Adrenaline Addiction: Fallout
24 year-old Chase Reinford seizes a life of freedom and extreme stunts, while we all watch, white-knuckling our office chairs.
Chase Reinford’s Adrenaline Addiction YouTube channel expresses the way I would live my life if I was sure that there was a heaven waiting for me on the other side.
If you’re thinking that the above photo isn’t real, or that it’s a screenshot from a Tom Cruise movie like Mission Impossible: Fallout, then you’re half-right. Chase’s whole life, it seems, is one scene from an action movie after another.
Minutes before the hangar door of this CASA aircraft opens up, while double-checking his wing-suit on a runway in Sebastian, Florida, Chase connects with The Outdoor Journal to discuss flying high, going viral, facing fears and forging an inspirational extreme lifestyle (that is more natural than a life confined inside a cubicle).
Chase Reinford, not to be confused with Will Ferrell’s Wedding Crashers character Chazz Reinhold, might also go down in the legends of man. Chase lives a life in extremes - from triple backflipping over a waterfall in Hawaii, to infiltrating a tower in Bangkok for a nighttime BASE jump.
With well over 600,000 YouTube subscribers and 150k followers on Instagram, this 24 year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is forging his own adventurous lifestyle that captures the zeitgeist of his generation. Following in the footsteps of Dean Potter and Sketchy Andy Lewis, Chase creates breathtaking aerial art in rebellion against modern corporate culture expectations.
“Meet the Jack Kerouac of the vertical dimension.”
In a typical Adrenaline Addiction episode, you’ll see Chase send a variety of tricks from cliffs, rope-swings and waterfalls, such as triple backflips, stalled out gainers and castaways off bridge railings. In addition to these technical maneuvers, you’ll also see wacky stunts like my personal favorite, the “Salmon,” where Chase convulses his body like a fish out of water.
Chase is rarely alone. He’s always meeting up with a crew of like-minded thrill seekers who enjoy pushing their limits in the outdoors, camping out and hiking through deep forests while listening for the far-off rumble of a massive waterfall.
Adrenaline Addiction is the type of content that my mom would refuse to watch because it seems so reckless. As I watch the “AA” crew depth-check their water landings by poking around with bamboo poles and even occasionally “death checking” by jumping first without looking for any rocks under the surface, it’s hard to argue the point.
But it would be a shame to focus solely on the daredevil nature of Chase’s stunts while overlooking the skill. In comparison, a professional diver on the Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit will take off from a platform 85 to 92 feet in the air, while safety divers churn up the water below to make a softer landing, and an ambulance stands by. The winning male dive at Red Bull this year was a triple backflip with four twists. Chase is throwing triple somersaults off 100-plus-foot cliffs with no safety support.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctWEHFY_J0c
A common misconception about cliff jumping is that landing in water from height is like jumping into concrete. It’s not. However, there is a very small margin for error. An over-rotation can result in a concussion, a broken arm or internal injuries. Even a perfect two-foot stomp landing can lead to injury. As stated in his Vietnam series (Jumping the Tallest Waterfall in Vietnam), venturing into remote destinations without safety teams or even access to ambulances means that a broken leg results in losing your leg and a broken back means almost certain death.
After three years of filming episodes, Chase probably needs to kick off his shoes to count his close calls, like the time he flipped off a bascule bridge without noticing the boat passing underneath.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggcxPnBpTi4
#VANLIFE
Meet the Jack Kerouac of the vertical dimension. As part of the Vanlife, a trending lifestyle choice amongst millennials, Chase converted a miniature school bus (or shortbus), the type kids take to school everyday, into his own “road-trip adventure vehicle.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXy3nqxunfg
Armed with a Panasonic GH5, several GoPro’s and a DJI Mavic Drone, Chase operates his own media house on wheels. Setting his own hours within this mobile office, that now includes two rescue dogs, Chase is living the new American dream. Instead of working in an office grind from 9 to 5 everyday for 50 years before earning the freedom to roam, Chase has seized it in his early 20’s.
[su_quote]“The school bus conversion was a great decision. It was always a dream of mine when I was younger, and then I finally had the means to do it. It’s for sure given me plenty of freedom to travel and see things I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to. I’ve been all over the country in it, and even Mexico.”[/su_quote]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz72BSRzOCM
Chase’s DIY bus conversion parallels today’s most famous extreme athlete, Alex Honnold, who lived out of his van for the better part of a decade in order to live in close proximity to rock walls, allowing him to perform at his peak abilities in Free Soloing El Cap.
In addition to his converted shortbus, Chase often flies a cessna plane solo, after following in his father’s footsteps to earn his pilot's license. Travel is a steady presence in Chase’s life. Just off a motorbike adventure through Vietnam, with a brief stop in the US, he’s off on his way to China.
Read Next on The Outdoor Journal: The Dirty Secrets of #VanLife
BUILDING, ANTENNA, SPAN, EARTH
Over the years, Chase’s infatuation with cliff jumping has progressed into the world of BASE jumping. His closest calls have come from this exceedingly dangerous endeavor that poses an utterly unforgiving learning curve. Watch Chase narrowly escape death while BASE jumping off Trump Tower.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n5fjW8ViSo
This video is Chase’s most viral episode to date, with over 11 million views. After that near fatal mishap, Chase shared this advice with his audience, conscious of the fact that his actions might influence others to attempt dangerous stunts themselves: “Don’t get into BASE jumping, please. One mistake will kill you really quickly - like timing your jump one second wrong, or just the slider taking longer than you expected.”
FALLOUT
Besides referring to radioactive particles precipitating to Earth after a nuclear blast, the term “Fallout” is also defined as “the adverse results of a situation or action.” Chase has had to come to terms with the risks of his actions. In 2018, he witnessed his BASE jumping mentor die in an accident. He shared the life-changing nature of that traumatic experience in an Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlRYyx5hM1f/?hl=si
The Outdoor Journal interviewed Chase to learn more about his lifestyle in extremes.
ADRENALINE ADDICTION
TOJ: I went cliff jumping in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and when I asked the locals if they knew about Adrenaline Addiction, they said, “Of course!” How does it feel to be living a lifestyle and creating content that people from around the world are responding to?
Reinford: It was very surreal at first. I’ve had people recognize me in just about every country I’ve visited, and it always puts a smile on my face. The fact that my audience is worldwide blows my mind!
TOJ: You have over 600,000 subscribers on YouTube now. Describe the process of building traction on the platform and how you reacted to the growth of the channel?
"If I messed up, I would likely die or wish I was dead."
Reinford: It all started taking off after I began jumping 100-plus-foot cliffs. At the time, a handful of people had straight jumped (no flips) cliffs this big, but no one was doing flips, and I was doing double and triple flips. That’s how my channel blew up and then it was just a matter of consistently uploading videos each week. I saw myself maybe getting to 10k followers someday, but I am blown away to see over a half million people following along with my journey.
TOJ: What are your top three episodes of Adrenaline Addiction, and why?
Reinford: I enjoy sharing all my adventures, but my favorite videos to share are my year-end highlight videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGShHQui93I
I enjoy seeing all that I’ve accomplished and all the memories I’ve made in a single year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDuUjlZBSoM
I’d say outside of those, the “Cliff Jumping in the Grand Canyon” and “Insane 140ft cliff jump” will always be my favorites. These videos showed two of the best adventures of my life, with great friends and epic jumps. They are the classics and will be tough to beat!
TOJ: How did you learn the film editing side of production?
Reinford: I have always made edits for my parents as a child. It all got taken to a professional level after I was in a serious snowboarding accident and was confined to a bed and the hospital for 12-plus weeks and was out of any physical activity for 14 months. I was losing my mind, so I bought a good camera and began crutching around, taking photos and filming. It began with filming my friends longboarding, and once I was back on my feet (literally) then I continued documenting and creating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X9yd-XYu08
TOJ: How many hours does it take you to edit each episode?
Reinford: That’s hard to say because some edits are short, some are over 20 minutes. It depends on how many cameras were used, how much footage there is to go through and what type of edit I’m going for. I can throw an edit together in a few hours, but I’ve also spent over 70 hours on a single edit before. On average, I’d say I spend roughly eight hours on an edit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJtncGEtd_0
TOJ: What is special about the cliff jumping community?
Reinford: Just like any community, it’s a group of like-minded people that all come together with a similar interest. I think it’s extra special because the community is so small. Everyone knows everyone and there are people from all types of backgrounds. There are scientists, pilots, engineers etc. Cliff jumping brings us all together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJrG8FaKXYE
TOJ: Is Adrenaline Addiction a red herring? Are you addicted to that release of neurotransmitters like adrenaline and endorphins, or is your lifestyle about something more? Camaraderie? Pushing limits? Freedom? Looking back at a life well-lived?
Reinford: It’s all of the above. At first, it was just a way to get an adrenaline rush and to have a moment of freedom. It’s evolved into much more. I’ve created life-long friendships and epic memories with people I’d otherwise never know. I have close friends that are like family to me in foreign countries, how incredible is that!? I feel at home in countries like Switzerland because of all the experiences and friends I have there after visiting each year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUckqvCsl4Y
TOJ: Does your channel put pressure on you to find more and more dangerous stunts?
"I got hurt trying to impress people."
Reinford: The short answer is no. I will never put myself in a dangerous situation for my fans. I love them but I also value my life, and if I die or get injured trying to impress or please other people then I die in vain. Looking back at my snowboarding injury, I know the reason that happened was because I allowed the pressure of others to influence my decision, which ultimately got me hurt. I got hurt trying to impress people, and I will never make that mistake again.
I do what I do to challenge myself because it’s rewarding to push limits and break boundaries. The people watching are just an added bonus. I’m at a point where I don’t want to push it much further because the line of life and death is so fine. I will always do crazy shit, but I will be transitioning into the business side of things more in the future. I have been working on creating a company over the last several months. It’s in its infancy but going strong. I have aerospace engineers designing and optimizing my very own BASE specific parachute. The first few will be produced by summer and then thoroughly tested and fine-tuned before releasing it in the fall/winter. I’m excited.
FLYING SOLO
TOJ: The first video I ever watched of yours was your first time flying solo across the country. Travel plays a big part in your channel - from the Pacific Northwest to Hawaii, to Europe and even all the way to Asia. What impact does frequent travel play in your life and could you live without it?
Reinford: Most of my life has been constant travel. I am only “home” for about 2 months out of the year typically. It does get exhausting but I’m truly in love with the lifestyle. I will always need some sort of travel in my life. I thrive seeing new things and experiencing different cultures and people. I think everyone needs to travel at least once, and I’m not talking about spending a week at a resort in Cancun. Get away from tourist destinations, meet the locals, try their foods, live how they live. That’s culture and that’s exciting.
TOJ: Does cliff jumping lead to a natural progression to BASE jumping? What is the learning curve for a beginner to BASE jumping?
Reinford: I wouldn’t say it’s the natural progression. They are polar opposites but so similar at the very same time. The main difference is the parachute system, and no cliff jumping prepares you for flying and landing a parachute. If skydiving and cliff jumping had a baby it would be BASE jumping. That being said, cliff jumping for sure allowed me to advance my BASE skills much faster than otherwise possible. I have very good air awareness and body control because of my extreme sports background, so for me, BASE was the next step after skydiving.
TOJ: Who are some of the extreme sports athletes you have looked up to over the years? What was it like to get some jumping in with Sketchy Andy Lewis and how did you two connect?
Reinford: Travis Pastrana has always been my hero. Shane McConkey is another legend I look up to. I grew up watching Sketchy Andy as well, and always thought he was a total badass. It was awesome to meet him, and even cooler that he took me along for some sketchy missions which totally reminded me why he got his nickname. His style of jumping is much too loose for most BASE jumpers, but I thoroughly enjoyed all the fear I shared with Andy. We both love sketchy shit, and that’s why we became friends. I’m stoked for more missions with Andy in the future.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xeTsGbFkvI]Read Next on TOJ: On Freedom, and the Facade of the American Dream - by Sketchy Andy Lewis: Many people spend their entire adult existence trapped in what others might consider a dream.
TOJ: How has your family reacted to your decision to pursue a lifestyle of extreme sports full-time? Was it a process to gain acceptance?
"I’ve always been the black sheep of the family."
Reinford: I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, or the black sheep of the family. I don’t think it’s any surprise to them that I pursued this life, maybe just surprised that I pulled it off. I first went for a career in professional snowboarding and I broke myself in half and proved them right after I failed. I went and got all my pilot licenses and completed the schooling to appease them by earning a backup plan. After that was finished, I felt like I could go any direction in life without feeling pressure from my parents. They have since fully accepted my choice and supported my decisions. They are happy that I am happy and the rest is irrelevant. My dad always told me not to worry what others think about me, and he couldn’t be an exception to his own wise words.
TOJ: What has the experience of dog rescue added to your life?
Reinford: I’ve always been a dog lover but my lifestyle was much too hectic to actually commit to a dog. I guess destiny, or whatever you want to call it, had other plans. Paco fell into my life and originally I was just going to take him to an animal sanctuary. The animal Sanctuary was almost 2 hours away from where we had weekend cliff jumping plans so I told myself I’d just drop him there after. I fell in love with the little adventure dog and couldn’t just leave him. I'm pretty stoked that I found him and since have found another dog in Mexico. I miss them whenever I travel and it gives me something to look forward to when I’m headed home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLIZ6EyQMC0
TOJ: On the one hand, following your passion is an inspiration to people, but on the other hand, someone who is not as skilled as you might try to pull off a similar stunt and get hurt, does that weigh on you?
Reinford: Yea, it does bother me sometimes. It bothered me most in the beginning, but I feel as if I do much more good than harm. I get countless emails and messages from people thanking me for inspiring them to get out and travel, or just live more fearlessly. Most of the time this has no connection to cliff jumping or people trying to do things that I do. It’s the mindset to push their own personal limits in their own life that I help with. To me, that’s rewarding. I’ve even had people that were suicidal and depressed reach out and tell me that I’ve changed their life after they were exposed to my mindset and optimism. It’s an extreme case, but so is someone attempting to recreate one of my jumps. People are going to do stupid shit regardless. If they don’t see me try something, they’ll see someone else. Darwinism in full effect. I don’t lose sleep over it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnMnayEtfEM
TOJ: Can you describe the feeling of infiltrating a building and scoping out the security before BASE jumping off of it?
“I think BASE jumping from a building is the ultimate mission and rush.”
Reinford: I think BASE jumping from a building is the ultimate mission and rush. It’s technical and many jumpers never get to experience it. Some of my friends are experts at it and I’ve learned a few tricks that I can’t share. Most of the buildings I’ve jumped will never be shared with the internet because I want to be able to jump them again, and I want my friends and others in the community to jump them. It’s a code in BASE that should be respected. I’ve of course posted a few jumps but these were less sensitive buildings, usually in foreign countries, where it wasn’t a huge deal. I may or may not have jumped in NYC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and other major cities in North America, but some things are best left to the imagination. What I can tell you is that sneaking past security, figuring out the entire layout of a building and climbing to the roof is probably the scariest and most exhilarating thing I’ve done. The jump itself is the easiest part!
TOJ: Can you explain the decision to enter the BASE jumping community knowing that you will undoubtedly experience loss?
Reinford: Death is inevitable, and not just in BASE jumping. Everyone is 100% going to die sometime, so deciding not to BASE jump because of the fear of potential loss didn’t seem reasonable. At first, I had the attitude “well none of my friends are going to die.” That was a lie to myself to deal with the fear. 32 people died this year BASE jumping. One was my good friend, and I watched it happen. It was a life changing experience and it fucked me up real good. I learned so much from my friend, alive and dead. I learned you can’t let the fear of death keep you from living fully. After the accident, I didn’t know how to handle it or what direction my life would go. I know my friend lived the best life he could have. He had more badass stories than anyone. He jumped the Eiffel Tower, he got launched out of a human slingshot, he competed in dog sled competitions all over the world. His life was full and it was because he didn’t let fear stop him. It’s the only way he would be happy living, and his death was not in vain. He would never want me to stop living my best life. “No stress, just enjoy” is what he always told me. I apply that to life everyday.
THE ART OF CLIFF JUMPING
TOJ: How do you overcome the days when you just don’t feel it?
Reinford: Best case scenario is sunny warm weather, warm water, clear water, safety swimmers, etc. This isn’t Red Bull cliff diving, this is RAW. Often times I have nothing from this equation and just have to be miserable and cold to accomplish what I came to do. I’ve jumped in far less than perfect conditions, because often times there won’t be another opportunity for certain jumps or just because I want to. I’ve also walked away from jumps with perfect conditions just because I don’t feel it. I always listen to my gut in every scenario.
TOJ: Describe the physiological sensations right before a jump versus right after a jump.
Reinford: Depends a lot on the jumps. Most of the time on very high, dangerous jumps I get a heavy feeling that weighs down my body. My heart starts pounding, I start sweating, my mouth gets dry. I will not jump with this feeling. This sort of stress and fear will cause me to perform poorly and put me into a dangerous situation. If I’ve done the proper mental preparation and am fully confident in the jump, I will override this bodily response. I have learned how to do this over the last few years. I calm myself to a point of total peace where I sometimes experience a type of euphoria. I slow my heart beat, I feel the weight dissipate and I know I’m ready to jump. I believe I get a dopamine release in this moments, similar to the one I get after I stomp the jump. Before the jump is the tension/build and after the jump is the climax. Both are rewarding.
TOJ: What looks more aesthetically pleasing to you, a tight triple or a laid-out single?
Reinford: I think triples might look cooler, but a big ol’ laid out single is way more fun to perform! More recently, I’ve been trying to enjoy the jumps more, rather than trying to see how technical of a trick I can do. That’s why you’ll see me throwing big single flips mostly. If it’s 100-plus-foot drop, a double-flip is still super floaty and enjoyable. Triples are simply not fun. The jump is just a big blur. It is nice to see what you are capable of doing, which is why I do triples from time to time.
TOJ: What trick has been the elusive “Holy Grail” for you that you have not been able to stomp, or maybe even attempt yet?
Reinford: I’ve always wanted to do a quad front flip. Unfortunately, I tried one when I was very ill-prepared and it ended pretty brutally. Ever since then I have never pursued the quad into water, and probably never will. I value my lungs and preferred them not filled with blood after a flop! I’ll keep the quads for BASE jumping.
Watch as Chase’s attempt for a quadruple front flip ends in a bloody mess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJQadBFB1o0
TOJ: What is your most proud moment in cliff jumping?
Reinford: I think it will always be the 110ft triple gainer. Everything about that trip was magical. At the time I hadn’t even jumped anything that high before, and I’ve only seen someone straight jump that high. I knew I could survive the impact, but knew I had to land absolutely perfectly. I knew if I messed up I would likely die or wish I was dead. For whatever reason, I just thought “Well, I’ll have plenty of time to do a triple, why not?!” And that’s what I did. I stomped it perfectly and it was the first video of mine to completely go viral. That moment will be impossible to beat. It was special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qX_S06Rkqk&has_verified=1
If you’re interested in rocking some Adrenaline Addiction merch, check out the online store, however, you won’t be guaranteed to stomp a gainer just by wearing the gear.
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