Interview with Carlos Pedro Briceño (BASE Jumper)

With this interview we seek to bring our Yumpinero adventurers closer to BASE jumping, so that they can learn a little more about this exciting discipline. Of course, we also want to know what the person is like behind more than 5,000 skydives and 500 BASE jumps. A real pass!
But first of all we want to remember that today marks 4 years since the death of Darío Barrio, cook and BASE jumper (may he rest in peace), whom we interviewed a few years ago. You can recover the interview here.



Yumping.- Carlos, how did your passion for jumping come about?
Carlos Pedro Briceño.-Since I was little, flying always caught my attention. Basically watching Superman cartoons and those flying superheroes.

And.- Do you remember what your first parachute jump was?
C.P.B.- It was on June 19, 1999 in a small drop zone "The Cliff Skydiving School" in a town called San Juan de los Morros, 2 hours and half of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. We were several friends of whom few still jump. It was quite intense since one had to hang on to the wing of a Cessna 185 plane and let go when the instructor gave the order. The instructor opened your parachute as soon as you let go.



And.- What was the moment you decided to switch to BASE jumping?
C.P.B.-When I had already made about 800 plane jumps, I had an extreme sports TV program at that time and I did it as part of one of the episodes of the program. It was from a 70 meter bridge near the international airport in Caracas, Venezuela. After the jump I was delighted with the sensation and the adrenaline it gave me.

And.- In case there is any confusion among our adventurers, could you explain to us in words what BASE jumping is.
C.P.B.- BASE jumps are jumps from fixed structures. The word B.A.S.E. is an acronym that stands for B. Building (building) A. Antenna S. Spans (bridges) E. Earth (cliffs, mountains)



Y.- I know it's difficult to convey to us what you feel every time you jump, but, can we Can you help give us an idea?
C.P.B.- When I jump I do it because the sensation of being able to fly from a fixed structure is incredible, that feeling of peace the moment you take your feet off the object you are jumping from is unique, and then the acceleration of your body in free fall is very fast and intense.

And.- What goes through your mind every time you jump?
C.P.B.-When I jump I am living in the present, there are no thoughts other than what is happening at that precise moment. I always feel that fear that is basically part of the ritual and that is important since it keeps you attentive to all the security details. Fear keeps you alive, panic kills you.



Y.- In extreme sports there is an issue that is always present, that of insecurity... How safe or unsafe do you consider BASE jumping to be?
C.P.B.- BASE jumping is a sport that, unlike other sports, any accident is quite serious or can cause death. But if you do it with conscience and following all the safety parameters, such as ideal weather conditions, adequate equipment and not inventing something that you are not sure you can do and the chances of it turning out well are slim. The sport is quite safe like any other extreme sport. Every sport has its degree of difficulty and risk, and it is part of one to do it in the safest way possible.

And.- How would you explain to someone who is totally out of this world that every jump is worth taking the risk? C.P.B.- I believe that you cannot convince anyone to take a risk, it has to be of their own free will. If the person is really interested and shows a lot of interest, I would explain how safe sport can be and how rewarding it is, since it makes you feel 100% alive.



Y.-How have you managed to become part of the BASE jumping Elite at the World level? And what does it mean to belong to it?
C.P.B.- I do not consider myself to be part of an Elite, I consider myself to be part of a sport that is quite small compared to the majority and being popular is because you have been practicing it for several years.

And.- We would like to know how a BASE jumper takes care of herself and how she trains.
C.P.B.- In truth BASE jumping does not require a certain physical condition but it is It is ideal to always be in good physical condition since if you want to fly from the mountains, you have to walk up them and if you are not trained the journey can turn into a nightmare. I have always been an athlete and have always stayed active.

And.- What is the place where you liked jumping the most?
C.P.B.- All the Alps in Europe are incredible, the Fjords in Norway too, but a place that is unique and very special to me is undoubtedly Angel Falls in Venezuela.



And.- Where would you love to be able to jump?
C.P.B.- There are many but what I can tell you now is Yosemite Park in California.

Y.- Do you practice or like any other adventure sports?
C.P.B.- I have practiced many sports since I love them all. Among them surfing, kite surfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, high mountain climbing, I have done triathlons, adventure races...etc

And.- What sport that you have never done would you like to try?
C.P.B.- I haven't done speedfly yet but this summer I think I will do it for the first time.



Y.- From 1 to 10, at what level would you place adrenaline in your life?
C.P.B.- I guess close to 10.

And.- What is your next challenge?
C.P.B.- The challenge is to continue enjoying what I do and be able to make a living from it.

And.- What is the place that you have fallen in love with?
C.P.B.- Practically all places that have mountains are my favorites.



Y.- Have you jumped in Spain? If so, where? If not, where would you like it?
C.P.B.- Yes, I have jumped in Benidorm several times to compete and I have come 4th, I have jumped in Riglos, and I have jumped in Montserrat several times, in fact I was the first to do a proximity line.

Y.- Would you recommend that your family and friends practice BASE jumping?
C.P.B.- Of course, but BASE jumping is for people who were really born for it, no one who even half doubts if they like it, they will end up liking it, it is very intense.

And.- What is the place where you liked jumping the most?
C.P.B.- All the Alps in Europe are incredible, the Fjords in Norway too, but a place that is unique and very special to me is undoubtedly Angel Falls in Venezuela.



And.- Where would you love to be able to jump?
C.P.B.- There are many but what I can tell you now is Yosemite Park in California.

Y.- Do you practice or like any other adventure sports?
C.P.B.- I have practiced many sports since I love them all. Among them surfing, kite surfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, high mountain climbing, I have done triathlons, adventure races...etc

And.- What sport that you have never done would you like to try?
C.P.B.- I haven't done speedfly yet but this summer I think I will do it for the first time.



Y.- From 1 to 10, at what level would you place adrenaline in your life?
C.P.B.- I guess close to 10.

And.- What is your next challenge?
C.P.B.- The challenge is to continue enjoying what I do and be able to make a living from it.

And.- What is the place that you have fallen in love with?
C.P.B.- Practically all places that have mountains are my favorites.



Y.- Have you jumped in Spain? If so, where? If not, where would you like it?
C.P.B.- Yes, I have jumped in Benidorm several times to compete and I have come 4th, I have jumped in Riglos, and I have jumped in Montserrat several times, in fact I was the first to do a proximity line.

Y.- Would you recommend that your family and friends practice BASE jumping?
C.P.B.- Of course, but BASE jumping is for people who were really born for it, no one who even half doubts if they like it, they will end up liking it, it is very intense.