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. More than 450 BASE jumpers from 10+ countries and 40+ US states will leap from the bridge, hundreds of rappellers will descend on fixed ropes, and up to 200,000 spectators are expected to attend this year's Bridge Day on Saturday, October 16, 2010. 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.

Enlarge picture

Bridge Day 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. Admission is free for spectators.

Enlarge picture 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.

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 (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.

Enlarge picture

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 BASE jumper, sometimes it's best to contact us with your questions. We're here to help you have a memorable time at Bridge Day.

Register To Jump

Registration for BASE jumping at Bridge Day will begin on July 1, 2010 at 2pm Eastern Daylight Time (18:00 GMT) with payment via Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Check. At that 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 (normally takes from three weeks to three months). 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). Don't forget to read the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Bridge Day 2010

The 31st annual Bridge Day event will take place on October 16 with 450+ experienced parachutists (BASE jumpers) leaping off the 876' New River Gorge Bridge. Jumper registration starts on July 1, 2010 around 2pm EDT. Registered jumpers can make as many jumps as possible for 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)

Vertical Visions LLC, from Bridgeport, West Virginia, has been selected as the official BASE jumping coordinator for Bridge Day 2010. This is our ninth year coordinating all BASE jumping activities for the Bridge Day Commission. Team leaders include Jason Bell and Bill Bird, both having extensive parachuting, BASE jumping, and Bridge Day organizing experience. Assisting will be Jason's wife, Jennifer Bell, and more than 70 volunteers. Some amazing things were done at the exit point in past years such as:

• $3500 in event fencing for increased security and jumper accessability
• Still cameras mounted above the jumper exit ramp
• A $5000 raised platform exit ramp (10' wide x 16' long)
• 16' commercial aluminum diving board
• BASE jumper vendor booth near the South end of the bridge
• Continued nationwide TV coverage of the event

Many other details for 2010 are in the planning stages and will be posted here when available. There is NO bungee jumping at Bridge Day. To learn more about Bridge Day and BASE jumping, continue reading this website or feel free to contact us.

What Is BASE Jumping?

Enlarge picture 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.

Most people will never understand why we jump and words alone cannot describe the amazing feelings experienced on a BASE jump. Let me guess....you probably just finished mubling the standard cliche "why would anyone jump off a perfectly good bridge", right? 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. To each his own. BASE jumping has evolved enough over the last 30 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. BASE jumpers have chosen to participate in something that most people only dream of and their drive, energy, and appreciation for living life should be applauded.

Enlarge picture 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 occurrence" insurance policy (about $5000 in costs overall).