One day, about two weeks ago, I got an email from a producer from CNN. They said they were going to be showing the movie “Sunshine Superman” on the network. They were going to be running some interviews to educate the viewers about BASE Jumping, and they wanted to interview me. I gladly accepted and had about a week before it was time. I had to go to a studio in Boise on the night of the interview. I found out on the way to Boise, two hours before, that it was going to be live. Oh shiz! I thought. I’ve never done a live interview this big before. So I was pretty nervous for about a week before, because you never know what these guys are going to ask you. Right before the interview, maybe a half hour, I felt calm and ready, and stoked to represent my family and sport. It turned out to be very fun and mostly positive about BASE. The world is becoming more and more interested in this amazing sport. I’m happy to be an ambassador of my passion. The people at CNN were very nice and respectful and very fun to work with. So here it is. My first live interview on national television. Maybe I’ll run for Mayor of Twin Falls some day ;).
I had this reporter guy contact me about doing a Tandem Base Jump. Lots of times I really think that media peeps are just trying to get a discount on the jumps. I also wonder if they are trying to write some story about the dark side of base. I talked with this guy and decided that he was actually really cool. Little did I know that he was one of the dopest writers I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I took him and his partner Marley for some jumps and good times at a 500 ft bridge, and the best part about it was to see how Vince Hempsall portrayed the experience. I absolutely love this article. Check it and all the other video and such. Right here
So I do a lot of interviews, some of them are good and some of the writers don’t seem to put much effort into them. It’s funny how the writers can mess things up so bad. I never take it to seriously, now I just really drill the writers to find out what exactly their story is going to be about. In the past, most news stories about Base Jumping were all about the carnage. Times have changed. Of course they still hop right on when something tragic happens, but they are starting to see the light when it comes to publishing or showing something positive about this beautiful sport that we do. I guess I would just like to say thanks to those cool reporters that just seem to get it. Here is a pretty good little article about Tandem Base. Something that is slowly (or maybe quickly) but surely catching on. It is a pretty cool thing to be able to go on a base jump without the crazy amounts of training that we have to do. I can just strap you on the front and take you for the ride of your life. That is what life is all about, experiences and doing good things for the Universe.
This is a very special story to me. One of the best jumps of my life. There are ways to push beyond limitations. It only takes creativity and drive. Please see the film about Pete Bonser’s jump here.
