TalbertGK4

I have not made a jump in about 20 months. I still have my gear although I am about 15 pounds heavier than I was when I was jumping so a bigger canopy may be in order should my hiatus end. I did not stop jumping altogether, there are many more days at the DZ in my future (besides at the bar). I think the reasons people quit, or just take a break are as varied as the people. I was just ready to not be at the DZ every weekend training. I had spent the previous 6 or 7 years training everyday and got to the point I wanted to be somewhere else while I was at the DZ so it did not make sense to keep jumping. So there is your answer, I think. The reasons are varied and usually something to do with commitments elsewhere in life or level of interest. I guess finances could be a reason as well. As for checking out DZ.com, what else should I be doing? Working?

George H. W. Bush (41) as honorary D-2000 after jumping into the dedication of his library in College Station TX. The first time he signed as D-2000 and yes he did buy beer. See ya,

While not a logbook signature, I do have a framed photo of the US Army's Golden Knights 8 way team, presented to me by Joe Trinko and Chris Talbert at the Virginia state record 88 ways that Joe co-organized with Doug Forth in 1999, that also saw the first all-deaf 5 way in the US. Dave Stahl, Gary Mohler, Charlie Brown, Paul Rafferty, John Hoover, Eric Heinshimer (sp?), Joe Trinko, Rob Wonk, Vern Mullen (sp?), Chris Talbert, and two others whose names I can't make out, maybe a Sean Capopeco (sp?) and a Larry N-----?

I was on Airspeed hiding my absolute fear!

You are correct, and incorrect about that. The US Teams have to work thier asses off to get to the big dance and figure out how to pay for it. Holding the Ottley Sword however is anything but a shitty situation. In Croatia in 2004 there was a four way team from Iceland. Yes, Iceland. Thier gear was not ancient if I recall but not cutting edge by any means. They funded the whole thing themselves, crept while smoking cigarettes and talked cash shit about how the Golden Knights were scared to come to the World Meet becuase they heard 'Team Iceland" was coming. Having that much fun and going back to fucking ICELAND?! Now that is a shitty situation!

Scott is my boss here at MSA Paraclete. (formerly Paraclete Armor and Equipment) He is the director of sales.

It is a safe bet that you will not see them until the Nationals unless you come to NC. Good for your Hoov!

Most people involved with competitive formation skydiving today don't know who Scott Rhodes is or why he is the recipient of one of the FAI's most prestigious awards. To keep it simple Scott was a member of the Golden Knights 8-way team for the better part of 15 years. I don't know exactly how long. He left before I ever made it. The below text describes what an individual must accomplish to be considered for this award. There are other ways to qualify that I did not post that refer to being a judge, or meet director. Scott was awarded the da Vinci Diploma based on his competition success. The attachment shows that Scott exceeded the requirements nearly 10 fold. To quote Charlie Brown at Scott's farewell party, "For the past twelve years (1985-1997) there has been one name synonymous with Championship skydiving; Scott Edison Rhodes." Congratulations Scott. "This Diploma was established by the FAI in 1970. One Diploma a year is awarded to a male or female parachutist who has : - obtained at least three times consecutively the title of National Parachuting Champion ; or - obtained at least once the title of Absolute Parachuting Champion and at least twice the title of Combined Champion at an international parachuting competition"

Are they still skydiving in Raeford? Does skydiving still exist? Do people still compete in skydiving? Who the HELL is Kirk Verner? Why are they building a monster in Raeford? Won't it eat all the cookies?

What the fuck are the "Nationals"?

Perris Sweet Spot - looks like you guys had a great meet. And to also have the most covetted video of the comp (though there was some sweet VRW too)..... Hope to jump with you all again someday. 4 teams and 1 pilot - 21 people. 4 naked torsos. 19% I can understand the fun aspect of the topless dive that could possibly be appropriate at a local meet, but at the same time also see the disrepect to the USPA Nationals. I certainly do not condone this behavior. . Lighten up Francis!

Something that is a sad truth about this years World Championships. Unless I am WAY off this will be the first time the William H Ottley Swords (yes that what they are called, says it right there on the blade) will be presented by someone other than William H Ottley. Having been lucky enough to call Bill a friend I can tell you there was very little, save the museum, that he loved about skydiving more than presenting those swords at the World Championships. Also having been lucky enough to have been presented the 8-way sword by WHO I can tell you he was as proud of, as he was loved and respected by, those who put their names on it. Bill loved to tell the story of a winning 4-way team kissing the sword and claiming it to be home after it had resided elsewhere for four years. He was also forever flattered when one champion, whose name appears on the 8-Way sword a record 6 times was given an exact replica as a going away present by his teammates. These are only the stories of Bill and the swords that I know of in my short time invloved with competitve skydiving. I am CERTAIN there are more. I hope that in keeping with the traditon of loving his friends and bringing them together to celelbrate life, as his family noted after his passing, these stories continue. All brought to us by a guy we called WHO?

Great when they have to be!

Quote He is yet to reply to that question, although it wasn't intended to be rhetorical.Quote I never said I thought eliminating the womens class would benefit the sport. I simply said I agree w/ Ron's point of view on the womens class being un-necassary I did not agree with the womens class when it wast started and dont now, it has nothing to do with what I think will benefit the sport. On a lighter note the camera guy for Team Paraclete had a malfunction today. Nothing crazy, just lines twists however he has just purchased an HD video camera so it may be the first HD captured cut-away! He should have it posted wherever you are supposed to post that sort of thing shortly. OK Ok I know its lame, its hot and I am tired. I am going to get fat! Oh yeah and thanks to the guy who sent me the PM on how to do the fancy shmancy in repy to thing! Ever come to Raeford I will buy you a can of Schlitz

I'm sure it has tons to do with *skills*. But thats different than just strength. The fact that some of the best skydivers in the world are women speak tons about how sex does not matter. Not sure how to do that fancy-schmancy thing where you show someones comment and then type your "in reply to" so I just copied Rons comment above. Typically this is not something I would voice my opinion on however I agree with Ron very strongly. To say that formation skydiving, 4, 8 or 16 way has little or nothing to do with physical skills is not completely accurate however it is a skill set that is VERY mental. There are physical skills involved however they have very little to do with strength. It is much more a physical application of INTENSE mental training. Typically I WAS 180-190 lbs (now I am a sweaty fat fuck and love it!) and a lazy bastard who did not run unless the cops were involved. I did manage to do fairly high averages in both 8 way (21.9 I think was my highest) and 4-way (I have no idea what it was, enough to win a national championship and get the tobacco juice beat out of me at the world meet) and although I had a considerably well developed skill set, I was never a very "strong" person. Do not confuse ability with strength and I know this is oh-so taboo however I agree with Ron on the need for a womens class. Having won a world championship with 7 other great skydivers, not 6 guys and a girl, I can tell you it just doesnt matter. You guys have gotten more of my cents in two days than you have the entire time I have been registered on DZ.com Now I am REALLY broke and have to go sell body armor!

I see a ton of analysis of peoples speed, meet experience even the size of their dicks, (which DOES make me faster!). The one thing I don’t see, maybe I missed is the whole "great when you have to be" thing. My personal opinion is this can be a deciding factor when the ability and experience levels seem to come out pretty much even. “This guy has 30k jumps and his name on the Ottley Swords 4 or 5 times vs. this team who has been together x # of years.” These are all valid barometers for sure. Do not discount the one word that will be synonymous with the winners this year, winner from years past and all those to come; and its not skydiver. It’s Champion. (Thanks Kirk) In 2006 we will see a team that in its heart, when all else has been said, truly believes that they will be named World Champion of Formation Skydiving. This team will never doubt or compare its skill or time in this sport to their competition. They know they have earned the right to be there and at this point skill, jumps #’s and meet experience are no longer something to be concerned with. We are roughly 2 months from the meet. You have what you have, or as they say in the redneck drag racing world I grew up with, “run what ya brung”. Not everyone will come home from Germany having held one of the Ottley Swords and unfortunately not everyone will come home feeling like they let it all hang out. One team however will come home saying, “We were not great all the time, we were great when we had to be.” Who is it going to be?! Shit dawg, Team USA will be great when they have to be. Later

Brooks in in Afghanistan, he has about 80 days left. He is doing great. Edited to add he is with 7th SFG

My favorite GK piece of advice....I think Trinko or you gave it to me....."If you don't have a grip, get one! If you have one....Key it!" Actually it was, "If your not in, get in. If your in, key it!!" Which goes hand in hand with, "If you can't get in, take it out!"

Besides, I think it would be quite longer. "Rotation is faster than translation"---Joey Jones. "Just spin the f%$#er"---every GK, ever.

All those letters look like the combination to my luggage! Hoov did do an article on the fastest possible draw. It was however a complete draw. The fastest possible draw (in theory anyway) would not have an all random jump in it facilitating a world record for most points on a single jump. If you look at past competitions the burners are almost always offset by the s l o w a s m o l a s s a s jumps. The fastest possible draw theory was greaed toward a complete meet with the highest possible average. High scoring burners are fun, there is nothing like that out of breath, tired, cant wait to see the video feeling. They are greatly overshadowed by completing a meet with your highest possible average.

At the 1998 World Cup in Evora Portugal then Space Center FX (Joey Jones, Doug Park, Dawn English, Christopher Irwin and I cannot remember who was doing video, Finn Malloy maybe) put together a selected (not drawn randomly) jump just to see how high they could score w/ minimal movement. They scored either a 59 or 60. That also prompted Tim Wagner to "raise the Omniskore bar" as previously the scoring system could only go to like 40 or so. I should say this was shown to omniskore at the World Cup, I think it was actually a jump they did in Titusville. That is how I remember it anyway. Anyone who can remember 1998 more clearly is certainly welcome to comment!! Be smooth through the blocks, Quiet through the randoms, Never move unless you have to, Dont forget to let the kid inside come out and play.

As much as that round five is a burner I would have a hard time seeing a 40 in there. More than anything the finish 17 to the Q. Neither a classic Q nor a Mickey mouse Q really help. building a classic the tail has to deal w/ the outside centers legs into the Q and then into the O where building the Mickey Mouse the out facing guy on the finish 17 has a 180 to the Q the a tight build w/ thier piece partner in the O. As odd as it may sound, having 5 and 17 in the same jump would promote a 40 way more than this draw. You have my two cents, now I am broke.

[In a Ralph Wiggum voice] I make the formations where everyone holds hands in a circle and smiles Now THAT is funny!

Dont know 8 and 9 but 11 is Garden State. Funny movie, a bit of a cult type flick.

PM sent, I have some stuff thats not TOO old that might help you understand continuity etc.