Jeb Corliss excites human flight fanatics around the world with his daring jumps and unique personality.

JEB CORLISS became fascinated about base jumping at the age of 16 after watching a documentary online. He has gone on to dedicate his life to human flight and has cemented his name as one of best and most adored base jumpers in the world.

In this exclusive interview Jeb talked to us about all things base jumping including going into detail about his first jump and telling us what it is about the sport that makes him tick. To those involved in the sport his words will read like poetry but to those unaware of the dangers involved in base jumping they are sure to terrify. 

Read more about Jeb on his website at http://jebcorliss.net.

When did you first become interested in human flight and what do you think sparked this interest?

When I was 16 I saw a documentary about base jumping. I knew the instant I saw it that I was going to spend the rest of my life searching for platforms to use for human flight.

Tell us about your first jump and what it felt like?

I was 21 years old and I had spent five years dreaming of and preparing for that moment. It’s hard to explain feelings especially for someone like my self that is somewhat devoid of them but the moment was very special. It was a 700ft bridge in Northern CA and I was jumping at 2am during a new moon. It was completely pitch black and I set three glow sticks on a small road at the bottom of the bridge so I could see where I was suppose to land.

The landing area was surrounded by trees and boulders. I had a childhood friend with me who would pick me up in the landing area after the jump. I remember standing on the railing of the bridge looking into complete darkness. All I could see were the glow sticks. I remember stepping off and opening my parachute. I tried to line up with the glow stick but the darkness made it very hard to judge how high I was. I ended up over shooting my glow sticks and flaring my canopy way too high. I hit at a high rate of speed and slid across small jagged stones that tore all the skin from both my knees and the palms of my hands.

I went back to the hotel and packed my rig so I could do another jump. I got blood all over everything in the room. Some how I got blood on the ceiling? Not really sure how I did that but my room kind of looked like a scene out of a horror movie. I went back the same night and did a second jump. The exact same thing happened and I over shot the glow sticks again crashing in pretty much the exact same way. I bled a lot that night…

Jeb has jumped off a wide variety of building in a numerous cities around the world.

You’ve jumped from famous sites around the world. What have been some of your most memorable?

Eiffel Tower in France, Golden Gate bridge in San Fransisco, Petronas Towers in Malaysia, Matterhorn in Switzerland, Christ Statue in Brazil, Great Wall in China, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Jin Mao in Shanghai, Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Mount Fiji in Japan, Angel Falls in Venezuela, Palace Hotel in Manhattan, Table Mountain in South Africa, Balls Pyramid in Australia. I would say that is a pretty quick list of the more iconic locations I have done projects…

How many jumps have you done to date and how much has your career taken over other aspects of your life?

I stopped counting my jumps back in the year 2000 so I actually have no idea how many jumps I have. But I do have enough to know I like it. From 16 till now I would say base jumping has taken up about 100 per cent of my resources, my time, my life, my everything. I focused everything I have had on it. I have sacrificed everything for it. I have broken bones, watched friends die and I have bled for this. I have been willing to sacrifice my life since day one. It has been my greatest passion. Some would probably consider it an obsession and I would find it hard to argue…

Jeb has jumped in some of the most iconic places in the world.

What has been your riskiest jump to date and how close have you come to having a fatal accident?

This is impossible to answer. I have had so many jumps with such an incredibly small margin for error that it’s impossible to even remember them all much less weigh them against one another. I have impacted flat solid granite at terminal velocity. I have watched friends impact bridges and I have been covered in their blood. I have landed next to their severed limbs. I have held their hands as they bleed to death waiting for rescue. Base jumping is dangerous and hard to even quantify it in terms people can understand.

There is only an incredible margin of error in most of the jumps Jeb does, although they do allow him to experience natural beauty in ways others can only dream of.

Are you still fearful and nervous before a jump and if so what do you do to prepare yourself before you jump?

I am more afraid of jumping now than I was when I started. The longer you do it the more you see. The more you see the more you understand. After you watch about 60% of your friends die and break your spine a few times you tend to learn to respect the sport a bit more.

I prepare by training. Over and over again for years and years I train. I don’t stop, I don’t give up. I get broken and continue, I watch friends die and I continue. The Samurai use to use a method of dealing with fear. They would go into battle knowing they were already dead. This aloud them to shed their fear of it. This aloud them to focus on the task at hand and gave them the best chance for success.

Jeb is resting for the rest of the year but has plenty of exciting projects planned for 2017 and beyond.

What is it about jumping that makes you tick and what do you have planned for the rest of the year and beyond?

The rest of this year is just chilling. I need time between projects to recharge and heal both physically and mentally. I tend to do things that break me down and I need time to rebuild. I only have one more trip planned for the year and it’s just a relaxing trip to Indonesia to film sharks and kamoto dragons…

Read more about Jebb on his website http://jebcorliss.net.