Passion_is_good

I came back to Netheravon after a lay-off from skydiving due to work commitments and (eek!, sorry for swearing on site). I had started jumping at Dunkeswell and then jumped at most of the UK DZs and a lot of international ones too. I wondered what it would be like “making a come back”. I decided on Netheravon. In fact, it was like coming home! People were helpful, friendly and yet highly professional in their support. Like everything in life “its all about people”; In my view, “Nethers people” are diverse, idiosyncratic, committed, fun loving and absolutely passionate about this amazing sport and about life in general. They also strive to be meticulous and systematic in terms of how safety and training are implemented, and they don’t suffer fools gladly because a sport like ours doesn’t need fools (fools tend to cause injuries or worse). On the other hand, if someone is simply inexperienced or misguided, there is always someone who can and will help them at Nethers. I’ve seen some people “bounce off” Nethers. Some of those “bounce-offs” are the people who believe that systems and processes which are designed for safety (of all) and training should not apply to them. Who knows why those people feel this? Maybe it’s because they are very, very good at what they do and need more flexibility and personal challenge? Maybe it’s because they tend towards anarchism as a personal attitude for life? Maybe they just know best? Maybe they are just fools? What I know is this; Nethers is a real community, which takes care of its people, its visitors and its friends alike. Like any other (very busy) drop zone it has its share of “happenings” but lets put it in perspective. When a DZ does almost thirty thousand jumps in a year, and graduates sixty AFF students (from stats 2005, how many other DZs can say that?) it must be doing something right. Look at the stats for the other DZs, and consider that with (currently) 26 reviews and a 4 star rating, you are getting a relatively good statistical base for making an informed decision on where to spend your money (and more importantly, your time). Its easy to get and maintain a 5 star rating if you have only one or two ratings and nobody bothers to review you – so what does that say? On the other hand, if you “get busy” in a vibrant DZ and try lots of things, there is bound to be lots of feedback, one way or the other. Personally, I’d be worried if there was no feedback because it would imply staleness and stagnancy, which are certainly not the facets you would find at Nethers. So in closing, please come visit Netheravon with an open mind – and lets have some fun - you won’t regret it (and that also counts for those who have written negative reviews too, because life is too short to snipe at each other init?).