Bam Bam :(

wylieflyote · Tue Jul 30, 19 2:29 pm **Bam Bam :(**

Such and sad sad day today. For those who don't frequent Facebook:
"I’m posting on my brothers wall to let all his friends know as well, Jon died Thursday in switzerland while BASE jumping. It’s with a heavy heart that I am posting this, as I am not much of a facebooker, but I realize many of Jon’s friends and extended family would like to know."

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2099 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Thanks Kip. Yes, very sad news! Sad

Bam Bam sucked the marrow out of life!

At least he passed doing something he loved, which is the way I suspect he would of wanted it.

R.I.P. Jon.

Nak · Tue Jul 30, 19 4:33 pm

Truly a Gorge legend, and a genuinely nice guy. You will be missed Bam Bam.

Rollo Tomasi · Since 17 Mar 2005 983 Posts Attractive

wow... such a bummer.

I met Jon when I was new to kiting in 2001 I think.
He was always helpful to newbie kiters and now with flying.
Such a good guy.

So sad.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1853 Posts XTreme Poster

So many BamBam memories. One of my favorites was watching him tow in a broken down jetski from Wells Island

with his kite

BamBam is a Hood River icon of friendliness, stoke, and character.

He will be missed by all of us, scores and scores of us, who were fortunate enough to call him a friend.

RIP BamBam

Eric

shred_da_gorge · Tue Jul 30, 19 10:22 pm

Adding condolences, truly an icon, doing shit most of us just watch videos of. RIP Jon

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

A true friend of all his human family and a selfless individual. Met him windsurfing at the hatchery as a 12 year old. A decade later I had broken all my boards and he kindly let me break his as well just to keep the adrenaline flowing.! A true master of the send!! For sure ascended to a higher realm. Bulldog status here in ours!

CrazyC · Since 07 Apr 2007 174 Posts P Town Stoked

Always pushing the boundaries. We have lost a legend.
Very sad:(

Sella · Wed Jul 31, 19 7:41 am

Bams was always on the move and skilled in so many extreme disciplines his balls truly clanked when he walked. I had seen him more these past few months so hearing the news of his passing hit hard yesterday.

RIP Jon....you and your unmistakable laugh will be missed by many.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 386 Posts Seattle Obsessed

Jon was my friend. Always there for me! This is one of the saddest days for many of us who shared his love and passion. Jon was a very compassionate man with a massive heart. So talented! Today, my prayers are with his dear soul. My sincere condolences to Jon's immediate family. We have lost a dear brother.

I believe Jon's parent's live in Chamonix last we spoke. Not sure if they still do now, so unsure if services will be held here or there. If anyone knows more, please PM me. I would greatly appreciate it... For now, it is a heavy heart of unimaginable sadness. May we meet again in the presence of God my brother.

What an amazing friend you were... Crying or Very sad

https://youtu.be/egAtoxjJ_rc

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

I saw people posting about Bam Bam on FB. And I had to login to see WTF happened. I literally met him the first day I touched a kite. My kite instructor introduced me to him. Such a cool dude. And seriously sad he is gone. Rest In Peace. Hope you are on the other side enjoying life as much as you did in this life.

Here is a relevant quote from Bam Bam from Google Groups discussing base jumping and the inherent risks:

Jon Malmberg
6/13/13
Except that as a one of "those" people, that choice of whether "I love it enough to risk my life for it"... is played out in our minds every time we step off an exit point. You may chose to call it a cliche, but for us it is a real choice that is made on EVERY jump. The Douggs article was excellent as it expanded up how we as BASE jumpers and our friends/family deal with the aftermath of that choice ending tragically.

Part of that is also an acceptance of the pain you will be putting your loved ones and friends through, and thus the perception of others regarding how selfish we must be. This is where it all gets complex. But in the end, it is my life... not yours, and I would turn that selfishness around upon those who cannot let me be me, and choose to life my life as I see fit too.

Jon

fatstixs · Since 02 Aug 2007 59 Posts The Gorge

F.Y.I. 7pm Vigil for Bam Bam at the Event Site tonight.

Pepi · Thu Aug 01, 19 10:49 am

There will be a memorial in Hood River in the near future.

Right now Jon's brother and sister in law are in Switzerland to bring Jon back home.
Because they understand that life for him here in the Gorge truly embodied what he was, how he lived, who he loved and who he was a part of, his brother would like to plan a memorial event that could allow "EVERYONE" to attend, and for it to be outdoors and someplace we all can be in attendance.

The family needs some time to bring him back and process everything that has happened.
In the meantime, because they were not directly a part of his life down here, they will be reaching out to his family down here (ie - All of us) for help in planning this event and in hearing about what Jon's life down here meant to each and all of us.

As some of you know, Jon is one of my best friends. I am wrecked and sad, but I am trying very hard to not piss him off by being too weepy. If you truly knew him, he hated being sappy and would be pissed off if we did not truly celebrate how well he lived his life and how much effort he put into trying to make everyone else's life that much better by sharing what he did with us.
As MOTO shared in Jon's quote, it was his life to choose how he lived it and what he did with it, and he did a hell of a lot with it.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

"Pull it High - They do call me high-pull bitches!" were the last words I heard from him.

The article implies he wasn't following his own protocol-- and waited too long to pull.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2019/08/wingsuit-BASE-jumping-deaths-safety-regulations/

The gorge won't be the same --RIP Bammers You will be missed.

Nak · Mon Aug 12, 19 6:41 pm

Pepi · Tue Aug 13, 19 5:08 pm

Thank you for writing this Mike. I had the same pissed feelings about the article. I felt that as a National Geographic article, it sucked. The amount of research the author put into this was nil and lacking in actual facts.
His statement about Jon directly conflicted with the facts from the incident report.
I've been wanting to find a correct way to write directly to the magazine about this article.
Anyways, thank you for saying what a lot of us have been feeling after reading the article.
Pepi

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

We all want to know what happened. Please link us To the ax report.