BASE 66: A Story of Fear, Fun, and Freefall

by Jevto Dedijer

BASE 66 is the true, nerve-wracking account of three young skydivers and their quest for membership in the most select extreme sports club on The BASE club. In order to become a full-fledged member, Jevto Dedijer, Bernard Poirier, and Scott Elder had to parachute from the top of a building, an antenna tower, a bridge and a cliff, and survive to tell the story-a feat only some 800 adrenaline addicted people have succeeded in doing.In BASE 66, Jevto Dedijer tells the tale of his hunger for the ultimate adrenaline rush. He and his companions shared several near death experiences while traveling across Europe with their parachutes and beer in Bernard's dented Renault 4.They were pioneers in a sport so dangerous that several of their fellow BASE jumpers died in action."BASE 66 is a fascinating story about life and death, terror and joy, and intimate friendship. It is an account of extraordinary people taking a step beyond the edge." Yuri Kuznetsov-BASE 416"Everyone will enjoy reading Jevto's thrilling and humorous tale of his fascinating BASE odyssey and his discovery of a way of life that surpasses artificial boundaries and provides lifelong inspiration." Jean Boenish-BASE 3

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Adventure

146 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2004

About the author

Jevto Dedijer (Serbian Cyrillic: Јевто Дедијер; 15 August 1880 - 24 December 1918) was a Bosnian Serb writer and geographer from the Maleševci clan who was influential in the formation of the Serb Academy. He was born to a peasant family in Čepelica (village), Bileća (municipality), Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was then a part of Austria-Hungary (although the region was still officially a part of the Ottoman Empire. As a high school student, he studied the villages under the instruction of Jovan Cvijić. He then taught high school in Mostar while studying at the University of Belgrade (then called the Belgrade Higher School) and at the University of Vienna, earning his doctorate at the latter institution in 1907.
He was employed at the National Museum in Sarajevo until the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 by Austria-Hungary, making the region an official part of the empire. He then became professor at the School of Theology in Belgrade and in 1910, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Belgrade.
During World War I, he emigrated to France and then to Switzerland. After the war, he moved to the State of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which later became the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He died on 24 December 1918 in Sarajevo from the Spanish flu. He had three sons: Vladimir, who served as a Yugoslav partisan in World War II and became a biographer of Josip Broz Tito; Boro; and Stevan, a pioneer of business intelligence who also served in World War II but in the United States Army with the 101st Airborne Division.

Reviews

[Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! As a fellow adrenaline junkie myself and a fan of skydiving, It was fascinating to read a first hand story of one of the earliest BASE jumpers. Base 66 follows the author Jevto Dedijer on his quest to earn the coveted Base number. A number given to those who have completed a Base jump on the required four structures.

B - Building
A - Antenna
S - Span
E - Earth

Its a true story of fear and determination!

[Adam Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read this book as it was left behind at my flat by my ex-girlfriend's brother about 13 years ago.

It's hardly a masterpiece but it offers an interesting bit of insight into a world/outlook that is so alien to most.

The writer himself came across as insufferable and selfish; eschewing the privileged life he was born into (plenty of name dropping of aristocracy, social and academic elite) for the thrill of a death-defying act (as long as mum and dad could bail him out financially every once in a while).

I lost count of the number of times the writer tried to convince the reader of just how crazy he was and how mad you had to be to be a BASE jumper. I was also tempted to wear gloves due to the testosterone and bravado that dripped off every page: the boys pursuing every death-defying thrill following a beer-soaked, "crazy" night with obedient pretty girls in tow. (Other than the occasion that they asked the girls to leave as they "needed time for male bonding.")

In fact, the writer's outlook and style reminded me very much of this guy:
https://youtu.be/57PlVm7hALA

[Amanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a skydiver who was familiar with the terms, I felt the ramp up was slow. I understand why it was written that way of course. And I am glad I powered through because it was an emotional rollercoaster.

Warning: if you are close to the sport it might make you want do BASE. Watch out

[Jera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was so incredible to get inside the mind of a base jumper. Fascinating. And then doing it before the internet without all the safety stuff. I'm like I wanna read everyone's stories now. So good. I was trying to not read it too fast.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great but not terrible either. As a skydiver myself, I found some of the history interesting, but I wasn’t very captivated by the story. It’s a short read at least.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple, honest, and interesting look at an exclusive club designed for one of the most extreme type of daredevils. It is a well-written short memoir that I'm so glad I finally read.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, assuming you're interested in skydiving and BASE. It's not particularly well written (it's not bad either mind), but the build up to the jumps and the acts themselves make for compelling reading.

Some of the interludes don't really feel relevant, but the author is telling his whole story of those years and despite this, the jump sections more than make up for any weaknesses in the book.

[The-Yahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this thing just as I was about to start my skydiving course.
It gave me great insight into the evolution of freefall, friendship and teamwork.
All that through a great story any thrill seeking adventurer will like.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a work of history, 5 stars. Literary merit, 2 stars. Worth a read for a moment in time and a kind of mind if the nature of the sport is of interest to you.

[Phil Breidenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by one of the first base jumpers, number 66 to do the four different methods.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare and realistic view of one of the most secretive sport ever. A B.A.S.E.-jumping classic!!

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad... the story of one of the earlier BASE jumpers (#66), and how they had to sort of "figure things out"