Fantastic 4 Jumper

Someone who you think you know … 15 questions with BASE jumper Jevto Dedijer

• Name: Dedijer Jevto
• Age: 46
• State Status: Wife-deSaint Yolaine D'Authingues
• Children: Chloe and Damien 19 15
• Location: Quebec City – Canada
• Number Jumping: 15 BASE jumps
• Year of first jump: 1982
• Container: Racer
• Canopy: Strato Cloud
• Occupation: Brand Strategist
• Number of Skydives: 800

When talking to an up and coming BASE jumper, I asked if they had heard of "Jevto Dedijer, which paused for a moment and said, "they do not think so." When I asked in turn, "Base 66", he replied: "The book? Yes, I've heard of it. "In a sport where names seem to be lost and the number of take off Jevto Dedijer cemented their number in the history of sport in parts of Europe and leave behind the cover of the book glow orange with the simple title, "Base 66".

The story of a boy who caught the skydiving at 17 years old, in the summer of 1983 set for Paris, France from his native Sweden to start his professional career and during this period, he discovered an adventure of a lifetime.

Yuri Kuznetsov-BASE416 described the book as "BASE 66 is a fascinating story about life and death, terror and joy, intimate friendship. It is a story of extraordinary people take a step beyond. "

Not only Dedijer paint a portrait of his pioneering experiments BASE, but puts into play the dynamics of deception and balance your journey to reach their baseline of work, family and relationships.

I originally wrote BASE jumper for the author turned months ago, introduce myself and to order your book from your website. I asked if we could talk once I finished reading her story, which said "Would be a pleasure talking with you" and sent me her phone number. In the end, it became the pleasure of doing my knowledge of this energetic man, who kept his desire to fear and fun. For those of you who read the story or knew Dedijer, hope you enjoy listening to an old friend. For those who have yet to do this, read the interview and then do yourself a favor and buy the book.

The first 5 questions are from a college student / BASE. Jumper (Spawnmaster) I had written a book review for a class.

1) During the first days of the base of the community was much smaller and he had felt very alone during this period, being a pioneer and at the end of an exciting new activity. How did you overcome the fear of the unknown, "as you had no experience past to draw from?

You know what? I never got over the fear of the unknown, as she became the fear of the unknown, which was even worse. Today is difficult to imagine a world without Internet, email, MSN, YouTube, etc, but in a way that was good. We had to rely entirely on our own wits and knowledge, which when started jumping in 1982 was not impressive. We had nobody to ask for advice, no one to talk to who was more experienced than we were and we had no idea where to find these guys. We hear of people BASE jumping through the grapevine at La Ferte Gaucher Dropzone outskirts of Paris. That was it. We really felt alone and that's what made it even more exciting.

2) Your book BASE 66 not much detail as you were on active reached after the number of BASE.

After my jump Trollveggen I kind of had a break of one year. I needed perspective on what I had done and I also felt that if I continued BASE jumping I'd be running increased risks, try more things, jump of smaller objects, etc. But after breaking back for Kochertalbrucke for a weekend of jumping with Scott and Bernard, went to Bridge day and that was about it. In total I made 15 BASE jumps but felt I had done 100. Each jump was emotionally draining, because we had to figure things out along the path. Our parachutes were not the best things in the world and I really do not trust my equipment and that is a kind nerve racking!

3) You kept in touch with other paratroopers and keep abreast of sport as a whole?

Yes, I do not stay in touch with the BASE jumping community, because I get emails and calls from people who read my book. I exchange ideas with some of the guys out there, Tom Aiello, Johnny Utah and a lot of people who are less experienced. I'm reading forums BASE, watching videos, etc., and am impressed with how far the sport, which is not terrible for a sport called BASE jumping, because that means he has become so mainstream, arrived. On August 5th I am meeting the Frenchman Marc Audap BASE jumper at the bar 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower in Paris. On August 6th a meeting that a Portuguese writer screen in the same place and he is currently working on a game screen based on my book.

4) Do you ever feel like returning to the base?

I never felt so close to making another base jump like when I have come to Bridge Day in 2006. I was there to promote my book and all these people were telling me:''We Jevto, leap, just one. You'll love it. ''I spent the weekend watching other people jump and that was real hard. Furthermore, how smart would have been the handle of a platform and go to BASE outside the edge off the bridge 22 years after making my last BASE jump? That's how you end up dead.

5) What do you think of BASE jumping piloting wingsuit base jumping or skiing?

I think it's great that the jumpers are out there, innovate and invent new ways to have fun and be afraid. It like any adrenaline based activity, things have to evolve to remain relevant.

1. What was Cloud?

I sold for a Cloudia Skydiver Swedish in 1985, but I think she is in a nursing home for a long time now.

2. Selling the story to the newspapers is frowned upon by many in the community of BASE jumpers. You receive any personal criticism, when his story appeared in newspapers? You admit in his book that you sold your story to make money.

No, I did not receive any criticism, because there was no real community to speak at that moment and was also a way to communicate with other base jumpers. ''I've read about a guy who jumped off a bridge in Switzerland, let's go check it out.'' That's how we learned about the objects jumpable BASE jumpers and about others. Remember, no Internet, no e-mail. I think publishing articles has become like having a sponsor. Today there is the Red Bull team at the time he was selling the story to the press.

3. What motivated you to write BASE 66 shares and not just the narration jumps from the base, but his personal life too?

I wrote the book for several reasons. The first was to find the answer to why I did all that. Surprise! I never found out. The best answer I have found so far is: BASE jumping is the reality in its true sense, life and death, separated only by their own decisions. The second reason is that I thought would be fun for my kids to be able to read about my adventures. Today they still tell me,''Dad, did you see that guy who jumped off a cliff with a wing suit? ''I tell them I've done things like that more than 20 years ago, but I have no video for prove it, and without a video that I think never happened to them. Thus, by reading my book one day they should have a better understanding for what I did at the time. The third reason is that I decided to write the book for those interested in adventure pursuits and crazy. I never intended the book is a manifesto for the technical BASE jumping community and I believe you can not separate the BASE jumping that we call our vida''normal''. How fun would that BASE jumping is never returned to our normal life in the middle. You do the mundane things, like clothes, drinking a latte at Starbucks, washing the car etc BASE jumping that makes it more exciting. One moment you're no''normal 'and the other world is in free fall off a cliff.

4. Bernard and Scott were aware that you were going to write the book? What was your initial reaction to the book?

Yes, I said I was writing a book, but I never let them read the manuscript. After everything that I was writing about my perception of the whole adventure. Scott liked the book and has been actively promoting his company in Bangkok. I do not think Bernard ever read because he does not read English.

It took a while to get the book printed. After finishing my first manuscript of 200 pages that pushed the wrong button on my word processor (which is what we called it back then) and the entire manuscript vanished into thin air. I have a copy and that was it. Took a year gathering the courage to start writing from scratch again.

5. I know you mentioned to me in the past that a writer is developing a roadmap to bring BASE 66 films. Does the writer feel that there is an audience big enough to justify the support of a movie or it is being viewed as an independent film?

Here is John Martin, the writer's response screen.

I believe there is more to "BASE 66" jump base. The underlying "age" story about courage, friendship and discovery of life's finer things have a universal appeal that can reach large audiences. We are not limited to niche BASE jumper is at all!

That said, it should be understood that in the script makes no sense to speak of a choice between a commercial "or" indie "approach. The writer – if he is intellectually honest – use any form and substance, he may find necessary to tell a good story. No more, no less.

The story told in BASE 66 is very similar to the Oscar-winning documentary Man on Wire, which is a history about a French man, Philippe Petit, who tied a rope between the twin towers in New York in 1976, walked back and forth eight times.

6. I saw you when you are organizing a meeting of "idiots" club in France next year, when was the last time all together?

The last time we three got together was when we jumped Kochertalbrucke in 1985! I met Scott in Rhode Island, Bangkok and Paris and I got together with Bernard, in Paris several times but has been a long time since the Idiot Club has an annual meeting. When we got together, they have to do without our wives. Otherwise, let's try to behave, be polite and do not curse. This will be bad.

7. I know his wife skydived with you, you have taken your children and parachuting would you want to know if they jumped BASE?

I have not had my children even skydiving, but the plan is to celebrate my 50th birthday in free fall the four of us. Chloé My daughter asked me last week if the plan was still on. Damien, my son is an artist and is interested in the base, but Chloe is different. She is at risk taking (she stole a pair of jeans in a store when she was 13!) But I wonder if she decides beat the world record for free diving, becoming a matador or a trainer white shark. I would be nervous about it, but as I am well placed to criticize such a decision?!

8. What is your latest passion?

I had this dilemma since I stopped BASE jumping. What will I do now to keep the adrenalin flowing? Came naturally though. Since my childhood in Sweden, I had this passion for nature and wildlife. My parents had a house in the forest in southern Sweden and my brother and I used to spend all our free time outside. I live in Quebec in eastern Canada, there is lack of space, fauna, rivers, lakes, etc. I spent about one month a year alone in the woods, bears full with the puppies (yes, I know it's not smart!) sleep, where the wolves gather and hear them howl, fly fishing salmon … I feel totally free and at peace alone in the middle of nowhere. My next project is to spend a month alone in Yukon, paddling in a river in a canoe.

9. What made BASE contribute to their personal growth as a person?

I definitely became a stronger person mentally. He helped me immensely in my and professional life as an entrepreneur because, taking calculated risks comes naturally and now I have no problem venturing out into the unknown. Once you have looked at death in the eye several times, you're no longer the same. Moreover, I have become more difficult person to pessoa''normal''estar around. I'm very demanding, has a bizarre and attention to detail can be arrogant.

10. How come you came to live in Canada?

I was working as marketing director of IKEA in France and one day I went fly fishing in a lake near Paris. I got lost in my thoughts when I suddenly had a vision. I saw my grandchildren who still are not there, come up to me and ask:''Grandpa, tell us about his life.''I began telling them about my career in marketing, good my Volvo 480, etc. After two minutes that left my neck and fled. I was horrified, stopped fishing and went home. As soon as I got home I told my Yolaine woman:''we have to change history, the grandchildren have not yet want to sit on my lap, and my life story is boring! (I BASE had jumped but for me it was great. It took time for me to discover it was a bit special. ) So we took the Atlas of the world and made a short list of seven countries. Only two years after I got Yolaine, Damien, who was 5 at the time, and Chloe, who was one in Quebec City Airport. They had never set foot in Canada before and we have been here over the last 15 years. Yolaine or was madly in love with me trust me that much or totally insane. I think she was crazy.

11. His parents are still alive? What happened to your brother?

My father died in his bed, in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in 2005, aged 94. The last book he read before his death was BASE 66. I think he read it 10 times and he told me that every time he is finished he could not believe what I had done. Coming a guy who was in the air and 101 bodyguards General Maxwell Taylor in the battle of the bulge is a kind of surprising. My mother still lives in southern Sweden and is in good health. Last week she sent me an email telling me I had just seen a face of the wing suit jumping off a cliff in Norway and I had to promise not to ever do something so stupid again. BASE jumping promised never again but could not promise him I would not do something stupid in the future. My brother Miki lives in the west coast of Sweden, with his wife Cecilia and son Corbin. Have an eco farm 35 acres and has a merger as the relationship with nature and animals around her.

12. You write in your book that BASE jumping sites have done is "easy" for people to come and that the First BASE Jumping courses may have a jumper going up and in a matter of days. You can add that this is a dangerous thing. "Even with the advancement of art, you still feel that is very" easy " to enter the sport?

All training available out there is great. The art is fantastic and there is an enormous amount of collective knowledge there out. BASE jumping is more accessible, or seams more accessible today than ever. I'm reading an article in Outside magazine, the same problem with the tribute to Shane McConkey on as K2 is well on its way to becoming a death trap again in the Himalayas. When you get people with very little training and knowledge over a mountain like that is a disaster waiting. It's the same with BASE jumping. BASE jumping looks great on youtube but not for everyone.

13. Beyond advances in art, Jump first courses and the wealth of information on the Internet, you see any change in "philosophy" to be based?

Of course there was a change. 20 years ago we were in was a pioneer of the base and these are scary, difficult and exciting moments. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay faced the same situation when he climbed Everest in 1953, so Joe Kittinger, when he jumped from a hot air balloon to 102,000 feet 1960. Having had the opportunity to experience the pioneer era base is something I will cherish forever. I think the maioria''''Extreme Sports have gone the same thing. Back in the 80 BASE was something more personal than today because we do not need to worry about the cameras, YouTube uploads, etc. But now I stop because I'm starting to sound as an old man!

14. You see a common thread in all jumpers, regardless of location, gender or skill level?

Yes I do and I think it will not only BASE jumpers, but for all the adrenaline-based activities. Just look and the soldiers, they feel that people outsiders do not understand them. They have difficulties to communicate their experiences and feelings of people who have not been in a combat zone. The same goes for photographers war, pilots, hikers free … I think that most BASE jumpers have a simple view of life, likes to drink large quantities of alcohol, be wild, go to along the edge or maybe I'm just talking about myself here?

15. What advice would you give jumpers again?

The day you fearless, stop smoking. The day you feel more confident, stop. The day that you do not trust yourself to stop smoking. By the way what is a good question for your self – I trust in me today? Always listen to your gut. I would also advise them to read the paper by Tom Aiello – getting on base. I loved when he gave evidence practices such as: if a coin falls off the table, you catch it before it hits the ground? If not, get on base.

I would also advise a jumper to set new personal limits and never give in to peer pressure from other base jumpers.

Bonus Question: Today, when a new jumper seeks information on the forum that is said "will read" or "you're not ready because you had to ask:" I know Scott wrote letters to Carl for advice. Do you still answer or Carl Jean jumped in his letters was to "go read" or "you're not ready because you had to ask questions?

There was nothing that could have prevented us from jumping. We were determined to get our numbers BASE. It sounds corny, but today is how we feel about it. If someone had told me:''you are not ready, because you have to ask.'' I would have kicked it very high! Who could be ready to jump, if you had to exhaust all the questions that circulate in your head before jumping? I think it's a question of balance, balance between reading, hanging out with the experienced jumpers, watch videos, read reports of incidents and hands on experience, etc. It is to trust yourself and your mates jump with his life.

All rights reserved. No republication of this material in any form or medium is permitted without the express permission of the author.

You can visit Jevto in BASE66

About the Author

SOLD – Fantastic Equitation/Jumper – Offshore