(Scroll down to the bottom to see an AMAZING 33MAG original video of the duo jumping)
Braden Dean is one badass motherfucker. More known around these parts for his skills on a snowboard - having filmed for the past few years with Voleurz and other Canadian film crews - he most recently decided his life just wasn't gnarly enough and got into the sport of BASE jumping.
For the uninitiated, BASE jumping is basically skydiving off man-made and nature-made objects. In fact, to become a real BASE jumper you need to knock off all 4 letters of the acronym - Building, Antenae, Span and Earth.
A chance meeting at a Mountain Life party with Suz Graham, a pro-skier and one of the top female BASE jumpers in the world (with over 500 BASE jumps under her belt) quickly led into a 4-week road trip down to the states where Suz taught Braden everything he needed to learn to begin jumping safely. "She had me just packing and unpacking my chute all day for four days before we could even think of jumping", Braden explains. "An intimate relationship with your gear is key. In fact, when I jump I can feel individual pins popping out of my chute as it opens - almost in slow-motion". There are no second chances in BASE jumping, if your chute does not open properly that's it, there's no backups because there is no time for one to open.
Suz and Braden in Moab - Suz Graham photo
Braden jumping a bridge down in the states - Suz Graham photo
Upon returning to BC, Braden quickly set his sights on jumping The Chief, a famous cliff face above Squamish that offers incredible views and some of the most heart-stopping cliff faces imaginable. And a popular hiking trail right to the top! In recent years BASE jumping has become a bit more common off The Chief and as Braden says, "After driving past The Chief hundreds of times over the past years it felt really amazing to go up there and jump off something I've built such an intimate relationship with." And jump he has. Over the course of the previous 8 days before our shoot together Braden jumped The Chief 7 times!
If it seems like he's addicted that's probably because he clearly is. And you can see why. After roping myself up and slowly walking to the edge of the cliff Suz and Braden were about to jump off of my heart was beating faster than it has in years. Giddly laughter mixed with nervous smiles were shared amongst all those present, with three of us never having seen someone BASE jump in person. You could tell everyone was excited and scared at the same time for what was about to go down but in situations like this there is not much you can do other than trust that everyone knows what they are doing and get into work mode (in this case that meant don't fucking miss the shot!).
Suz jumped first and things went smoothly for her (other than a bit of an overshoot on the landing due to unfamiliarity with a new wing) but Braden decided he needs to step things up a bit as apparently jumping off a 900-foot cliff is just not sketchy enough for him. Whereas Suz jumped with her pilot chute in her hands and just tossed it once she was in the air, Braden went for the full-on experience and actually tucked his into his pack and had to do the whole reach-back-and-grab-it-and-toss-it thing. When he told me he was about to do this I was horrified!
Check out these amazing photos from Mike Helfrich below of the crazy duo - and then check out the video edit we made at the bottom. It's nuts!
Braden & Suz scoping the jump - Mike Helfrich photo
Knowing your gear intimately is of utmost importance - Mike Helfrich photo
Braden away! - Mike Helfrich photo
