Thanks for all the good words guys. That was actually a girl slipping in the video halfway up the Eiger in Switzerland. Scary moment for us all but she recovered amazingly.
As far as the wingsuiting; it's a pretty amazing feeling (sorry I can't really think of any way to describe it that doesn't sound generic). Actually flying a wingsuit is fairly easy and intuitive. However, "terrain" and proximity flying are quickly becoming the norm for intermediate to advanced wingsuit pilots. I would consider myself pretty novice in the terrain and suit I fly. It's about as close to a dream as I have come yet, but carries a lot of responsibility with it. Mistakes are fatal and I would be lying if I said I hadn't lost friends or had a close call. Much like mountaineering, you are challenging your mind in some of the most extreme conditions possible.
It can be done safely and it is done safely much more than people hear about. As humans we generally only make the fatal or close to videos viral. The terrain flying lines you see in that video are from my friend Pat Walker who has participated in the sport for more than a decade. It's not his first or third year on a wingsuit and these are not lines that should ever be flown by people except those that are naturally gifted. Even then, sometimes shit happens. It may sound pompous, but BASE jumping is not a sport that will ever be conducive to all people. It's a sport that some people can do very safely, but most people do not possess the proper reaction skills to survive for very long in it. Sports that challenge you under pressure like skiing, FMX, snowboarding, mountain biking, etc are the best. Skydiving experience is a must as well. In my opinion it's a top tier sport that has several must do precursors. There is no governing body or litigation which makes it beautiful in its own way. Anyone, anywhere, anytime can go fly a wingsuit off a cliff. That doesn't mean it's a good idea and if you have a general will to live you would observe as I did. Having some real consequences happen to people you know is a good way to get a reality check before you start making decisions for yourself.
As negative as this sounds I have met some of the most interesting friends and seen some of the most beautiful spots this planet has to offer from a perspective only shared by birds. It is just something that should be weighed very seriously and carefully as to if it's something you want to do and if you can deal with the consequences that come with absolute freedom.
