skyejumper

I used to have a link to a joke about making a skydive w/ a polar bear. Now I can't find it, and I'd like to send it to someone. If anyone knows the URL for this joke, could you please let me know. It was a big, long parody, and pretty hysterical.

Hey all... thanks for the input. I feel more comfortable now. I'm just a very conservative jumper, and want to be as educated (and confident) as possible before adding extra risk to a "standard" skydive.

I'm planning on strapping on a board soon, and would just like some feedback before I do. 1) How many jumps did you have when you first strapped on a board? 2) How much more difficult is pull time? 3) When you cutaway the board right before landing, doesn't that mess up your flare? Not to sound ignorant, but I'm a bit confused about this part. Yes, I'll be getting some coaching before I take the leap, but I'd like to get a jump start. Thanks!

If you wanted to find out if someone you had jumped with years ago was still jumping, do you think the USPA would give out info on current members? I'm not looking for an address or phone number, just whether or not they're still current members. Any other ways you can think of to find someone? It's not urgent or anything, I'm just curious about a few old friends who I've been thinking about.

I know that everybody smokes in Europe, so any tobacco shop sells smokes.

The Euro money is pretty colorful, but the Swiss money is a LOT fruitier and brighter. I'll attach a photo. It's hard to tell just how bright it is, but you can see the weird dude on it. It all totally looks like Monopoly money. Makes the US dollar pale in comparison. The only bad part was they didn't have 1 or 2 franc/euro units. You had to use these coins that looked like they were from a slot machine. It weighed down my bag!

I was just in Europe in May. I had to use pounds in the UK, and then Euros for a while, but in Switzerland they have Swiss Francs (haven't converted to the Euro yet), and then hopped into Italy and had to use Euros again, back to Switzerland, ugh! After that we went to France and were back to Euros once again. All my money got mingled together, so I kept giving shopkeepers the wrong currency, and they'd look at me like I was smoking crack. Switerland has the prettiest money EVER! It's all bright and colorful and has wacky leaders on it. Kinda like a fun European acid trip.

The S&TA needs to have a serious talk w/ the two of them. Both need to practice their tracking. If one isn't comfortable tracking well, he/she should pull in place a bit higher and the other one should track their a&* off and check the air above them before dumping. I'm glad things turned out ok here.

That would be SO cool if I hooked up with you crazy UK skydiving freaks. I jumped with my ex-boyfriend at Nethers, but that was years ago, and now he's gone. I know 2 jumpers there, but not sure if they'll be able to make it to London. A British dz.com reunion... FUN!

My skydiving friend & I (she's an RW chick and I'm a freefly chick) will be in London on May 14. Anyone want to hook up for drinks? We're not sure where we're going to go or what to do or see. If you have any advice or suggestions, please let me know.

Today is my birthday and instead of being able to go to the DZ (which I was supposed to do), I'm stuck here in the office, and they won't even let me leave early. My co-worker had an accident and can't cover for me. My boss is in Mexico, on his second vacation within 3 weeks. The other boss just decided not to come in. SO... he says somebody needs to be here. It's bogus because there's no work to do. I guess I can surf all day, but I was hoping to be with a special skydiver who drove a long way to see me, and now he gets to spend the day jumping (I'm glad at least ONE of us can have fun), and my bday is just lame. Can you guys at least send some bday cheer my way. It would really make me feel better about being stuck here.

Did they give them credit for the photos? Is his name Heinz Kluetmeier? I'm looking at the magazine now, and Heinz is the only other name I see that might relate to the photos. What are you wearing in the truck photo? I know all of you in the photo, and if this is who I think it is, you know me.

Photos are by Francisco Neri. Article was written by Franz Lidz.

There's a big article on swooping in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. It's in the SI Adventure section, so I'm not sure if it would be in the regular issue on the newstand. Focuses primarily on Perris jumpers (as well as Heath), and the upcoming meet. There's also a small section on the Perris wind tunnel. I'll bring a few copies to Perris next time I'm out there. If anyone here thinks they're in it, shoot me a private message and I can send you a copy. The photos are of Heath, Jim Slaton, and Luigi. Good luck to all of you who will be competing.

I'm sure it will be a good time all around.

My skydiving friend & I will be visiting London in the middle of May (we live in California). Any skydivers want to meet in London and show two skydiving chicks around? I've been there before, but she hasn't. I hope it doesn't rain!!!

I've done #3, 6 and 8!!! I do a LOT of surfing here! Thanks for the ideas though! Leaving sounds like a good option, but my boss just came back from lunch so now I have to stay and pretend to be doing "work" hahahahahaaaaa!

I'm at work & bored. Anyone have any suggestions for someone stuck in an office building? I've already looked out the office window and fantasized about making a BASE jump.

I ate breakfast cereal for a week because I spent my last $20 on a jump ticket. It's all about sacrifice. Most people give up a lot of other things to afford gear & jump tickets. BUT... it's worth it!

Yeah, I just saw the ad for Extra gum too. It was over Lake Elsinore. Does anyone know who the skydiver is?

Wow... this was amazingly accurate. I matched up 100% with the person I was planning on voting for.

Wow everyone... thanks for all the opinions. It's interesting how some people think tunnels rock, and others think nothing can replace a good 'ole skydive! Rock on y'all!

I'm writing an article about wind tunnels, and would like to know if anyone has flown in one: 1) where was it located? 2) did you find it useful? 3) useful as a training tool, or just for fun? 4) does your DZ have one, or is there one being built at your DZ? 5) was it cost effective for you, or would you rather use your money towards skydives? Thanks for any input.

It was in the 50's in So. Cal on the 27th and we were all FREEZING. I guess we're spoiled by the warmer temps the rest of the year, but everyone there had on layer upon layer! I made a dive, couldn't feel my fingers, and called it quits after that. You East Coast folks get props from me for being so rugged!

yeah, supposedly since you have to be so rock solid in the tunnel (or risk flying into a wall or another person), when you get back in the sky, your flying is much better. Plus the wind speed is lower in the tunnel (at least in our tunnel for now) that it's harder to sit up.