happythoughts

I agree that if you want the hero worship, do some demos. I did the spectator area at Quincy a few times and handed out pullup cords to the kids and signed their t-shirts. The kids were great.
I used to worry about the mainstream thing, but it seems like when skydiving is brought up, everyone is interested in listening, but not doing. I've had friends do a tandem for the amusement park thrill who will never have an interest in learning to skydive. It seems that no matter how many are exposed to skydiving, very few really try get into it, so mainstreaming doesn't bother me that much.
I don't really worry about lawsuits from people in the sport as much as their parents. When Little Johnny goes in and they think someone should be sued.
The only real problem I see is people who are in the sport and don't realize that the sport is dangerous. Sounds silly, but I see it a lot.

That's the thing about the mc, you never know what will happen. It can go head-down, flip over onto your back, go up and down like a snake, spin.
I hope you and Sunshine got Johnny to sign your log book.

Do not take what I said as bashing. I like the WFFC and I stated that I attend whether the jet is there or not. I was there from 1995-2001. Enjoyed myself every year. I like Don. I know it is a huge amount of work to organize. I have no doubt that every effort was made. I live in the US and I spent $3000 to attend last year.
As far as my knowing the history, there was no "confirmed" page before. "Are you sure ?" is a new question.
From running the message board, you know how some people planned their attendance based on the jet and that some expressed some disappointment. I don't think I need to post quotes. Personally, I think there is many other reasons to attend and I will next year. In my post, I was addressing the options that these people will evaluate based on their perceptions.

I can definitely see that. A Casa or Skyvan has a milder exit. Who organized it ?

Hmmm... Done right, pond-swooping is cool to watch for skydivers. However, I don't know if the general public looks at it the same. During a pond swoop event, you are almost guaranteed a few bumps and bruises. As skydivers, we say "ok, bruises". The general tv view may be taken back a little. Remember, this is the sport that made 'femur' a verb. The defining question is this - How will the public react to watching a competitor taken away in a helicopter because of a compound break ? (or worse) In a NASCAR wreck, everything looks a lot cleaner.

Anyone do a 'magic carpet' with the Muffs ?

"Lessons learned - Maybe next year. "
I agree. What lesson have we learned ? Each of the last 3 years, the jet was promised. Jet does not show up. What have we learned ? Don't make your vacation promises based on jumping it.
The WFFC is a business. People are going to re-evaluate their reasons for going. Mine may be a little different. I have friends that I see from about twice a year. Once at my dz, once at the WFFC. People without the year-to-year history will go for different reasons. I also like the new people I meet.
Roger has a competitive boogie just based on the fact that his kids are well known freefliers. A lot of people who are new in the sport are freefliers and may opt to go there. Couch Freaks is a great boogie. It's not as long, but the vibes are great and the dress-up parties are unique and fun. There are other boogies and other options.
If the reason for going to the WFFC is to jump the jet and the credibility is waning, people may take other options, regardless of a valid reason. Perhaps "Maybe next year" isn't a good business slogan.

"Guy Manos is married to the Co-Owners daughter. "
Jimmie and Wilma Godwin owned a dz in Umatilla until his death a couple of years ago. USPA nominated Jimmie for a life-time acheivement award. Lee and Pam are the kids. Guy is married to Pam. I don't know Wilma very well, but 3 years ago she said she was more involved with Pam, Guy, grand-kids, and the movie business stuff. I'm not sure who owns most of the dz's that I jump at. As far as day-to-day management, they do have a good group running it though. Clean, professional operation. Note-no camping, the airport doesn't allow it, but there is a hostel that is cheap.

I admit that I am unsure of the ownership of SM. I thought it was Guy, even though Fred and Lee run it. It may have changed.
If Fred and Lee co-own SM, that is great. The first time I met Lee, he was on Steve Woodford's team doing 10-way speed out of the jet. I believe they took 1st place that year. Their 17 sec time blew away our 23 sec time. You can learn a lot from both these guys.

"The key to success is all about who you know."
(OK. I haven't got the hang of the quoting thing yet. Bear with me.)
I agree with you to an extent, but I think that getting into a job is only half the battle. You have to keep it. I also try to prepare my own opportunities. A friend once told me "Luck is when training meets opportunity". A friend can get you a job, but you have to do it.
Also, I am in the IT business. I tend to recommend friends because I know their work ethic and I know their personality. If you deal with someone everyday, you don't want them driving you crazy. People I don't know are a gamble.
The one business that you are oh-so-right about is the movie/tv business.

Quote

"The key to success is all about who you know." Whether's it's a friend of a friend of a friend, it doesn't matter. I've just found that I can always get to where I want to go by keeping aquaintences handy.

Never sweat the petty stuff and always pet the sweaty stuff.

Whew! Lots of questions. First, there was a Cessna crash a few years ago. About 3,500 ft, woman with 23-jumps on strut. Plane stalls. Woman exits and survives, but the plane goes in. That was a long while back.
Skydive Miami is alive and well for a number of reasons. It is a fun place for many reasons. If you want great 4-way coaching, Fred is one of the best in the world. The dz is owned by Guy Manos. The staff is a fun group.
I was down there in '99 during the filming of Cutaway and the MTV road rules/real world challenge event. Been meaning to go back and visit.
Below is the link for the crash story:
http://www.cnn.com/US/9705/26/skydiving/

Cool idea. Let's do the personal ads thing. My g/f works with lawyers and some of them are looking. However, some of them only date girls with jobs in the legal profession or on their level. So, if skyvixen meets their criteria, maybe I can hook her up. If she could post her age, measurements, min. salary req., and educational level, then I will forward.

I totally agree with diverdriver.
Don't let your pursuit of the opposite sex mess up your skydiving. My packer is a world champion skydiver and I respect her ability tremendously. I hope to get some coaching from her one day!
Some people do the "who-I-talk-to = who-I-want-to-date" method of meeting people. It really limits you. There are guys who only want to meet/talk to/hang with/hug pretty girls. There are girls who only want to hang with rich guys. Too bad. You miss some very cool people and don't meet some very good skydivers.

Most of the time, when someone starts a freefly vs. flatfly thread, it is just a troll. Usually they attract huge numbers of posts and animosity.
I have never tried to only be a one-discipline (flat/4-way/big-way/freeflyer) skydiver. I believe that you need to learn a lot of skills and no discipline has all the skills. I have found that there are overlaps in each that complement others. Example: Tight 4-way teaches you to not move around. This makes your big-way formations more stable. Less waves. Big-ways teach you more about the mechanics of the air-column. Chunking an 8-way is an engineering puzzle.
There are also things missing from each. You can't learn to swoop effectively by doing only 4-way, you've got to be last out on a big-way. 4-way teaches economy of motion. Big-ways rarely go beyond 4-points but 4-way can be a huge mental game.
I can remember talking to freeflyers and they told me "no dude, we're not into turning points". There was no dirt dive. Things change.
Personally, I am unsure why people think it is important to prove one discipline as superior over another. Not for me. I tease people who do other things, but it is only teasing. In many cases, these are people who are far, far better than I. People I respect and have had coaching from.
Still learning.

Bikinis - hah! Lingerie baby. Lingerie. Good luck in Deland. Got some pics from Janine that are hysterical. As a long-time supporter of breasts, I would like to see a lot of other people out there helping Arlo. You rock girl.
Bill B.

I just wanted to say that it is possible to do a linked exit.
It just doesn't hold very long. Expect to blast apart on exit.
Doing a 10-way out of the jet, we used leg-strap grips.
As the 1st person hits the slipstream, it drags on the whole group.
By the time the 3rd person exits, most of the team becomes airborne.
As number 9, I left the ground half-way down the ramp.
Grips blow apart almost instantly after exit, but at least you are close.
If you don't take grips, you may not find each other.
Pull up as tight as you can on exit.
Check all your pins. The container of the person in front of you
will hit you in the chest.
The speed transition is not like headown-to-flat.
It is zero-to-jumprun-speed in 1/5 second. Keep your elbows in or
your arms will wrench at the shoulder when the air hits them.
Camera should exit first or risk getting dragged and slammed.
Be safe and it is great fun.