call it world champion (from my point of view) I came seventh but I do not consider myself the seventh best in the world by any means... It is not yet a mainstream sport and the issue of competition has started a few years ago.
For me, one of the best in the world would be a complete jumper, a good tracker, a good wingsuit flyer, a good wingsuit pilot... In the case of the Hotel Bali championship You had to meet certain conditions, such as skill with the bell (catching the correct traffic quickly to get closer to the target), a good jumping position to avoid unexpected turns... and of course a bit of luck... (laughs). That day I didn't make a single target, of 5 jumps in the competition in 4 I was a few meters away, one very far away and I only made one cross when I jumped in the final, already out of competition... It's Murphy's law (laughs) Next year if I can participate I am sure it will not be the same...
And.- What is the most difficult place you have had to jump from?
R.N.- I have never had to jump... I have jumped because I felt like it at that moment, but I do remember that the jump that had the most impact on me was when I made the first jump from a windmill at night and in fog… without visibility. Imagine!
Y.- Being a risky sport, its practice is prohibited in many places. How do you rehearse?
R.N.- Well here in Spain there is no explicit prohibition on base jumping, there are some regulations in certain national parks that prohibit flight, whether paragliding, parachuting, ballooning... So The rest is a sport that is not legislated at the moment, but there are many places to jump and enjoy it.
Y.- We have seen that you have made night jumps. What difference do you find with the daytime ones?
R.N.- They have an added difficulty: vision, obviously... The visual of the jump is not enjoyed in the same way, for my part, if I have made night jumps it has been for not attract as much attention and go more unnoticed (laughs)... But I prefer to jump during the day.
And.- Do you practice other adventure sports?
R.N.- Yes, since I was very little I have always been related to the mountains and nature: trekking, climbing , mountain biking, canyoning, scuba diving... Isn't Kick Boxing an adventure sport? (laughs).
And.- What would you never dare to do?
R.N.- Maybe with the speleosub… It gives me a lot of respect, I don't know if I would be able to do cave dives beyond the cenotes…
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Y.- What is your You had to meet certain conditions, such as skill with the bell (catching the correct traffic quickly to get closer to the target), a good jumping position to avoid unexpected turns... and of course a bit of luck... (laughs). That day I didn't make a single target, of 5 jumps in the competition in 4 I was a few meters away, one very far away and I only made one cross when I jumped in the final, already out of competition... It's Murphy's law (laughs) Next year if I can participate I am sure it will not be the same...
And.- What is the most difficult place you have had to jump from?
R.N.- I have never had to jump... I have jumped because I felt like it at that moment, but I do remember that the jump that had the most impact on me was when I made the first jump from a windmill at night and in fog… without visibility. Imagine!
Y.- Being a risky sport, its practice is prohibited in many places. How do you rehearse?
R.N.- Well here in Spain there is no explicit prohibition on base jumping, there are some regulations in certain national parks that prohibit flight, whether paragliding, parachuting, ballooning... So The rest is a sport that is not legislated at the moment, but there are many places to jump and enjoy it.
Y.- We have seen that you have made night jumps. What difference do you find with the daytime ones?
R.N.- They have an added difficulty: vision, obviously... The visual of the jump is not enjoyed in the same way, for my part, if I have made night jumps it has been for not attract as much attention and go more unnoticed (laughs)... But I prefer to jump during the day.
And.- Do you practice other adventure sports?
R.N.- Yes, since I was very little I have always been related to the mountains and nature: trekking, climbing , mountain biking, canyoning, scuba diving... Isn't Kick Boxing an adventure sport? (laughs).
And.- What would you never dare to do?
R.N.- Maybe with the speleosub… It gives me a lot of respect, I don't know if I would be able to do cave dives beyond the cenotes…
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Y.- What is your
