flyinblind 0 #1 March 17, 2004 Did anyone see the clip (today on RealTV on SpikeTV) about the 13 year old skydiver in Colombia that was killed when he jumped from 2000 feet and didn't pull? I presume it was his first jump. There weren't a lot of details. It was pretty disturbing and definitely senseless. His parents apparently later admitted 13 was too young to skydive. Well not to be mean, but DUH. Sheesh. cheers and blue skies, timmah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,473 #2 March 17, 2004 Mullins' and Nelson's kids both started that early IIRC. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyinblind 0 #3 March 17, 2004 Solo???? with little or no training??? cheers and blue skies, timmah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AirCav 0 #4 March 17, 2004 Thirty nine years ago I was 13. Five static lines then a 20 second freefall. Probably the first ever form of AFF. A couple more "AFF's" and I was on my own. My older brother did the same, he was 14 then. Duh? And OBTW.. We had waivers and were members of PCA..now called USPAGW685,D3888,C5052,SCS843 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #5 March 17, 2004 [URL http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=697031]RRRRREpost[/URL]. Just because they show it on TV doesn't make it news. -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyinblind 0 #6 March 17, 2004 Heh, thanks for the heads up about the repost. I figured it probably would be. Sue me for not doing a thorough search. I do sincerely apologize. I was lazy. I did not ever construe it as "news" though, so not guilty as charged. I just saw it and felt a post was in order as I found it pretty disturbing. cheers and blue skies, timmah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bnacrazywoman 0 #7 March 17, 2004 That's because you're a studmuffin! Did you get your greene and white Classic yet? Rhonda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AirCav 0 #8 March 17, 2004 No Classic yet but I did jump the Papillon a couple weeks agoGW685,D3888,C5052,SCS843 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bnacrazywoman 0 #9 March 17, 2004 Very cool. Now getting back to the thread. If you are with your Mom and/or Dad and they are doing the training, I have no problem with the kid doing jumps. Who knows, you might just be grooming the next world champion. BN Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyinblind 0 #10 March 17, 2004 I don't know.. I can put up with a lot.. But anyone who lets a kid jump out of an airplane is just crazy in my book.. But hey, that's me.. I don't got kids and don't want any, so what do I know about it. cheers and blue skies, timmah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ifics 0 #11 March 17, 2004 The video didn't look like they had a very in depth training program, but they might not have shown very much.. I think there should always be an instructor holding on to you on you're first jump.. In case you freeze up and don't pull, which I think is what happened to that kid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #12 March 17, 2004 QuoteMullins' and Nelson's kids both started that early IIRC. indeed.. i was on Zach Mullins' 200th jump st Rantoul last summer, and he was 12 at the time. Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
srg 0 #13 March 17, 2004 QuoteMullins' and Nelson's kids both started that early IIRC. How? My copy of the BSRs lists 16-years-old as a non-waiverable minimum. Did they just go to non-USPA dropzones? Spencer "Be braver -- you can't cross a chasm in two small jumps." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottjaco 0 #14 March 17, 2004 I think it's amazing that a 13 year old would even want to skydive. I think it's cool in way but I really don't think you have a firm grasp on the concept of mortality. When I did my first jump, I was ready to die, I gave it about a 50% chance that I would perish. You have to go through a lot of shit in you life to take that kind of a risk and just go with it. I think 18 is a good age limit because you have lived long enough to make that kind of decision. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidlayne 5 #15 March 17, 2004 I remember AirCavput me out on my first static line when he was 14. Both of my children made their first jumps at ages 13 and 14.I don't care how many skydives you've got, until you stepped into complete darkness at 800' wearing 95 lbs of equipment and 42 lbs of parachute, son you are still a leg! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #16 March 17, 2004 QuoteHow? My copy of the BSRs lists 16-years-old as a non-waiverable minimum. Did they just go to non-USPA dropzones? When you are Roger Nelson or Mike Mullins you can do what ever the fuck you wanna do....and they have and did....RIP for Roger...but mike is fighting the good fight with USPA. Marc otherwise known as Mr.Fallinwoman.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 789 #17 March 17, 2004 QuoteI gave it about a 50% chance that I would perish. You have to go through a lot of shit in you life to take that kind of a risk and just go with it. I think a lot of people didn't give themselves the best odds when they did their first jump, but that's just because we didn't know better. These kids are DZ born and bred, and probably knew more about skydiving at age 12 then I know now.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelem 0 #18 March 17, 2004 13 years olds are actually quite intelligent you know, although it does depend a lot on the 13 year old in question if they have the maturity not to mess around. The limit is 16 in the UK, but one of the riggers at my DX has 13 and 15 yo kids, and I would have thought he would happily let both of them jump now if it was legal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelem 0 #19 March 17, 2004 Oh yeah, and jumping from 2k freefall? That seems WAY too low. How many jumps did he have? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meatbomb 0 #20 March 17, 2004 From what I recall from the last postings, he was on front and back kit, and this took place many years ago, when men were men, and first freefalls started at 2"200ft... (We still put our round first freefallers out at 2"500ft)--- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakydiver 0 #21 March 17, 2004 Seriously??? They make friggin dirt bikes for kids, kids are allowed to skateboard - both can kill you very easily. I've met plenty of 13+ year olds that IMHO could handle the pressure of skydiving, its really not that complicated of a sport... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakydiver 0 #22 March 17, 2004 Here here! -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." -- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpot 1 #23 March 17, 2004 QuoteIf you are with your Mom and/or Dad and they are doing the training, I have no problem with the kid doing jumps. Who knows, you might just be grooming the next world champion. A MINOR has no capacity (under the law or otherwise) to fully cognizantly, and rationally make those decisions. Nor should ANY reasonably responsible adult (parent or not) have the audacity, nor do they truely have the capacity to simply waiver that away either. Trading that off for the sole benefit of potentially head-start "grooming the next workd champion"?? ...TOTALLY NEGLIGENT, and not reasonable by any stretch, IMHO. BS, -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,473 #24 March 17, 2004 >I think it's amazing that a 13 year old would even want to skydive. I watched a 5 year old fly in the tunnel last week. She loved it. >I think it's cool in way but I really don't think you have a firm grasp >on the concept of mortality. I agree, and I think that's where judgement comes in. Some 13 year olds are very heads up, some are fools. Only the parents can know for sure which one their child is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyinblind 0 #25 March 17, 2004 I totally agree.. And to freakydiver, technically, no, this sport is not "complicated" as long as everything works as illustrated in the manufacturer's manual :). It's those instances where things don't go according to plan that would put even the most capable 13 year olds at risk of killing themselves. I'm sorry, no amount of convincing would change my mind, it is irresponsible to put someone out of a plane, on their own, before the kid is 18. As some other bright skydiver mentioned, it's a FAR or BSR for freak's sake. But then again, I guess we're skydivers because there's more than a little rebellion in most of us?? cheers and blue skies, timmah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
