Am I still a skydiver?

[Guru312 0]

I just took a look at the last few pages of the "Most Famous Skydiver" thread and the comments about what makes a person a skydiver and it got me to thinking...

Although I haven't jumped in a bit over 20 years, I had a J/M and I rating since 1971. I was a DZO for five years. Am I a skydiver?

I note that many of the olde farts here in the "SH&T" forum have in excess of 35+ "In sport" years. My guess is that many are like me who found other things to occupy their lives...and weekends...but still consider themselves as skydivers.

It almost makes me cry with nostalgia to drive by Cross Keys and see the canopies. Or even to hear the whine of a Cessna 182 simply flying overhead on a nice jump day. It amazes me what memories rush forward simply hearing a Beech or a DC-3. [I don't hear enough of them!]

My younger daughter is 14 and can't wait to jump. Cross Keys said she has to wait until she's 18. I know I'll be jumping with her then...

But I am still a skydiver?

PS: Nothing you can write will convince me I'm not a skydiver but I'm curious about your opinions.

Guru312

I am not DB Cooper

[Beatnik 2]

There is much more to skydiving then just jumping out of planes.

You're still a skydiver in my books.

[SkydiveJack 1]

Once a skydiver, always a skydiver.

[jonstark 8]

Quote

Once a skydiver, always a skydiver.

Thanks for that Jack.

jon

[diablopilot 2]

In my book yes.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[zoobrothertom 5]

Damn right you're still a skydiver! Right now I'm on a forced 5 year layoff because I'm living overseas. I've had other interuptions because life just got in the way.

____________________________________
I'm back in the USA!!

[Orange1 0]

Quote

It almost makes me cry with nostalgia to drive by Cross Keys and see the canopies. Or even to hear the whine of a Cessna 182 simply flying overhead on a nice jump day. It amazes me what memories rush forward simply hearing a Beech or a DC-3.

Never mind ratings or how many years since you jumped or anything else - the above quote tells me you're still a skydiver

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[freefalle 0]

your heart still belongs to the sky, you sir, are a skydiver.

[councilman24 37]

Sure you a skydiver. And you ought to go skydiving with your daughter! My daughter is 15 months and I just turned 49. I hope I can jump with her eventually. If you haven't kept up with the technology no more pounding in.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[airdvr 201]

Took a 9 year layoff in the 90's. I know how you feel...felt the same thing. Never ever stopped learning and listening about the sport we love. That is what makes you a skydiver.

You should go and hang out at the DZ one day.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[steve1 5]

Hell yes, you're still one of us! I took a twenty year lay off and started up again. I'll bet you can stiil fall stable with no trouible at all. With a little practice you'll be back doing RW again....You'll love all the new gear.

[bozo 0]

Hell yes youre still a skydiver.
Being a skydiver is a state mind...youve still got it.

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[b1jercat 0]

Yes, once you've stepped out of the airplane , there's no going back.
blues

Jerry

[rmaden 0]

My Daughter is 14 also and has that familiar "look" in her eye when she sees an airplane. I have not jumped in over twenty years but I think of my skydiving experiences almost every day. I just turned 56 and know that I have not yet made my last jump. I will be a skydiver for as long as I live.

[steve1 5]

Quote

My Daughter is 14 also and has that familiar "look" in her eye when she sees an airplane. I have not jumped in over twenty years but I think of my skydiving experiences almost every day. I just turned 56 and know that I have not yet made my last jump. I will be a skydiver for as long as I live.

...............................................................
My oldest daughter made a tandem on her 18th birthday. She loved it! That was the same year I started back jumping again, so we were able to go up on the same plane load.

The younger daughter isn't that hepped up to make a jump. I figure when she wants to make one, she'll ask. I don't want to force jumping onto her....

[airtwardo 7]

You 'talk the talk' and 'walk the walk'.


You definitely IS one!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[BIGUN 1,231]

I can tell you that the day you go to the DZ with your daughter to make a jump, your status as a skydiver will be reinforced then. In fact, if you went to any DZ today and told them a little about yourself and would it be alright to just hang out for awhile (not here to make a jump, just thought I'd drop by), my guess is you'd be treated like a embassorial dignitary. I know our DZ would welcome you with open arms... hell some of them old fuckers might even remember you and tell you stories about yourself (prolly shouldn't have the daughter along for that one).

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Kiwi55 0]

Just the fact that you hang out here probably means you are still a Skydiver.

I made a jump with my son earlier this year, had to make a couple of jumps before to get current as I had only one jump in the previous 10 years.
...Paul

[RogerRamjet 0]

I vote yes also. You paid your dues and stuck with it through the usual barriers (made another after 1, made more than 10, made more than 100, etc...).

I did have just the active number of years in my profile for a while, but it caused more confusion than it was worth. I got questions like "how can you have such low SCR and SCS number if you've only been in the sport since 1999?"

So, I figure I will always be a skydiver and should report the years in sport from my first jump. I will jump again pretty soon...

-----------------------
Roger "Ramjet" Clark
FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

[bob.dino 1]

Quote

your heart still belongs to the sky, you sir, are a skydiver.

For me, that's the best answer so far.

[Baksteen 84]

The fact that you ask the question in itself proves you are.
Who else but a skydiver would be concerned?

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[ripcord4 0]

You most certainly are still a skydiver....lomg layoffs don't matter.

[NickDG 23]

I know you're a skydiver . . .

Take a trip out to Perris, CA from New Jersey and I'll personally "Air Trash" you.

You won't, I guarantee you, leave still wondering . . .

NickD BASE 194

[Guru312 0]

Quote

The fact that you ask the question in itself proves you are.
Who else but a skydiver would be concerned?

This pretty much sums it up. WTF would I care...if I didn't believe that I was?

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I never expected so many.

The older I get the more I miss the jumper's free spirit and their acceptance of others that seems to go with skydiving.

No one really gives a shit who you are or how much money you make when on the DZ...it's all about who you are in the air.

DZ.com is my life-line to the Insanity of Freedom that jumping has always meant for me.

Thanks...!!

Guru312

I am not DB Cooper

[PackingMat 0]

This is good to read. I haven't jumped since 1994 but I was very active in the sport up till then (I married a whuffo and was pressured to quit). I'm hopelessly behind the times in gear etc. though. Still, I could always do a tandem I guess.