freakydiver

My wife was an olympic caliber gymnast (alternate) and I show her plenty of aerial videos. She has stated time and time again that many people could learn much by getting trampoline or direct gymnast coaching... Just fyi. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

A few hundred more Cypress threads later we CAN ACHEIVE!!!!!! -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

True true - perhaps another thread altogether... My bad for getting off topic. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

But we most likely could all agree that insurance will prevent BASE from ever becoming regular in gym class no? After all - show me a gym class that uses atrampoline anymore due to the litigation suits brought against schools in the 80s. Come on people, playing devils advocate in this instance is just not realistic and I think you all know that... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Media misuses these fatalities on both sides of the coin and most likely always will due to the nature of the sports of skydiving and base jumping. Until skydiving and base jumping are part of gym class curriculum (tounge in cheek as they never will) they will always be considered extreme sports and sensationalized from the media. I think the importance of the fatality list both in skydiving and base jumping to jumpers far outweighs the attention it may get from media. I for one could care less about the bullshit media prints about both sports because I know they never a) have all the facts and b) couldn't disseminate those facts even if they had them anyhow given the outside nature of the media. More times than not they have no clue about the circumstances behind these incidents - but just like all other media output, they are going to print what sells more than what is true. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

In all honesty the sport can bite the safest in the butt and I wouldn't flame the nazi. I'm sick of flaming and blaming since after all, we are all supossed to be brothers and sisters in air... I;ve been really trying to refactor my life to strangely enough - follow your tagline - I've been trying not to worry about the things I don't have control over (i.e. other people and their actions)... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Isn't it kind of hard to remove the "grim reaper" aura from a list of the dead? No offense to those that have past or friends and family... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

No offense but those jump numbers are rediculous. If I was a TM I would say no to mr 200 time and time again for camera work. 200 isn't even enough to expereience multiple planes and get used to various exits imho... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

lol -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

I personally really respect the low pullers out there in base that are practiced and good at it - not to say that is what happened here - more of an off tangent remark. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

About the only thing I've learned in life is, DONT GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK. And, it is impossible to convey emotion and tone over the internet - granted emoticons can help, but alot of the time, people are just typing informational type answers so just get the info and don't worry about anything else. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Because small rigs are cooler. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Its fun though. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Yer the ******* (edited, wouldn't want to "attack" anyone) entering no info. Go away or grow/strap a set on. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Can't we all just agree that it is best to pay attention to the sport to avoid getting bit in the ass? There have certainly been advancements in technology that make the sport safer, but the best safety option is to practice safe skydiving, no?? -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

I wrote a similar article in response to a posting - the bottom line is if you aren't doing something because you love it truly, you will lose interst. Jumping for fun is probably the best reason out there. I know way too many people in base and skydiving that are way to wrapped up in the show-off aspect of it and are not in it for the right reasons. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

I just think it is hilarious how this very thread pops up at least once a year and has been for a few years now. Even funnier, some of the old players come out to play every time hah! Regardless - Kallend has a good point and so does hook - I think they are mutually exclusive points - supportive of each other to boot. Jump and act like you don't have a cypress. That should be a given for all skydivers. If it isn't your instructors did not hammer into your head enough that the sport is dangerous and you need to be on top of things to minimize that danger. I think this is more important than the fact that low pulls and no pulls are declining. There are more factors involved in that discussion than just Cypresses. In the far far past, low pulls were not anything out of the ordinary and only have become as such in the past 10-20 years. Also within that time period, AADs were introduced - and harddecks became more and more strictly enforced - which still holds true today. Most DZOs or STAs do not tolerate low pullers, and that fact has permeated into the community - perhaps that has just as much to do with the lower rates you speak of Kallend... Regardless, I'll take the lower numbers and if you would like to blame it on the Cypress, that's cool with me. I jump with one, I jump like I don't have one. I pay attention to my altitude first and foremost with my eyes - which was the initial idea of this here thread. Use your f'ing senses first and foremost. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Was the deceased wearing a helmet? A helmet is a great backup device that is a no brainer - no pun intended - to use. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

And Roger was a friend of mine. We have all had friends go in John and you know this. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Actually - I've heard the comment, "its ok, i have a cypress" at least a dozen times in my 11 years in the sport. That is complacency (sp). From a logical standpoint Kallend, you may have something going - but your logic is based in the theoretical world - this isn't theoretical physics - it is life, and death for that matter. All hook was trying to say was learn to use your senses to improve your odds of making another jump - i see no flaw in that - in fact, all students should be pounded with this piece of information. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

www.google.com -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Actually as history has shown time and time again, human nature can and will be affected by free thought. You can't sit there and say we haven't evolved - even in the past 5 decades we've come quite the long way. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Horcecrap - senses have saved me quite a few times. I jumped without an altimeter for about half of my jumps. It should go without saying that you better have a parachute and harness system when hopping out of a plane unless I'm really far gone. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

"Usually" "... i think" I do not profess to be a doctor. Regardless, a shoulder once dislocated will not get better on its own. At the very least, physical therapy is necessary and at the most, surgery. I had surgery and have never had issue since. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Rockin story 813. Truly the essence of what you folks take on in base. I think that is a problem in mmaaaaaaaaany sports nowadays, both mainstream and alternative. People get into them for all the wrong reasons more times than not. It is the people participating that are truly into it for IT, not for anyone else, that are the happiest. I see quite a bit of that on my home DZ anymore, too many people trying to look cool and do the cool thing rather than just taking a step back and just havin fun. Reminds me of a story - I grew up with a huge anger management issue. I used to get kicked out of soccergames left and right. One day when i was in my mid twenties, I remember screwing up in a game, and laughing at myself - this was an amazing first and a breakthrough. I finally figured out that life doesn't need to be so serious. From that day on, I figured out how to just participate in something becuase it was fun and I loved participating in it. I try to live my life that way now - sticking truly to the things I love. That in my humble opinion is what the essence of life is. When people ask me about base and the crazy individuals that particpate in them, I tell them - those "crazies" are out there living it up day and, more times than not, night. Live on. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --