Cynthia Vincent

Cynthia Vincent

BASE jumper Interview with Tracy Walker

If ever there was a BASE jumper deserve an "E!" True Hollywood Story, which would be the man to recognize by its trademark "Take care, space" signature line.

Tracy Space Walker, born and raised in the deep south of the United States is every bit of a self-made man. He grew up with an elder brother by his single mother and grandmother in the early years of his childhood. It was later, during adolescence and surviving a tough stepfather, whom Tracy come to describe as the epitome of evil that life is a bit of hard knocks. Tracy set out on their own as soon as he was able to fly the nest, breaking a negative cycle in search of a positive life. To listen to the stories of his teenage years ago cringe, knowing the caring, loving man that against all odds, makes me want to sing its praises.

Ask any of the BASE jumpers who have had the pleasure of your company from a jump, or the opportunity to spend time talking with him and hear the same descriptions over and over. "Space is the Yoda BASE", "He class is a guru, "" He mentors the best of the best. "As the investigation progressed, I soon hear:" He Felix is the mentor for the dog dogs glory of all glory. "I could almost hear the" boos and whistles "in the background as the words rang in my ears.

In my first conversation with Tracy I decided to go straight to the point, at full speed hit him right between the eyes, "you are responsible for the monster that is Felix Baumgartner? "He laughed and agreed to assume full responsibility, before proceeding to explain the joy of having trained as an athlete Felix. He assured me that Felix is a monster, a bit "misunderstood" by the general base population, has a bit of an ego, (sigh said, "I a BASE jumper can not be ") and like everyone else on this planet has made some mistakes in the trial.

In these statements alone picked up an understanding basics of how Tracy felt about mentoring. His love for all things could be summed up in BASE jumping loyalty and concern that submitted on behalf of their students. BASE jumping is a serious issue and is intended to be treated with respect. BASE jumping is not just made, that are planned and executed, a spiritual experience to be savored and celebrated.

He explained the qualities he has seen in each of his students who convinced him to accept the challenge and responsibility of teaching and what the characteristics he admired in them, because after matured as bridges in this way. "Perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge," he replied, I have had many students, but only a few mentor. Solid knowledge gear, the ability to not go, BASE ethics, and doing jumps that have not been done before in sport are the characteristics I admire my former students. "

Do you have basic guidelines that must be met by the student before you consider adopting responsibility of mentoring them? "Team, monitoring skills, canopy control exercises, precision landings, etc. The amount of parachuting is not important. What matters is the amount of skydiving base preparation and mentality of the bridges. "

Equipment, scope out the purpose and conditions, security protocols, etiquette, and decision making are the five most important things Tracy believes that a mentor should teach their students before the student is alone. He adds: "Of course this is assuming they have their outputs arranged."

I asked him to share his views on whether he felt it was important that each diver BASE have a mentor and how much control or influence has the most active mentor of the jumper?

"It'sa great idea to have a mentor. There is much information there is sense to reinvent the wheel and be a pioneer in the mind and nowhere else, which means having an accident. Some elements of people protesting against the embargo and enjoy an increased risk of figuring it out themselves. A mentor does not control a student, but can only hope to be able to influence a student. That bridge activity is entirely up to them. "As for the degree of responsibility must be placed on the shoulders of the guardian regarding student activities," No, if the student has ignored the advice of the mentor. The rest should be considered on a case by case basis. "

The question that millions of dollars, "What makes a person qualified to be a mentor?

"I think it is the ability to do the following: education: Helping students to remember a list or sequence. Instruction: Helping students to use that list or sequence. Mentoring: Listening to the student and personalization of teaching and instruction to the parties on student adjustment. This allows the student to analyze and know when to dynamically implement what lessons and call instructions in a given situation. "Ever had rejected a student:" I refused to instruct students because my lack of time or the inability of the student to achieve the objectives I can use as a guide. In my course of euros, I would state that the jump was not part of the instruction, but if they did so ...."

As for teaching the technical aspects of the BASE vs Ethics, and History of BASE, Tracy offers this advice. "After the initial discussion with the student where I tell them stories of terror and how it will affect BASE or perhaps end his life, start with the rig. This allows me to judge how challenges and mental focus for me then adapt the training of counselors to the bridge. "

Tracy most stupid he had ever done: "That's my secret. I have a fear if I tell, someone bet and do something stupid. Skipping a 110 degree inside corner of a building 370 feet in my 15th jump rate is right up there in the department of Bonehead. Tom and Dwain did later, but the experience of having much more in BASE jumping. "

His attraction to the base was like an epiphany of three parts of the research and discovery, which led the way to do it. The first doubt regarding its meeting Eric Lee, "driving a truck that occurred at the Mardi Gras Boogie just across Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. He was talking to another BASE jumper, I saw the fire in his eyes as he spoke of the tallest building in New Orleans at the time, 700 feet. So I researched the building and jumped as my number 9 feet. "His second statement was" the fate of Jeb Williams. Jeb to be an experienced skydiver commercial airline pilot, the type of person you feel safe if he was at the controls. The type of man I thought would be the last on his list to die on the jump. So I looked everything I could about Jeb. Finally, it was "Skydiving Magazine", I thought it was a mistake in the announcement that someone had celebrated its 1000th jump in jump to a base 400 feet. So I investigated and discovered it was true. "

Tracy believes that has been around for "a time and probably with ground crew and witnessed more than anyone BASE jumps (ca 10,000) and witnessed its growth from infancy "as what makes you unique to grassroots sport. He adds: "I have the distinction of being the well-known instructor / mentor of infamous major bridges, Juan Vicente and Felix Baumgartner and the boys famous too. "In asking about his greatest achievement in life, the focus shifts from Base to help people." Facilitating change in people's lives is my achievement. I got thank you very much for this time. Tracy likes to teach about life as much if not more than he likes to teach about the base.

He is a student of life as a boy devoured entire encyclopedias in their thirst for answers. He tells me he has not achieved his childhood dreams as he is "still in my childhood and I'm still dreaming. "Following BASE explains how he has contributed to their personal growth," brought me around the world. I matured in the social sense I realized that the U.S. A do not have everything and the U.S. of A is not the land of freedom unless you have "free to do what they are told."

Tracy and his family currently residing in Munich, Germany, where it competes annually in Munich Chili Cook Off. This year Tracy landed second place, next, for his spicy beef chili, "To be is so hot is probably why it was not carried out first, I had a cocktail of Chili's to add but I was just getting too spicy, so I aborted the chipotle. Award-winning chef for vegetarian chili, "which I think is morally wrong, but it was really kick-ass. Three trips the podium, I'm not eating cheese and chili for 10 months now. "He named her recipes, since only space technology," Global Warming "was the name Meat and The Friendly Cow "was the vegetable." I was going to call "greenhouse gases", but does not sound very appetizing. "

Recently added to his list of hobbies "Foot-bag, Rubik's cube, card tricks" is Foosball. You can find online Tracy discuss, practice Foosball or play at any time of day. He is determined to dominate the game until the point that his wife gave him a Foosball table for his birthday more recent.

In speaking with Tracy you must learn to keep your eye on the ball so to speak. The conversation moves in pulses as steadily as it does on issues transition, suddenly you find yourself to be questioned on many philosophical views. The Emperor Joseph II is quoted in the film Amadeus, who told Mozart: "My dear boy, do not take it too hard. His work is great. It's the quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. And cut a few that will be" perfect. To which Mozart replied: "What did little you have in mind, Majesty?" For the next round of questions, I found myself feeling that missed some notes, but later realized that is part of the charm of Tracy to be as brief in their responses as can be prepared and generous with his words other cases.

What is your philosophy of going? "Ask yourself" Is it worth it? " What is your greatest fear? "Heights," Is there anything you would not try or do in life? "There are some things, but mostly the reason is the time or money constraints," What is your exercise routine? " Live actively, "What is your weakness jump?" Tracking, "What is their strength in the jump? "Tracking" Is there any time you look to retire to jump? "No" How to prepare mentally for a jump? "I let my fear and logic to fight and go with the" winner, Did you attend First Jump course? "No", how skydiving has had many before his first BASE jump? "500" + How many BASE jumps took before winning the number of BASE? "62" Did a mentor? "No", Do you prefer solo or group jumps? "mostly alone, but in many senses is great from time to time, "What's in BASE jumping you enjoy the most?" Kickin ' out "track" Bitchin one, what BASE jumping is unless you enjoy? "pilot chute hesitation."

Finally, I cornered him between batches from responding, "In your opinion, what is the biggest mistake that a new bridge it? Y" What advice would you give to a new bridge? "

"Biting more than one can chew and too excited to train to get experience make the leap as safe as possible. In the end, belongs to the person, to ensure the safety of oneself. That means you. Make your own decision on what they are able. If one is told what to do all the time and adheres to that, then the process will take. If I instruct my student to follow my rules, the student will never be better I If I instruct my students to assess the situation and make their own rules, then the probability of advance beyond my capabilities is greater than what I think the dream instructors truth. On a side note, the student is more likely to become a statistic. "

Finally, (Big sigh of Tracy) I asked the man who is always on the go with this project or that project, "Do you have a personal goal for you now?" His answer is classic Tracy, "I do not like personal goals. I fuck. I tend to go just for him. The problem with personal goals is that you have tunnel vision. It's enough to concentrate on your altimeter when you have a parachute malfunction of an aircraft rather than deal with the situation. Freefall video is a good example it. Been there and done that. Almost dead, but the issue was in the frame. Another pair of friends is dead, but is part of the video recovered. One must be really hard have a goal and not give up the security to do so. "

In the end, after months, if months, floating and weaving bits and pieces to get time to treat completing a portrait of "space", Yoda, Guru BASE, that "annoyed" him by sharing two of their stories. I wish it was a tape Audio for everyone to get the full effect of a story "BASE Spacey Tracy." Anyone who has had the pleasure of spending time with Tracy and know I am blessed a writer to be given the opportunity to learn from him about BASE, life and "not sweat the small stuff, because it is all the little things." Period. Take care, space technology.

List 5 random facts or habits about yourself that would be classified as odd, strange or different.

1. Being 46 years old and still playing

2. BASE jumping

3. Sewing foot bags (2-62 panel)

4. Weather forecast

5. Playing with divining rods

Tracy "Space" Walker Statistics:

Age: 46

Marital Status: Married

Location: Munich, Germany

Children: Daughter and son 9yrs 4yrs

Education: High School

Hometown: Deep South

Year first BASE jump: 1988

Container is: Perigee / Gargoyle

Canopy is: Mojo / MDV Troll

His profession: Technical Research

BASE number: 283

Nickname: Space, Spacey Tracy




Osaka, Japan

A building of 170 meters in Osaka, Japan stands out a bit. The field held on Monday to address the security detail and decided that was a good opportunity to do as they were only four security guards in the observation deck. Unfortunately there were 20 security officers in the jump on Thursday. The security weakness was still there, however. This meant that less time would up and jumps off the runway at 2m and 1.5m to the top of the fence of suicide, followed by a fall of 3 meters to the roof where I would go to the edge and jump.

I waited until the security guy walked behind me and turned away, and went for it. As soon as I stood on the rail, the security guard started yelling, but I did on the fence of suicide and fell on the roof and headed for the exit. A security guard was on my heels screaming Japanese in me. I was thoroughly prepared for this. I had learned to say in Japanese, A: If you come closer I will go. "B:" Sorry. "C:" Thank you. "

I pulled my backpack camouflage days covered my computer and turned to say "If you come over I'll go, but unfortunately I forgot the words. So instead I said "thank you very much" with a big smile on my face. I think the smile on my face frightened him because he stepped back and turned and jumped.

I had planned to land near the street, but as I unstowed my brakes, I saw too many people on the sidewalk. So I opted for a 180 degrees back inside the building (the building was 2, 150 office towers, 70 million of separation with another top of the construction of 20 million to overcome together.).

As I was preparing to flash I saw two security guards running toward me. I turned, got up and took two laps of the deck and they had me. He walked me a meeting room where I waited for about 15 minutes until the board meeting convened. I use the Japanese I knew, while repeating a shaking hands as do foreigners, "Sorry," "Thank you" a lot, and English, "Beautiful building!"

I did write a piece of paper that is not going to jump the new building and asked me how often I thought this was an exemplary job as when you were bad at school as Bart Simpson. They did not understand what I wrote what they asked and I looked over, discussed and then handed it back and ask me to write that if he had I would jump back on my own responsibility. So I did that and signed it with my number of BASE.

Then I was escorted to the door and got a question was translated. The question I asked was "Could you bring me some postcards from the tourist shop?" There was a resounding "No!" in English and throw me out. Before I could get my feet, my drink was launched on top of me, with my backpack, camouflage day up and the door closed and suddenly I heard the slamming closed lock.

Croatia & The Rocket Man "

I've been very involved in a few high jumps risk surveyor and consultant. I was in Croatia in a cave 195m when we got eroded by wind and rain associated Bora. Since it can take 2-3 days, we had to return the train to Munich with the camera since we hire most. Meaning: most of the photographs for rent in Munich. As he approached his house train around midnight, I received a call from Rocket-Man Peter he needed me on the bridge of 18 meters above the water in southern Germany at 5 am, as I was a movie-with the rocket deployed canopy (we have developed this system) of a motorcycle jumping a ramp over the railing. I did it on time. My first job was to inform the scuba diver in the various handles on the train modified base and how to finger the most important road and other things tech. Rocket-Man helped arts and noticed that the pocket rocket was modified. It can be as he was standing there.

He made a show beyond the ramp to get your line then returned for the drive control final, then the starting point. Cameras started rolling and he did that. Ramp nailed to perfection. He crossed over the railing, looking to achieve-pull The rocket fired, but not launch.

Rocket-Man pushed off the bike just a few feet before impact on the water at 90 km / h (yes, there calculated that before the jump). He hit the first lap he leaned forward to having a full body slam against the surface. Rocket-Man and the missing bike beneath the surface of the lake. plastic fenders of the bike up ....

Then Peter went up, but upside down. The diver was frozen in shock. Germany Eddie (Baser / photo) who was filming from the top to close my position on the bridge, only the minimum, 18 feet below the jump and given to Peter and he swam to the boat collection (saving the life of Peter). Peter was unconscious but had started to breathe again. During all this, my mind was "WTF?" I was checking the exchange control, and could not perceive how I could have missed something. The deployment chain was completely clean.

I have a trip to the hospital because not let me go in the ambulance with Pedro. When I got to see him, I was wondering what had happened. I explained about the rocket did not clean the pocket. He had no memory the event at all. Actually, it was definitely missing a few weeks from memory.

I have the equipment and inspected and nothing was wrong. But within 6 hours, so emotions went through my mind.

The consequences: Unfortunately, because most of the two wet suits, pocket flexed as cleared the rail, leaned over and pulled the handle deployment of capture pocket rocket launch. Peter recovered much of his memory and his rocket successfully jumped changed deployed platform / ramp / motorcycle in a quarry (31m I think) for the Discovery Channel show "Stunt Junkies."

Two days later, I was on my way back to the cave in Croatia.

The cave diving was successful.

About the Author

Cynthia Lynn lives in Chicago, Illinois were she works as a Freelance writer of short story's and profile interviews covering a wide range of topics and personalities.

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