daveb

Blue Skies, Henry! I've been away (far too long), but Henry is one of those excellent people you want to call friend. I admired his dedication to the sport, his friendly and competitive manner, and his reliability. The hardest part of this sport is knowing so many quality people, and then having to say goodbye.

I enjoyed jumping with Flip. I met him at a World Team record event in Thailand. So sad to hear he passed, but knowing the little I do about him, it was at least aviation related, which was a passion of his. Blue skies, brother! -- Dave

You know it's cold when you don't want to get off grips because they are blocking the windstream. When I become aware of my ears in freefall (even while training) under a full-face helmet, I know it's cold. But then, I'm a self-professed cold-pansy. Gimme heat any day.

Gordo, I never bitched about block 12. Oh wait, that was 8way. I always liked zipper-star; it was a cool move for the front half, and when performed well looked studly. Too bad about all the center-point controversy. It's death knell was when the camera flyers started having to make adjustments to avoid video-angle busts; I think the judges got dizzy from the spinning video.

Hey Clint! Awesome video! And I absolutely need the sweet money shot of us in silhouette with the sunset in the background. That was the the photo of the event, IMHBCO. I want something I can have printed and framed -- it was that good. Neal: congrats dude! I hope that jump adds to your list of cool things in life you've done. Remember this for someday in the future when you have the opportunity to help someone else get their SCR! Those in my group: thank you for flying so well and help making Neal's SCR a very fun and memorable skydive! Those in the other SCR group: I apologize for kind of cherry-picking in Neal's favor. Thank you for being gracious enough to allow me that perk. I certainly did not set out with that in mind, but as the number of jumpers swelled, time got short, and I absent-minded one in our group, it just sorta happened. Still, y'all were great sports about it! Skyfest rocks! I always have fun at this boogie, and look forward to more in the future. And Clint, I really do want a copy of that picture!

Wouldn't miss it! Looking forward to getting more SCRs on the books, some larger, sequential formations, hopefully a hybrid or three, and seeing a bunch of friends I haven't met yet. -- Dave 460 4WayXena airfury17 allisonjr Amanduh boinky Brains brits17 BRYANGOESBOOM ccowden Channman chaoskitty Clite cloudseeker2001 CSpenceFLY daveb dzmemories Fireflytx Gemini hippydiver Hushpuppy ifics IMGR2 jumperconway jumpergirl ladyskydiver lauraliscious LouDiamond Luminous mcneill79 melstarr mnealtx moonglo murphyka namgrunt nannerbanner nbblood popsjumper professor psuCory PsychoBob real98 Rookie120 scaryshari Sharimcm Skip SkyMonkey1 Stephen stitch susanjumps TequilaGirl Thanatos340 Trent Turtlespeed upndownshop vdschoor volo voodew1 waltappel wmw999 Zennie

Mykel, I remember when we first met at the DZ in San Marcos. You have grown tremendously in the past few, and I think you are a much better person now than then (heh, wait, that came out wrong -- I mean that only in the best way). You have embraced the skydiving life far more than most, and kept your passion and energy at a truly infectious level. I don't make it to Spaceland often, but when I do I am afforded the pleasure of watching you with students, newbies and old farts alike. Your attitude motivates me to want to do better with others. I should think that this attitude comes from within, and is not due to skydiving, but rather was there all along and perhaps liberated by the jumps. No matter what the future holds for you, this inner strength will help you overcome the tribulation headed your way. But more than that, you are not alone. You have enriched many lives. I know many others will say the same, but I want you to know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Heal up, bro! -- Dave

My last reponse on this topic. Ron, you may have the last word. Pardon? 'Try and avoid'? I am not avoiding anything, and your attempts to paint it as such are ... irritating. So without any evidence other than personal experience, ignoring almost all evidence, you have such a strong opinion? The Great Ron has spoken? Your evidence trumps mine? Because you've been in the sport twice as long as me, I'm not as qualified? I haven't had contact with the general public, or even tandem students? Sigh. Citing movies as evidence that mentioning skydiving brings up associations that that person is dangerous, drug-using, and unreliable is specious at best. I see the same evidence as you, and come up with a different conclusion. So if you argree, why are your arguing against my advice to keep it quiet? I'm not arguing such. Why are you trying to make this into that type of argument? Let me rephrase it to be more clear: It is not usually a good idea, but there are useful situations where it is appropriate. "Wierd" can mean many different things. It can infact mean "Dangerous, Drug-using and Unreliable" depending on your view of those things. This brings to mind Lewis Carroll: "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." Nope, cannot argue with that type of logic. And if you want to quote dictionary entries, it helps to spell it properly: weird. So you are ignoring your own advice? Realize I've said nothing different. I stand by my advice, even given my woefully inadequate personal experiences, ignoring Hollywood as a role model, and lack of a Pro Rating. I only report that my resume not only mentions skydiving, but features it, and it does so without speaking to point averages, number of jumps, time in sport, or any other irrelevant statistic. One last thing you might want to consider, Ron, is that it's just barely possible I have been on both sides of the interview table, and I'm not speaking out of my arse.

Most people don't even know about these movies, or at least have not seen them. Of those that have, how many do you think believe anything shown on the silver screen is an accurate and believable representation of real life? And the general public certainly watches these alot. See above. Most people have not seen any of the flicks you mention. No, I don't know everyone and every circumstance. I am relating only my experience, with a family background absent a flight history other than as a passenger, living an hour from the closest dz, and working in an industry where the predominant thrill-seeking adventure is a FPS game. Before I started skydiving, I had zero clue about skydiving culture, yet all the movies you listed were available to me. I think I even saw Dropzone, Terminal Velocity and Point Break before jumping, and never considered them as a reasonable source of information. And you think that in an interview when you don't know how it will be recieved is a GOOD time to bring it up? In my case, you betcha. I have done so. I will continue to do so. I note you did not quote me when I specifically mentioned it was not always apropos, and probably not even a good idea except in certain circumstances. Wierd[sic] is quite aways from "dangerous", "drug-using" and "unreliable". No argument that the general public has zero comprehension of what we do and why we do it.

!!! Wow, that runs completely opposite to the circles I run in (high tech, non-skydiving industry). Sure, I've had the universal reaction "that's just crazy", but I'm therefore dangerous? Drug-using? Unreliable? Those are not adjectives I've ever associated with skydiving (even before I started), nor used by those with whom I associate professionally. Perhaps you have a different perspective because you lived on a DZ and saw all the worst? Those specific, terrifically negative adjectives and their siblings are outside the realm of my business contacts, family relations, and most social areas (the skydiving community itself is the biggest exception); I find the world at large very ignorant and naive of the skydiving 'lifestyle', and thus ignorant of the negatives you apply. My personal experience runs somewhat counter to this. I work in an office, for a small, private firm, which ran a background check on me, and my resume prominently displays my skydiving, to the point of being literally equal with my professional employment history. There is a place and a time and a manner in which your skydiving should be explained. It is not the same for everyone, nor for every time, nor for every occasion. If it is used boastfully (hey, I'm cool, I skydive), it will be received poorly. If it is used in the wrong context (yes sir, if you'll just sign this $10 billion contract.... Say, did I tell you about the time I almost died skydiving?), it can prove costly. But if used wisely, at the appropriate time and in an humble and sober fashion, it is can be a positive and engaging topic without invoking the worst stereotypes. Should you mention it on your resume? How big a part of your life is it? Will it impact your job even a little? Have you made significant accomplishments or earned a living skydiving? These would be good reasons to mention it. Otherwise, there is little to be gained and much to lose, and it probably isn't at all relevant anyway.

Yes, I did. In fact, I let them know that it was a big part of my life, and I needed extra days off for training and Nationals, as well as three weeks off in Jan-Feb 2006 for an event. My rationale: 1) I needed the extra time off, 2) It explains a large gap in my resume 3) It helps explain who am I - and what drives and motivates me. Their response to me: don't die. BTW, I got the job. The biggest issue was the time off requirement, not the danger. Don't lie. Use it to tout your strengths. Find the positives unique to the job, and the common threads in your hobbies. Don't argue with them, or try to justify the sport.

What could you possibly do to *unaccept* God's grace? You were born into this world -- it is impossible by any act to become unborn, to undo that singular moment in time. You can wish it didn't happen, you can bring this life to an end, you can say it didn't happen (disingenious, that) -- but it did happen and there is nothing -- not one possible thing -- you can do to become unborn. Therefore, when Jesus Himself said 'You must be born again.' [John 3:3 & John 3:7], can you see why He might have chosen that analogy? I couldn't agree more. Here's a twist to the proverb "The road to hell is paved with good intentions": well-meaning people trying to tell others how to live oftentimes drive those others away from salvation. I am 'prepared' to die, but I'm not ready to die. For selfish reasons, actually, I'd prefer the rapture to occur a good piece down the road. Fortunately for all, it's not my will that sets the time. (trying to stay on-topic ;-))

There's a gap between "once a month or so" and "not anymore" that I fall within. I still have all my gear (although my shoes never really fit), and intend to become at least somewhat active in the sport again -- especially if I can convince my son to take an intro climbing course with me. I also know a few elite skydivers that climb regularly, and are accomplished climbers. The overlap is certainly larger than my early impressions.

No reason to start in the rookie class. My first season was in intermediate (AA), and that same year I competed in my first Nationals in advanced (AAA) - I hadn't even done several of the blocks. You just have to want it enough. Go big, Travis! (You have about as many jumps as I did when I started doing the compete thing.) -- Dave

1, 3 and 5: don't need a rating to coach 4way or organize. As for 2, I'm not so worried about a student killing me as I am about a student dying on my watch -- I'd be second guessing myself until doomsday, wondering if it was something I said, or didn't say, or didn't say well, or didn't confirm, or ....