timber

Almost all of the skydivers at Emerald Coast skydiving are regular SCUBA divers as well. We are really looking forward to the sinking of the U.S.S. Oriskany this spring off Pensacola. It will be the worlds largest artificial reef. If anyone out there wants to spend a fun weekend with us come on down !! We will jump Saturday and do a sunset beach jump to the Flora-Bama. Sunday we will go diving. My Friend has a 54 ft dive boat for 30 divers. Blue Skies, Timber a.k.a. "Matador"Rodriguez

Congrats Salsa John !! You be careful out there though !! Nice seeing you at Dublin ! Blue Skies, Timber

Last night on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno: The actor Heath Ledger was wearing a black jacket with skydivers on it. Does anyone know if he is a skydiver ? Not that I am into him or "Brokebutt Mountain" Although I like his wife Michelle Williams. I was just curious !!

Frapper !! It sounds like someone who has bounced !!! Be it known on Friday 13th I am supersticious !! I don't use 'Bounce" in my Laundry !!! and I won't eat "Total" cereal !!!

I had gotten to my 12 jump on the traditional static line method back in 1985. I was only 14 and because I kept rolling over on my back after a five second delay because of the size of the rig. My father decided to take matters in his own hands. He had all of about 250 jumps with no instructor ratings!! He put a rig on me and no AAd and drug me out of a Beech 18 at 13,000 feet. His friends Tom Sitton and Bob Brown flew in to complete a 4-way!! Remind you that I had only been in freefall for 5 seconds on my own!! At 4,000 I was to pullout and throw my pilot chute: but being brainwashed I forgot to let go of the pilot for a few seconds !! My Dad reached over to throw it away when I rememberd !! I broke my arch, went over on my back and watched the pilot chute wrap around my leg!!! Well I opened fine and opened at 3,000 ft and my Dad sucked it down for awhile !!! I never really got off traditional student status. Please don't tell the U.S.P.A. !! Blue Skies, Timber

Hello David ! I frequently get e-mails from Mikey Darden at [email protected]. I believe he is still up in Alaska as a guide. Take care my friend ! I think of your son James often. He was a great friend !!!! Blue Skies, Timber

Happy Birthday Squink !!! It is my birthday as well. I spent the doing tandems and even a couple of fun jumps with my friends perfect !!! Blue Skies, Timber

In the last week here in Pensacola It was published in the local paper to please not use the cemetary as a dog park as owners are letting their dogs make messes around the cemetary and it is not picked up. See It never ends even when you are dead you are still getting shit on !!! I want to be creamated and my ashes sent to Masingil so I can be sent to a place I have been trying to get back to since I was born. Actually a ash dive with your friends is every skydivers right !!! Though sad it is a beautiful experience !! Followed by A HUGE Party !! Blue Skies all, Have a happy and Safe New Year !! timber

Billy, I have one and think it is a great investment !! You know I have been rode hard and put away wet !! With over 2,000 tandems and four years on the rodeo circut my back is not in great shape !! I fall asleep and don't toss and turn at all. I wake up and don't want to get out of bed. Especially if I have a beautiful little goddess next to me. You can try one out for 90 days. I hope you and the Family have a wonderful New Year !! Blue Skies, Timber "Matador" Rodriguez

Happy Birthday Danielle !! You are the undesputed Queen of ECSC !! You Work so hard packing and jumping and being our extracurricular activities director at the drop zone. I treasure our friendship !! Lets have a great New Year !!! Blue Skies, Timber

I am glad to hear that Mongo is doing better. He has been an inspiration to many new skydivers over the years. I remember some friends and I with about 100 jumps each would go to Elsinore and have him organize our jumps. He gladly put up with all of our backsliding and zoomie passes you know full contact RW !!! We soon became much better flyers Thank You Mongo !! Blue Skies, Timber

I plan on going !! Due to layoffs at work I might have a whole lot of time to be a skydiving bum again !!! COOL!!!! Blue Skies, Timber

Giving back to the sport and its people is what it is all about my brother !!! There are so many more who I havn't mentioned yet Like Mongo from Elsinore. Bruce Gieky, and Sandy Wambaugh, Bungee Wallace And Rob Harris who left us way early. Blue Skies, Timber

Most of us at Emerald Coast are all for That !! Lets make our family much bigger !! Hopefully the management and staff can work out a plan. Right now there is a difference in training programs ( IAF vs AFF )and Jimmy Horak wants to be the S&TA and director of training. Mike and M.D. would have to come up with an agreement on how to best run the business. I believe if we could all work together we can make one hell of a great drop zone !! I am willing to do all I can to help. Blue Skies, Timber

Make your way over to Jordan. Prince Abdullah and some of his relatives are are licensed skydivers. I had seen a documentery on how his Dad former King Hussain was a pilot and skydiver. Prince Abdullah since now becoming the head of state is now forbidden from jumping because of his responsibilities. So now he flies his blackhawk helicopter for fun. During an interview it showed his nephew and some friends dirt diving and getting ready to get on their Casa the prince looked jealous and said he wish he could go with them. Stay Safe and Hurry Home Pal ! Blue Skies, Timber

I have never heard that one before. I do know that Sacred cows make the best burgers though.

I just visited your website and I have to tell you are a very gifted photographer. There are some awesome pictures there ! I am sure we are in for some great skydiving photos in the future. Blue Skies, Timber

I first started hanging out at the local airport in Lompoc, Calif in 1979 when I was old enough to ride my bike to the airport. I would sweep hangars or wash airplanes to get a ride. My Dad was working two jobs and going to school as well as raising exotic birds so we didn't spend much time together. It wasn't until some guy in Ojai, California jumped out of a plane and met my father that our lives would change. My Dad went to Taft Dz in 1981 and made his first jump. From that day forward my Dad was my hero and best friend as well. There are many people in life that cross our paths and influence our lives. To me Skydivers and Pilots are the people who I most admire. Maybe some of these people have touched your life as well !! Art Armstrong , Lea and Norm Van Pelt who tought my dad how to jump. Bob Sinclair, Jimmy Tyler, Pat Tierney, Howard, Ira, Dan Bardwell & George Meyer Who mentored me when I too young to jump and tought me how to pack and worship skydivers. Theresa Thames and Joan Mahoney my jumpmasters who I still see on occasion. Cathy Conklin (Worth) Judy Norton-Taylor, Laura Maddock and Kate Cooper who were the objects of my pubescent desires ! Jerry White, Ted Beumer and Jimmy Horak of Emerald Coast Skydiving. some of the best tandem instructors around. My dear departed friends John Foster, Mark Cooper and Ian Bellis, Milt Burton, James Layne I miss you !! There are so many others who I have met along the way. Skydivers are my family and my idols. I feel lucky that life as blessed me with their presence. Blue Skies, Timber

This is a Sukhoi SU-80GP. It is currently being developed and is similar to the M-28 Skytruck. It has a tail gate and holds 30+ jumpers. I have no idea when it might be produced and certified in the U.S. It looks like it would be a wonderful jumpship.

I have had the privilige of knowing Bob since I was just a young DZ brat at Taft California. He and my dad Mac McKinney formed an enduring friendship. Bob put me out on my first jump in 1985. I always look foreward to running into him on the boogie circuit or when he comes to Pensacola to visit my Dad. It is great to have these two wonderful old farts to hang out with. Bob has so many great stories !! I encourage any new skydiver who has never met him before to spend some time with Bob. (especially the young pretty skygoddesses !! Your welcome Bob !! See if you can beat him in accuracy ! I did: and I felt guilty for taking his money for about 10 seconds. I then remembered how he made me do PLF's until I was black and blue all over !! Bob is a true skydiving gypsy ! He is blessed to have so many wonderful friends all over the country like Mike Mullins and Jay Hughes to name a couple. Blue Skies & Happy Holidays !! Timber Timber

This is what I want for Christmas !!! If everyone on DZ.com Pulls their money together we could get it. I will let everyone make a jump for free !!!

I vote for the C-130 in Costa Rica. I will do the tandems for free !! Blue Skies, Timber "Matador" Rodriguez

I am planning on going to either Zhills or Gold Coast this weekend who wants to go ?

Last I had seen of Joanie was doing AFF at Skydive Santa Barbara. You can call David Hughes at (805) 740-9099. She also might be working at Taft. Blue Skies, Timber

Mike Igo has spent 13 years of hard work in building up this drop zone. Until just recently I am sure that he was the biggest revenue generator on the airport. I think it really sucks the an airport manager and city council can just take away peoples source of income. I am sure they are saying that the airspace is not conducive to skydiving activities when actually they are looking for other tenants so they can profit from a larger tax base. More and more we are seeing public use airports turn away not only skydiving operations but small general aviation aircraft as well. I urge people to support both U.S.P.A. and A.O.P.A. in their airport access funds. I would like to see Gold Coast and Emerald Coast merge operations but it appears this is not likely. Mike has great business sense and I am sure something good will happen for his business. Blue Skies, Timber