Making the call to walk back from an exit point starts with understanding your internal state. In her interview with Skydive Mag<\/em>,<\/a> renowned BASE jumper Julia Botelho shares that progression and safety are built on how a jumper manages fear and pressure. At the exit, the pressure to perform, whether from peers, social media, or self-imposed expectations, can cloud judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A “No-Go” decision is often a battle against ego. Elite athletes of all kinds recognize that fear is a tool for survival, not a hurdle to be ignored. If the pressure to jump outweighs the confidence in the conditions, the only safe move is to walk back down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the mental game, the actual conditions of the location should always be evaluated with a discerning eye. Pete Allum, an expert in mountain canopy flying<\/a>, hightlights in his article that understanding terrain and weather is a non-negotiable for anyone flying near terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When assessing an exit, you must consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n World champion Yohann Aby preaches that elite performance is built on non-negotiable preparation. In skydiving and BASE, if you haven’t done the “prehab”, both physically and mentally, you are definitely increasing your margin for error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Laurence-and-Fred-Squirrel-BASE-IMG_3431BIS-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTerrain and Weather<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The Champion Mindset: Preparation as a Buffer<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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