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

Thanks! Unfortunately I don't inspire people to miss me all that often. But yea, I'm a big believer that life is NOT worth living if you settle for less than what is your dreams and personally I'm miserable and hat myself every single day I'm not actively pursuing these goals. I guess I finally realized I had sat around too long. I love skydiving, but it's not my dream. Thanks man. I might end up living in my car, but at least I'll be trying. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I'm planning on "retiring" from this sport and selling all of my gear. Why? There are a lot of reasons, some good and some bad. It’s no one thing. When I started jumping I had a career with a fortune 500 company, plenty of money to spare, no kids, my own place, I was healthy and skydiving was the perfect thing I needed to enjoy life at an opportune time. All of that has changed. I’ve not had a job for over a year. I have income, but my paycheck was cut in half and instead of barely denting my bank account I’m constantly breaking it. I have a 1 year old son now. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism early last year and now I’m very unhealthy. If I attempt to pack I sweat, my heart pounds and I recently blacked out trying. It kind of sucks having to find packers when you’re not at a boogie, plus it’s an extra six bucks. For a year now I’ve been feeling less and less “into” it. I’m also realizing that this is just “fun” for me and it can’t replace what I really want out of my life. I finally just decided to move on for now and go after what I really want. There is one thing that I love doing more than jumping out of an airplane: playing guitar. I’m going to concentrate on at least attempting to find my place in the music business. It’s a pipe dream, but it’s the one I’ve wanted to live since I was 14. I just don’t think I can concentrate on all this other stuff if I’m broke all the time, gone on weekends, spending money I don’t have, etc. I’ve got to buy medication, get to know my son and no longer neglect some things. I’m planning on moving to Manchester, New Hampshire with a friend (near Boston) to see what the music scene is like out there. I’ve tried my best to make it happen in NC for 10 years and this state is a dead zone if you want a music career. Don't even think about taking me the wrong way, I'm not happy about this, but I'm also not overly upset about it either; I did make the decision myself. I’m going to miss you guys (all of you). I really have nothing negative to say about anyone that I’ve ever met in this sport. The largest portions of the greatest people I know are skydivers. When you think about getting out of a sport like this, you begin to think to yourself that you're going to lose a lot of friends, miss out on a lot of great experiences and countless else. I doubt that I’ll “lose” the friends, but I know that I won’t have the pleasure of hanging out with most of them anymore. That’s a bummer. I’m going to miss the boogies and all the random fun stuff that happens on a DZ, the good people that you don’t find anywhere else, the people you look up to, people like Bolas that make you go “What the hell?”, things like beer butt chicken and wondering why people are walking around in t-shirts that say “Have you met Howie?” and “FNG”. I still don’t know what’s up with that. I try not to ask about these things and show how out of the loop I am. I'll most likely end back up in this sport one day (if God forbids), but it’s time to call it quits this go-around. Why am I writing this and rambling about it? I feel like I have to thank a lot of people for their kindness, the experiences and the brotherhood. I believe this sport is more than the general public can possibly fathom and it deserves the praise that we give it. An old friend Gunnery Sgt. Stacy would tell me that he got frustrated when people would call Marines no longer in service "ex Marines" and that it was better to call them "Former Marines" because “once a Marine always a Marine”. I think that applies here; once a skydiver always a skydiver. It’s a challenge you faced and conquered and now you are a skydiver. Once you complete the challenge that is being a student and becoming a skydiver or just facing that fear of stepping out on that ledge willingly; I believe you're always going to be changed by that. It runs through your veins permanently. You’re suddenly capable of saying “Hell yea” to something you originally thought you would never do. I want to thank a lot of people for pretty much everything they’ve done in the past 3 years. Thank you Skydive Carolina. James La Barrie for all of the numerous thousand things that you do for all of us. Thank you Pete L., (the coolest AFF instructor there is). Thank you Heidi for not just being an instructor, but for talking to me when I was down and needed a friend. Thank you Ivan Ivanov for helping me change a tire on the side of the road in the dark when he could’ve been having fun at Carolina Fest instead. Thank you Steve Vaughn for the water training, packing classes, hop and pop instruction and always taking the time to help me. Thank you Judy Girard for teaching my first jump class, packing classes, water training, hop and pop instruction, answering another thousand questions. Thank you to Louis French for doing one hell of a job of teaching me in the tunnel. Others: Joey Freeman (AFF), Gene Stuart (tandem), Annette, Danny, Mike Rinehart, Adam Gardner, Kenn Ouzts, Kerri Pyne, Nancy Newman, Rachael La Barrie, PARACLETE, Eric (for putting me over the DZ every time) and everyone I failed to mention. Blue Skies! Chris USPA B-32561 Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

There's your answer right there; you don't. Trade the 747 in this video for a skydiver. It's the exact same thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDTDt2NZLmM The plane/rocket/skydiver helps to facilitate the path of the lightning strike from ground to object to cloud. A 747 is made of a hell of a lot of metal, aluminum (or whichever) and who knows what. I'm sure that makes a difference. A skydiver might can be hit by lightning in the air, but the fact that a 747 is comprised of what it is, doesn't make it a good comparison at all. I don't know about you but I'm also only 5'8" rather than 231'-250'. There's just too many factors against using a 747 as an example. Either way, if you're jumping in or near a storm; what the hell do you expect? Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

How exactly are you going to get hit by lightning under canopy? You aren't grounded to anything. Now if lightning hit something on the ground and just happened to arc through you, that would make more sense, but that would decrease the probability of getting hit to almost impossible. Not that I know what the hell I'm talking about, but I'm pretty sure you have to be grounded to something for lightning to be "attracted" to you and therefore "hit" you. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Now that I've sold my full face and started using my open face, I prefer a full face. You can breath very easily, the cold air doesn't make you cry when you can keep the shield closed under canopy, etc. I used my full face for about 100 jumps. Now that I'm using an open face, I can't breath at all in free fall. It's better all all around. Only real reason for an open face is maybe a wide field of view or the fact that most camera helmets are open face. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

That's quoted from the ESPN article and that is exactly why he is a nut case in my book. He is not scared. I've been called an adrenaline junkie, but skydiving scares the shit out of me. I know how easy it would be for me to die and I run through every possibility on every skydive. Pastrana must just be damn good at not thinking about it. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Last year when I was at a fly-in they had 3 helicopters there. (The same kind that we jump but I forget what they are called R-something). I was like SHIT, I want! I ended up paying $20 to ride in a plane just to say I'd been in that kind of plane, but now I forgot what they're called. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

That would be me! We do a "DZ for a day" a few times a year there. BS, MEL Shit next time you do this crap let me know! I live across the freakin's street (literally) yo!!! I didn't know they allowed it at the airport. I went up there the last few years for the fly ins and they said the city wouldn't let anyone jump for some reason. I mean, hell people would enjoy seeing that at a fly in. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

I went over there but I didn't see anyone and the office was locked. lol Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan

Anyone that skydives without a parachute is indeed a jackass. Jackass meaning a total idiot that is. We're all pretty damn nuts, but anyone that pulls that stunt is asking to be a Darwin statistic. Rodriguez Brother #1614, Muff Brother #4033 Jumped: Twin Otter, Cessna 182, CASA, Helicopter, Caravan