Inside the mind of a BASE jumper

TWIN FALLS - BASE Jumping is a sport that, despite the simple act of jumping off of really high things, involves precision, quick thinking, and a lot of courage. Here's what it takes to become a BASE jumper at the Perrine Bridge.

Safety first, leap second

BASE jumper Sean Chuma packs his chute Friday evening, July 13, 2018, near the Visitor Center in Twin Falls.

BASE, which stands for buildings, antennas, spans, and earth, are the objects of desire for which BASE jumpers fight against gravity for the briefest moment. In order to BASE jump unassisted with BASE jumping company Tandem BASE, one must at least perform 200 skydives, according to its website.

Paul Shariff, a 26-year-old Californian and BMX phenom, completed 1,500 parachute jumps before leaping at the chance to learn from world-famous BASE instructor Sean Chuma.

"I fly wing suits," Shariff said, "and the first initial step to wingsuit BASE jump is to do a base jump without a wingsuit on, and this is exactly what we're doing."

On Thursday's BASE-jumping session, Shariff and five others started the day with instruction from Chuma. From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., Shariff learned all there is to know about jumping off the Perrine Bridge, the hike back to the Twin Falls Visitor Center, and the importance of diligent preparation throughout the entire process.

According to Tandem BASE's website, any prospective BASE jumper must "be capable of an active lifestyle, under 180 lbs, and physically proportioned." In addition to the physical aspect of BASE, they must also understand the inherent risks of this extreme sport.

Paul Shariff BASE Jumping

Paul Shariff readies himself for his first BASE jump, Thursday, June 3, 2026, at the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls. Shariff completed 1,500 parachute jumps before studying under world-famous BASE instructor Sean Chuma.

For instance, BASE jumpers have only one parachute to work with instead of the two they would use when skydiving. Chuma said that because there's only one chute to work with, this sport requires a lot of preparation and care to be done as safely as possible.

"It's a very calculated sport," Chuma told the Times-News. "It's for a very serious person, not so much for an adrenaline junkie-type mentality, but more for a person that's all about precision."

Shariff mentioned that throughout his skydiving experience, he used the emergency parachute five times. That won't be the case during his jump, as the 486-foot drop from the deck to the ground takes roughly 15 seconds without a chute, making the stunt too low for a second parachute.

After all the training and a final pep talk, the class geared up and walked toward their designated drop spot. Chuma was close to calling off the class Thursday due to high winds, but left it up to the group to decide whether to continue jumping.

As Shariff walked from the Visitor Center to the bridge, the nervousness he had felt in the classroom faded, especially once he put on the parachute. As he inched closer to the jump site, he "felt at peace" with his decision, especially since it's an experience he's been looking forward to.

Meanwhile, Shariff's wife, Tara Kashani, watched from underneath the bridge.

"I think it's naturally terrifying," Kashani said, "but something you know that they're well equipped and prepared to do at this point."

Now, at the jump point, all Shariff can do is trust the prep he put into this moment and Chuma's instruction. The countdown begins from three.

Two.

One.

BASE Jump June 3, 2026

Despite the wind, a BASE jumper in Sean Chuma's class leaps Thursday, June 3, 2026, from the I.B. Perrine Bridge.

Then, he jumps.

Within seconds, Shariff and the rest of his classmates deployed their chutes and glided their way into the landing zone within 30 to 45 seconds.

"It was a little bit of a turbulent ride, and we all did have a bit of a hard landing," Shariff said. "But, we all made it safely, and you know, we're all in one piece."

Onlookers wonder why people engage in this sport and what it takes to BASE jump. Contrary to Chuma's thoughts, Kashani believes that this is an adrenaline junkie sport.

Patricia Dail, a Twin Falls local who likes watching BASE jumpers jump and has watched them from the Snake River, believes they're fearless and adventurous individuals.

But for Chuma, who holds the world record for most BASE jumps in the world, he does it for the love of the game.

"I love being in harmony with gravity," Chuma said. "It's a pretty magical feeling, and I love bringing other people into the sport."

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