Field Journal

Global forex broker FXTM recently announced a partnership with BASE jumper and Red Bull athlete Valery Rozov. We caught up to with Valery to find out more about this collaboration, his passion for BASE jumping and the #FXTMbasejump project.

Tell us about the project?
FXTM and I are embarking on a unique journey to experience something never seen before. It involves a series of training expeditions and jumps that will take place in various countries across the globe.

What are the most important characteristics a BASE jumper should have?
You need to be able to trust your own judgement, your ability to decide when the situation is right and when it isn’t, and be able to keep a level head while you are making said decision. You also need to be mentally prepared and be able to adjust and be flexible to react to the conditions and the environment. This is a particularly important characteristic that BASE jumpers must have in order to operate in volatile surroundings that can change at a moment’s notice, and where decisions need to be made within seconds.

What made you get into BASE jumping?
From an early age I really enjoyed climbing – first it started off as rock climbing, then mountaineering, then paragliding. When I started skydiving, I loved it so much that I stopped everything else just to be in the air as much as possible. Wingsuit jumping combines two of my passions – climbing and sky diving. I like the multi-sport combination, and if you BASE jump there is the added benefit that you don’t need to climb down the mountain on foot afterwards!

What do you think when on the edge before a jump?
You never know how you will feel when you are about to jump, so I focus on the numbers and my previous experience. I look at the jump very mechanically, thinking about wind speeds, angles, temperature. I concentrate on my equipment and what it is telling me – I have a laser measurement tool and a wind monitor to check the conditions before I jump. I consider the objective data by measuring all the elements carefully, rather than focusing on how I am feeling. It’s important to be calm and collected before and during the jump.

Which of your achievements are you most proud of? What is your next goal?
I’d have to say my biggest achievements are the world championships (twice world champion in sky jumping in 1999 and 2003), the Everest jump (World’s Highest BASE jump from the Everest Massif in 2013) and Kilimanjaro jump (first ever BASE jump from Kilimanjaro in 2015, jumping from the highest point in Africa). I love being the first to do something new. If you don’t have a big goal in front of you, it can be easy to lose your motivation. Challenging boundaries and testing limits always give me the fuel I’m looking for. My focus over the next few months is on the #FXTMbasejump project and making it an exciting and successful project for everyone – myself, FXTM, Red Bull, the BASE jump community and the rest of the world.

How can people follow your progress?
Look out for updates  to be published on the FXTM website and can also be followed on social media under the hashtag #FXTMbasejump.