chrismgtis

I am in Kharkov Ukraine at the moment. There's a lot of "extreme sports" events around here. For example last year I was here and accepted an invite to "paraglide" which basically consisted of meeting some people, finding a spot and going up with an instructor whose abilities and experience I had no way to verify. As far as I can tell or know that is also the case with skydiving in this area. I'm not aware of any drop zones nearby. As far as I know, I won't have any way to verify experience and without that, of course I am not going up with rented gear that is owned by God knows who, with a reserved packed by God knows who. I asked if these invites getting sent out were for tandems and was told that you are "taught" and then go up alone as far as I know (hopefully with someone that has some idea of what they are doing in an AFF style teaching structure). Really just curious if anyone knows anything about common practice in this area. Who (like USPA) issues licenses in Ukraine and provides guidelines, safety standards and rules, etc? Are people around here just buying rigs and jumping without any kind of oversight or what? I know there is at least one dropzone in Kiev and I imagine it is a legitimate DZ, but I am only assuming. None exist that I can see in the Kharkov area. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I have an Optik camera helmet. The inside says "Shell 2 Mo 5". Does that tell you what size it is? I'm trying to sell this thing. I only used it about 4 times and haven't even drilled any holes or anything for the box. Need the money extremely bad. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Yes, I see I am making the best decision leaving this community. I used to think more highly of you folks as a whole. I can see that I wasted my time. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I've never been the part of the drama. I'm only speaking out for what I was seeing and what I saw happen to others and what I was somewhat 'affected' by in a non-direct sense. Who knows, maybe it will open one or two persons eyes, maybe not. The attempt is all that matters. Not that I expected more from person(s) on an Internet forum where people feel they can act in any way they wish with no consequence, but you guys are skydivers, the ignorant replies are pretty pathetic. Yes, skydivers are a rare breed in that the majority of them are different from the mass public. You won't change my mind about that, I know it as I witnessed it week in an out for years. I saw the good in these people, but I'm also seeing some bad (in those that I didn't see the "good" in yet). The maturity should rub off on these people, but the immaturity could also rub off on others and I'm telling you as my opinion, grow the fuck up and if you want to be a drama-queen. Go home and buy yourself a crown and proceed to sit on your "throne" alone. It's not needed. Skydivers are 18+ and the majority are 25+. You guys don't live in trailer parks since you can apparently afford to skydive. Act like it. Anyway, that's about as close as I'll get to being a part of drama in my life. Rant over. Good luck. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I kind of feel like I need to speak up a bit and say this to all of you skydivers. Drop the drama. Quit talking behind each others backs. Quit participating in cliques. That is not what the sport is about. If you feel the need to bring that in then step out until you've changed your ways. I took much pride in my participation in the sport due to the absence of this very thing and in the past year I've seen it slowly exist as more skydivers have come in. That is not to say the skydivers that existed before hand are exempt from this point. It doesn't matter. Accept everyone. Everyone! Forget past transgressions. They mean nothing! In no case, regardless of who your friends are or are not, or whatever reason you may have to feel that you are not the friend of another or if you may feel wronged by another, is no excuse for any kind of non-acceptance or intolerance. Not one of you is better than the other, regardless of who you think you are outside of the sport in your lives. When you walk onto a DZ, you are the same, you are one. Start acting like it. Drop the grudges. Turn your cheek again and again if you have to. Do your part. If you feel the need to speak out against another, decide not to accept another person as your friend or as part of your community, pause and think about what you're doing. Why do you participate in the sport of skydiving? To make as many skydives as you can each weekend and add to the number of skydives in your log book? If that's the extent of your participation, you may be supporting the DZ by providing income, but you are not supporting the community or the continuance and progress of the the sport and it's community, which is the most important aspect the majority of us believe in and why we come back week in and out to a sport which could kill us (and scare the hell out of us). It's why we take the risk to make friends and risk the chance of watching them perish tragically. We do it, because we enjoy making those friends, spending time with them experiencing something with them that those outside can not describe and to be a part of that bond as a whole. Embrace each other and take the initiative to step in and befriend those around you and to drop whatever issue you might have with someone else. Stop operating in groups of social cliques and ask someone on the sidelines to come have a beer when the light is on, or to participate in an outing. If that is not your aim, then what is? As I see it, the most important and only things that mattered to me were: safety, the basics (which take thousands of skydives and you never cease to learn), making friends, being around hundreds of great people. What else is there? It bothers the hell out of me to watch what is happening to this sport in the short time that I've been a part of it. After two years I started to notice that the reasons which I had stood up for the sport so defiantly...I was partially wrong about. I'm not even an active skydiver any more (one of the reasons I chose to retire is for the reason that I'm speaking out about) but I still see it as I'm friends with many of you. And FYI folks, when new jumpers step onto the DZ, stop analyzing whether or not they are up to par with your standards of "cool". That is complete nonsense. I've watched so many of you embrace certain newbies and not speak a word to the rest. Maybe that just goes against my idea of what this sport stood for and maybe you never saw it that way, but you should. You guys are part of a community that can only be challenged, changed and broken from within. The way I see it is, if you want to be a part of it, every one of you are charged with it's protection. I personally kind of gave up, because I'm not strong like most of you are and can't speak up. Stop worrying about logging jumps and start worrying about participating. With each other. You're not at lunch in junior high sitting at the cool table. I'll admit and tell you straight up, I've personally sat by myself away from a lot of you during events just because I didn't want to be around a massive mess of cliques. It's disgusting. I'm retired now as of a few months ago, but I thought I should leave this message behind. Why am I telling you this? A. Because I'm retired in part due to what I'm speaking up about. B. This sport in my mind is great, because of it's tolerance, acceptance and positivity. Don't ruin it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

A. There's no reason to buy new gear. B. Used gear is definitely not expensive. I think I just sold a full rig for $2200 (minus an AAD). It cost me $2400 + $500 in mods. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Student jumpers down? I was out for about 6 months once. When I came back there were about 50 new people and I didn't know half the damn DZ anymore. I was like what the hell, you bastards been breeding. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I'm no doctor, but bad idea dude. It may be "ok" if you make a nice safe comfortable jump, but what if you have an uncomfortable landing and end up with internal bleeding? I'd say wait at least one more week. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Haha. I figure the cover will have to be the band mates all falling out of a CASA. ;) Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I spent the first 5 years playing 6 hours a day, pretty much every day (literally). In the last 8-9 years I've spent about 8 hours a week (it's harder to practice where I live now - people get bitchy). I still have a guitar in my hand every day though. If I ever only spend 30 minutes a week practicing, kick my ass. I'll never sell off music gear unless I'm getting a replacement. I need the $2500 I can get off my skydiving gear right now though to move and pursue all this. Been trying music theory on and off for years. It's very confusing to me and I've never had a good teacher. The scales are basically in my head though in a way. I can't tell you what dorian or the G major scale is, but I know what notes sound right with which music for the most part. A neighbor that I had for about 18 years had a band in high school. He eventually moved to Wilmington after graduating. He now plays in a country band and that's how he makes his money every week. I won't ever go THAT far though. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I witnessed one jump at Skydive Carolina back when Fantastic Four 2 was about to come out, him about 20 other jumpers were promoting it by doing a demo into Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lowes Speedway or whatever that place is called now. Not sure what his name was. I know he wasn't American. Ian or something like that maybe. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

They died. That's exactly what I was going to say. Most people are either too scared to get into it or dead. There are still a good bit of them that I know of, but very few. Edit: There are videos on YouTube of a few guys that were doing it back in the 80s or 90s. I believe some of them are still doing it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

One of these days. Another problem I didn't mention is I owe the IRS $700. I've got $60 in the bank. Oh and the windshield on the passenger side of my car just made a "cracking" sound and now it won't go all the way up. Damnit, what is the deal with stuff breaking when you get back from a trip? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Well... whatever. A few people asked. Instead of sending multiple emails I just threw it in here. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I'm selling my gear, so in case anyone reading this is interested, here are the details. 175 Triathlon Main (about 100 jumps) 175 Smart Reserve (1 "jump") Javelin 2 Container (dated 1993 - but I had $500 in mods made to it about 2 years ago). The container is black with a sort of green/blue part on the back. It's in great condition. I hear that since it's so old that is the main problem people will notice, but personally I love this rig. I've had it since jump 32-35. Pilot Chute (about 2 years old - barely any wrinkles) PD Altimeter (about 1 year old) XXL (Not 100% sure on size) Optik camera helmet - no screw holes or D-BOX, I never got around to it and I didn't have enough jumps yet. I've used it on only about 10 jumps. I originally was asking $2500 for the rig, but I'll throw in the altimeter and camera helmet too. If the helmet doesn't fit you, I'm sure you could get $200 out of it. AAD - the one I had expired so none is included. I have a bag that I used to store all my gear in, minus the rig itself (helmets, altimeters, etc). You're welcome to have it, but it's not worth anything and you might wanna blow it out with an air hose :P. I'm not sure what I'm leaving out. Just ask. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan