August 2000 - Canowindra NSW Australia

Canowindra (pronounced Canoundra) is the Hot Air
Ballooning capital of Australia. The stable weather and
vast network of farm roads and flat open country side,
together with the friendly locals make it the perfect
place for Ballooning.

The BASEClimb 2 Team spent 10 days there, jumping out of Hot Air Balloons flown by Chris Dewhirst of Balloon Sunrise, Sean Kavanagh of Kavanagh Balloons and Brett Watson,flying the Land Rover Balloon.

We had a wonderful time, up at 4.30am each morning to prepare the Balloons to fly right on sunrise, when the winds are most favourable. Sunrise in Canowindra is a very special experience, especially when experienced from a Hot Air Balloon - total magic!

Hot Air Balloons are perfect to practice B.A.S.E jumping launches from, because relative to a plane they are quite still in the air so you jump into what is referred to by sky divers and B.A.S.E jumpers as 'sub-terminal air'. Terminal Velocity is the maximum speed a skydiver reaches on a skydive, about 200km per hour depending on the surface area presented to the relative wind. When you jump from a plane, which is already flying at speed, terminal is reached very quickly. On a B.A.S.E jump, because you jump from a fixed object it takes much longer to reach terminal. The space in between is referred to as 'sub terminal air'. Sub terminal air requires different 'flying' techniques to terminal air, particularly if its a short delay between jumping and deploying the pilot chute. Glenn, Heather and Marta practiced solos, two way and three way exits from the balloon using Vertigo BASE Outfitter's 'Sorcerer' rig which has a reserve. The canopies were similar to those they will use on Ama Dablam.

The practice achieved its objectives, Heather was able to launch consistently in the right body position, deploy her pilot chute after the predetermined delay and land her canopy safely and accurately in a 'off-drop zone situation'. Having acquired these skills, she is ready to make her first B.A.S.E jump from the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho USA.