Pro BASE started to organize BASE jumping competitions in 2008 with the legendary Spain Base event at the Bali Hotel, competitors being scored on target landings. The huge success led to repeat it the following year and then expand to a tour of base jumping events: the ProBASE World Cup was born. The Pro BASE Wingsuit Race in Lauterbrunnen brought international attention as probably the most outrageous BASE jumping competition ever organized.

2013 Schedule

The tour ran from June to September and included meets at 4 venues; Kjerag, Norway; Innfjorden, Norway; Istanbul, Turkey; & Stechelberg, Switzerland. The first competition was in Istanbul and was scored on target landings.The other 3 were wing suit race events, one in Kjerag involved a change of direction (dubbed U-turn by the media). Sometimes the race pilots flew head-to-head in a knockout competition for the final; in others the selection for the final was by the best times posted, regardless of the heat results. The results of the finals determine the winners for each heat and the overall ProBASE World Champion 2013.

Participants

Only professional flyers and proven competitors are invited, other pilots must fulfil a range of extremely tough prerequisites. The rules are extremely strict and safety is a top priority; only a large amount of experience, perfect control and precise handling skills will get pilots a slot. Safety rules mean a minimum canopy flight time of 20 seconds is required to avoid disqualification; also pilots must not invade the ‘lane’ of the other pilot.

The Four Events

How did they work out in practice this year? Links or videos about each heat are below.

1 Istanbul, Turkey, 20-25 May 2013

Istanbul was a target landing competition, similar to classic accuracy but the aim is to have a stand-up landing on a target. The short film below follows Jamie on the Istanbul heat of the ProBASE World Cup.