| WHAT IS BRIDGE DAY? |
 Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event and the largest gathering of BASE jumpers in the world, held on the third Saturday in October every year in Fayetteville, West Virginia, USA. 450 BASE jumpers, hundreds of rappellers, and up to 200,000 spectators are expected to attend this year's Bridge Day on Saturday, October 17, 2009. The New River Gorge Bridge, 876' tall and the world's second longest single arch bridge, is the launch point for at least six hours (9am-3pm EDT) of legal, safe BASE jumps. |
The 876' New River Gorge Bridge |
| Spectators are permitted to walk the length of the bridge and watch jumpers leap from the bridge railing, enjoy the fall foliage, or patronize hundreds of vendors who sell everything from handmade crafts to funnel cakes. For additional information, please visit officialbridgeday.com. Bridge Day photos are available in our Photo Gallery.
If you're planning on making your first BASE jump at Bridge Day, please read our First Timers page to see if you qualify (you'll need at least 100 prior parachute jumps). If you're happier with your feet on the ground, we have plenty of information for spectators as well. For answers to common questions, please read our Frequently Asked Questions page. To successfully navigate this website, please utilize the links near the top of each page.
Is it possible to BASE jump from the New River Gorge bridge and stay connected? It is this year. Link to everything Bridge Day on the web, on your phone, and even on the bridge itself. You can tag, send, and share the 30th anniversary of Bridge Day with the whole world. This year, Bridge Day goes digital. Keep up to date on parking, events, and special announcements on your phone. For info on the 30th Bridge Day Anniversary, text bd30 to 77007. You’ll know what’s happening around the gorge as it happens.
Do you Twitter? We do, and you can follow us @bridgeday. This year, get Bridge Day tweeted to you, 140 characters at a time. You’ll be able to check out the live #bridgeday Twitterstream on the big screen at the bridge. We’re on Facebook, Flickr, and Youtube, as well. You can load your own Bridge Day content and share it with the world (make sure you use tag it with #bd30 or #bridgeday). There’s more info plus some great stories on our blog. Go to this page to connect. Last thing: share your photos and video on the facebook fan page. If you're interested in blogging about your experiences, or providing video or photos that can be used, please let us know. You can contact Pat Strader (pat[AT]matterhornmarketing.com, 877-663-6890) for more information.
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| BRIDGE DAY 2009 |
Bridge Day 2009 will take place on October 17, 2009 with 450+ experienced parachutists (BASE jumpers) taking a flying leap off the 876' New River Gorge Bridge.
Vertical Visions LLC has again been selected as the official BASE jumping coordinator for Bridge Day 2009. This is our seventh year coordinating all BASE jumping activities and our eigth year working with the Bridge Day Commission. Team leaders include Jason Bell and Bill Bird, both having extensive parachuting, BASE jumping, and Bridge Day organizing experience. Assisting is Jason's wife, Jennifer Bell, and more than 70 volunteers. Some amazing things were done at the exit point in past years such as the addition of a $5000 raised platform exit ramp (10' wide x 16' long) along with a 16' commercial aluminum diving board, packing exhibitions, a BASE jumper vendor booth near the South end of the bridge, expanded first BASE jumping courses for new jumpers, and nationwide TV coverage of the event. Registered jumpers can make as many jumps as possible in six hours, in addition to receiving free water rescue, shuttle buses, a T-shirt, free pizza/beer/soda during the post-Bridge Day party, seminars, video festival, packing tarps, diving board jumps, etc. (further details here). Many other details for 2009 are in the planning stages and will be posted here when available. There is NO bungee jumping at Bridge Day. Please visit the Bridge Day Discussion Forum to learn more about Bridge Day and BASE jumping or feel free to contact us. |
| WHAT IS BASE JUMPING? |
| First of all, you'll probably never understand why we jump and words alone cannot describe the amazing feelings experienced on a BASE jump. And you probably just finished mubling the standard cliche "why would anyone jump off a perfectly good bridge". Many BASE jumpers have normal lives with normal jobs and families. Most have been jumping around the world for decades and they come from educated backgrounds. BASE jumpers tend to be open-minded, intelligent, and curious. Jumpers are probably more scared riding motorcyles or wondering through the woods on the first day of deer season than they are making a BASE jump. Our sport has evolved enough over the last 29 years to be considered fairly safe. With nearly 1000 jumps made at Bridge Day each year since 1980, there have only been three fatalities. In comparision, West Virginia saw 53 ATV fatalities in 2006. |
Preparing to Land |
| BASE Jumping is an acronym for the four types of fixed objects that are utilized for these foot-launched skydives: (B)uilding, (A)ntenna, (S)pan, and (E)arth. BASE jumpers first skydive hundreds of times from aircraft before attempting to BASE jump, which is undoubtedly the world's most extreme sport. |
A BASE Jumper Freefalls
Over the Landing Zone |
| Unlike skydiving, BASE jumpers typically use only one parachute as the lower exit altitudes of 200-2000 feet above the ground do not normally permit deployment of a reserve parachute. While it is legal to jump at Bridge Day for six short hours, any jumps made outside this small window can result in $5000 fines, gear confiscation, and a year in jail as imposed by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS owns a small landing area on the East side of the bridge, but they've often arrested and prosecuted jumpers who've landed in the park or on private property several hundred yards outside the park border. Fortunately, there are many legal bridges and cliffs around the USA and Europe where parachutists are welcome to enjoy their sport. The safest cliffs in the USA reside in our National Parks, but BASE jumpers cannot legally enjoy their sport on park property. To rent the landing area for six short hours this year, the NPS is charging Vertical Visions $2500 plus the requirement of a "million dollar per occurance" insurance policy. |
| ABOUT BRIDGE DAY 2008 |
| 383 out of 450+ registered jumpers attended with the average jumper having made 85 prior BASE jumps and 1139 skydives. More than 100 first time BASE jumpers from 15 countries attended. It was a cloudy and colder day with temperatures in the 50's. More than 175,000 spectators enjoyed the festivities. Vertical Visions handed out the following newsletter to all media: |
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| Check out our Bridge Day Statistics page and compare previous Bridge Days. Congratulations and thanks to all jumpers and staff. |
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| RECENT NEWS |
| •Photos are now ONLINE! Up to five photographers captured images from the crane basket, railing, over the jump platform, and the LZ. Jumpers can purchase enlargements or digital copies online. |
| •The Bridge Day 2009 DVD is being offered by JumpCuts and you can place your order now. |
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| •Extra Bridge Day 2009 Jumper T-shirts are for sale. Click on the T-shirts below for details. |
Bridge Day 2009
30th Anniversary Jumper T-Shirt
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Bridge Day 2009 Jumper T-shirt
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| •Check out our August 31st Bridge Day 2009 Newsletter. |
| •The Harry Parker will be back again at Bridge Day 2009. He'll be at the jumper exit point, on the microphone, to educate and entertain spectators and jumpers. |
The Harry Parker |
| •Sponsor Bridge Day 2009 with banners, custom parachutes, clothing, products, coupons, gear, etc. We were live on CNN, NBC's Today Show, Headline News, and the Weather Channel during Bridge Day 2008! |
CNN's Live Bridge Day 2008 Coverage |
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| •Two Bridge Day First BASE Jump Courses (FJC) are available this year. First time BASE jumpers are required to attend one of our courses unless they've been trained by an approved mentor. If you're looking for advanced, full-length BASE training, The Snake River BASE Academy will be instructing a 4-day long Bridge Day First BASE Jump Course during Bridge Day week. The shorter Bridge Day Introductory Course will be held for 6-8 hours on the day before Bridge Day. Jumpers can purchase a slot in either course when purchasing jump tickets. |
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| •Did you know that 71% of all Bridge Day landings are safely made on shore while 28% land in the water? The remaining 1% is reserved for unfortunate jumpers who opted for the railroad tracks, trees, etc. |
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•A BASE Jumping Expansion Plan has been the recent focus of Vertical Visions and numerous other jumpers who would like to see jumping extended to at least three days (if not everyday). The proposed jumping would take place underneath the bridge from the catwalk, but DOH officials are claiming it would create rubbernecking problems (even though jumpers aren't visible from Route 19). |
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•IDAHO TOWN BECOMES MECCA FOR BRIDGE JUMPING - Legal BASE jumping every day of the year from the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho has become quite popular. "There are no rules basically to ban BASE jumping," said Shawn Barigar, a city council member and chairman of the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. "The general reaction is 'no harm, no foul'. As long as it is not disruptive, and isn't causing any problems, more power to them. They are the ones taking the risk upon themselves." |
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•Bridge Day 2008 was on live TV again. The NBC's The Today Show, The Weather Channel, CNN, and Headline News all ran live TV footage and interviews during the event. WV Media broadcasted three hours of live TV coverage of Bridge Day 2004 and 2005 to more than 1 million households in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio, as well as a nationwide program on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). We're excited to see what Bridge Day 2009 holds! |
| CAN I JUST WATCH? |
| Absolutely! Bridge Day was originally designed to allow people to walk the length of the bridge while enjoying the fall foliage and beautiful scenery. The New River Gorge Bridge is normally closed to foot traffic and stopping your vehicle on the bridge is prohibited. After five daring parachutists were permitted to jump at the first Bridge Day back in 1980, it soon became apparent that watching the jumpers would become the major attraction. In the early 1980's, the crowds increased and hundreds of BASE jumpers flocked to the area to enjoy six short hours of legal BASE jumps. |
The Bridge Day Diving Board |
Today, hundreds of thousands of spectators travel to the Fayetteville area and the event has routinely been shown on live TV around the world. Spectators are encouraged to read our FAQ for further information on where to watch, what items you are permitted to bring on the bridge, and how to dress for the event.
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| WHO CAN JUMP? |
| Jumpers must register online starting July 1st, show up prior to Bridge Day for gear checks and meetings, and follow a few simple rules set forth by the BASE Jumping Coordinator and NPS. In addition, jumpers must have prior parachuting experience (meaning at least 100 skydives and/or BASE jumps) and BASE jumping gear (or approved skydiving gear). Jumpers must be age 18 or older, in good health, and have the skills needed to perform a fixed object jump. Jumpers must have made a parachute jump (skydiving or BASE) in the two years prior to Bridge Day. Our FAQ should answer many of your questions. Don't forget to review the BASE Malfunctions list and educate yourself on things you may have to deal with while BASE jumping. If you're a first time jumper, sometimes it's best to contact us with your questions. We're here to help you have a memorable time at Bridge Day. |
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| HOW CAN I REGISTER TO JUMP? |
| Registration for BASE jumping at Bridge Day 2009 will take place online with payment via Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Check. Registration will officially open on July 1, 2009 at 2pm Eastern Daylight Time (18:00 GMT). At this time, Bridge Day jump tickets and vendor booths will have their "Add to Cart" buttons enabled and all 450 available jump slots will be available until all slots are sold out. The 2pm EDT time will permit jumpers worldwide an equal opportunity to register for this event. Registered jumpers can make as many jumps as possible in six hours, in addition to receiving free water rescue, shuttle buses, a T-shirt, free pizza/beer/soda during post-Bridge Day party, seminars, video festival, packing tarps, diving board jumps, etc. (further details here). Until this time, please keep an eye on this website for any new information that may develop or you can visit the Bridge Day Discussion Forum to learn more about Bridge Day and BASE jumping. Don't forget to read the Frequently Asked Questions page. |
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| WHAT GEAR IS REQUIRED? |
| Only BASE jumping specific and approved skydiving gear will be permitted at Bridge Day 2009. A complete list of acceptable gear is available in our FAQ. The recommended setup is a BASE specific 7-cell canopy with a low aspect ratio, a Velcro or pin closed BASE specific harness and container, and a 38-48" pilot chute with at minimum 9' bridle (required). A helmet and and protective pads are highly encouraged. If you plan on taking at least a 3-second delay, you'll want to purchase a mesh slider to speed up the opening of your canopy. If you have attempted to modify or purchase BASE specific gear, a tailpocket is another good idea to clean up your pack job and provide reliable on-heading openings. You can also rent gear from many BASE jumping manufacturers. |
Double Rollover at Bridge Day 2003 |
| You will not be permitted to jump if you cannot safely make the jump using the proper gear and attitude. Keep in mind that a 9' bridle and minimum 38" pilot chute are mandatory. Our experienced riggers will inspect your gear prior to obtaining your Bridge Day jump pass. Check out our FAQ for more answers to your gear questions. |
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