Turning 40 - It’s All About the Journey

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Are You Turning 40 and Looking for a Profound Life Change?

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By Nick Coltrain
Times-News writer

TWIN FALLS - Birthday traditions can vary depending on culture and personality - bar and bat mitzvahs for young Jews, sweet 16 celebrations, and 21 drinks for the 21st birthday can all mark special milestones in one’s life.

Or, like Steve Van Duzen, you can jump off a bridge.

Van Duzen, a contractor from Los Angeles, plans to BASE - building, antennae, span and earth - jump 39 times from the Perrine Bridge today and once from a surrounding cliff in celebration for turning 40.

Van Duzen said he’s BASE jumped about 200 times in his life, about 150 times off the Perrine Bridge. He skydived regularly before that, including 30 dives for his 30th birthday. But in the past couple months since he decided on the feat, he’s had his doubts about jumping so much in one day. He said worries about time and the wear on his body, especially after being so sore after three jumps Friday, have crossed his mind.

“I think we were sitting in a bar somewhere and it (40 jumps) sounded good at the time,” Van Duzen said. “(Now) I don’t know if I’m even going to be able to walk when I’m done.”

His family and friends also have their worries about him jumping so much, but they figure Van Duzen’s too stubborn to quit now.

“I have a bit of trepidation about the whole thing, but I can’t do anything about it so I don’t say anything,” said Anne Mathys, his mother.

But she said she can’t think of another fitting way for her son to celebrate. Some friends talked about Van Duzen’s plans and have their own ideas.

“I think he’s mad,” said Nick Gough, a friend and fellow jumper. “(For my birthday) I’d rather have a couple of beers and a nice dinner.”

The day before his test Van Duzen said nothing short of bad weather would stop him.

“If I get completely weathered out, that’s the only way,” he said. “I thought about if I got hurt, but then I’d just say ‘hey, where’s a splint?’”

To make the sunlight deadline, Van Duzen will put about 30 friends to work throughout the day. He’ll need some to pack the 15 parachutes he’ll use, another to pick him up and take him by boat to another friend waiting in a car. When he gets back to the top of the bridge, he’ll have another friend bring him a scooter to the center of the 1,500-foot bridge.

Van Duzen said if all goes well, he’ll be jumping about once every 15 minutes.