smayo76

I just found this out over a year later.... Glyn was my first skydive instructor back when I worked for the highway patrol. We got to be pretty good friends. I had to get him out of speeding tickets all the time... a few other 'recreational' charges I could never help him with. lol I remember so much about him. I remember him jumping with a propeller hat and bubba teeth bare footed when he was supposed to be spotting for our load... lol I remember how I didn't recognize him in a suit when I showed up to watch him fight the airport managers in court serving as his own attorney... making everyone in the court laugh at his qwerky insults made under his breath in between sentences... I'm reading the comments he put in my jump log right now.... "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. NOT TODAY, YOU HAVE TWO GREAT CHUTES. BUT EVENTUALLY. STOP FREAKING OUT" "FASTEST HOP AND POP EVER. THANKS FOR NOT OPENING AND TAKING THE PLANE'S TAIL OFF. GEEZE" "STOP TRYING TO SWIM. YOU'RE FLYING. BUT GREAT JOB MAN. EVENTUALLY" "THANKS FOR NOT THROWING UP IN THE PLANE. IN FREEFALL WAS MUCH BETTER. GREAT JOB BUDDY." I miss you buddy. So much.... I'm forever walking the earth with my eyes skyward because of you. You made everything so much fun. Blue skies my friend.

You assume we care. :X lol

If you decide the pursue skydiving as a frequent hobby, you will spend the rest of your life chasing the feeling of intensity that you will only have for your first jump. Enjoy it!

I'm a state trooper in my state. Here we call them donor-cycles. For the vast majority of people that ride the 'crotch-rocket' versions it's not a matter of if....

lol my thoughts exactly. /agree

What most people don't realize is that south Mississippi was much much more heavily damaged and had a much higher loss of life than New Orleans. Pretty much the whole southern half of the state had nearly every single home damaged or destroyed with no power, water or gas for a month at least. The media choose to concentrate on New Orleans, but the storm didn't directly damage New Orleans. It broke the levee and flooded about 1/3 of the city but they got off easy compared to south Mississippi. There were entire towns in S.M. that are were non-existent for over a year. Both New Orleans and south Mississippi were a tragedy, but it's unfortunate that the media concentrated their efforts where it did. And the looters were both black, white, mexican and sometimes...local police. I honestly don't blame people that looted food and supplies in those days. That was survival and I only stopped those with T.V.s and clothes ect. I'm with the highway patrol here and I fired warning shots at just about every color I could think of.. always afraid they were going to fire back.

wow... I'm bored at work and just spent 4 hours on this game. I don't know whether to kiss you or curse you.

I'm one of those people that thought Borat was hilarious and pure genius. People only got offended that were involved because they didn't know what he was doing. I can understand some of them getting upset at the time because they thought he intended to offended them and didn't realize what he was doing. But those same people should have dropped all notions of such once they realized what was going on. I agree with you about joking about mass catastrophes. My house was demolished. I'm in law enforcement, so I had to help guard what was left (in the same uniform without a shower for a week and a half)and stop looters all while not knowing where my family was or if they were alive. Found myself going through piles of bodies hoping I wouldn't find a familiar face. It's not an experience I could ever understand anyone joking about racial or otherwise. Outside of the disaster, I see no problem with race jokes on my race or anyone else's.

My condolences.... *not a katrina joke - just pokin fun at ya* Been there once, the week before MG...Brennan's, Cafe du Monde.... good times, good times... I live in south Mississippi and I usually avoid New Orleans. The last time I was there I got my wallet stolen by a pickpocket during Mardi Gras because I was stopped under a balcony looking at titties. lol My own fault... but still.

I just hit the first reply button I saw. I wasn't directing my comments to her post. It was just a general rant spurred by the overall thread. I just think people of ALL races need to stop being so overly sensitive about race jokes. I find some white jokes funny and some black jokes funny. Some mexican jokes funny, and some asian jokes funny.. There are some of each I don't think are funny. If people don't tell the jokes with intention of offending someone, you're a oversensitive idiot if you are offended by it in my opinion. Again, not directed at anyone in this thread. Just a general statement. *grin*

You make a joke about white people, it's considered funny. You make a joke about black people, and it's considered racist. Double standards make me want to puke. Try starting WET (White Entertainment Television) or a Miss White America pagent and see how many injuctions are filed against you for being racist. /rant

My original post wasn't intended as flame-bait or meant to be offensive towards anyone. It was simply an observation and a question. I know the U.S. dropzones have a lot of restrictions imposed on them for safety reasons and wasn't sure if the increased number outside the U.S. was caused by the lack of such. It was an honest question. Not meant to offend non U.S. jumpers or DZOs.

Bored at work and reading the incident list and I noticed something. Most injuries and deaths during skydiving seem to happen outside the U.S. Is safety in instruction and in the mentality of jumpers less of a concern overall outside the U.S. than in other countries or is it just because there are a lot more jumps occuring outside the U.S. It seems to me that the vast majority of jumps happen in the U.S. but I could be wrong. Anyone have an opinion on it?

From someone who lived through hurricane katrina... lost his house and a good number of friends, I wouldn't find it funny. I wouldn't be offended, but I wouldn't find humor in it. Worst thing I've ever lived through.

I thought everyone and everything fell at the same speed (120... T.V....) Is that not the case? If not...why is the number 120 something thrown around so much in skydiving.

Awesome video man. Congrats. I'm getting back into skydiving after 5 years and going through student training again. Videos like this give me flashbacks and make my heart beat fast just watching them and remembering. Good job. Blue skies.

I'm right there with ya man. I stopped skydiving 5 years ago when I got married due to the fact that she didn't like it. Last week she informed me that she wanted a divorce. So, I'm leaving Mississippi ...moving back to Georgia and my first priority is to start jumping again. I know how you feel though. It does feel weird. I don't remember what it feels like to NOT be married. It's not what I want, but I think for you and I both... it's nothing that blue skies...time and beer can't cure. Best of luck to ya man.

Congrats man. That looked like a lot of fun.

Thanks for all the feedback. I actually talked to Hans on the phone to ask him a lot of questions. He seems like a great guy. Me and both of my brother's in law are going to start AFF there at the Farm in September. My dad is even coming with us to do a tandem (he's 52!). I'm excited about it. I've spent the last 24 hours watching jump videos from the farm. I feel like I know the geography of the place and I haven't even been there yet!

Thanks for the quick reply. I've looked at their site, but with all the Skyride drama, it's hard to tell what's legit and what's not. Hence why I'm asking here. Do you have any experience there? Can you tell me the pros and cons to their DZ and a bit of information about it from a jumper's prospective? Thanks. Well, as far as I know, they're not open every weekend. Anybody knows I'm wrong, correct me. Ever since the DZO died, they just haven't been open much except for the Mullins King Air boogies. Stay away from ASC/skyride. They ripped off the Tullahoma DZ's phone number after the DZO died and it wasn't found out until a boogie was scheduled there and people were calling the number and getting ASC. Where in Tennessee are you? If Skydive Alabama in Cullman is close enough for you, they're a good alternative. Fast King Air and good vibes. They will send the plane up with as few as 8 people so there's rarely any waiting time. Well, I'll actually be living in Trenton, Ga. in a couple of weeks. I think I've decided on doing my AFF at 'the farm' in Georgia due to all the messages I recieved pointing me that direction. However, I'm looking for close alternatives for after I get my AFF done and get my 'A' license. With working and chores on the family farm, I'd like to find a good place that I can run out..do a quick jump or two and come home in time for dinner.

Thanks for the quick reply. I've looked at their site, but with all the Skyride drama, it's hard to tell what's legit and what's not. Hence why I'm asking here. Do you have any experience there? Can you tell me the pros and cons to their DZ and a bit of information about it from a jumper's prospective? Thanks.

I already plan on doing my AFF at the Farm in Georgia now. However, it's two hours from my house. Does anyone know a good DZ in southeast Tennessee near Chattanooga that would be a good quick jump spot after I get my 'A' license?

I've got 15 static line jumps (3-4 at 15-20 second freefall) from 5 years ago, but I was at about 220-230lbs back then. I was falling stable back then and had gotten over the initial fear of leaving the plane. I wouldn't be doing Tandem. I want to go straight for AFF. I am dropping pounds. I should be at 250 by September at least. That's when I plan on starting. (Wow have I derailed this thread or what... lol)

I posted this in the other thread, but I thought I'd post it here too. I appreciate the feedback as well as the private messages. I know nothing about Georgia or Tennessee skydiving centers other than what I've gathered from websites. I'm looking forward to moving back to Georgia and getting to know alot of you guys and gals. I'm going to visit ASC and the Farm, but based on what I've been told I'll most likely end up at the farm. As I told someone in a PM, my reasons for initially choosing ASC were two fold. First, I'm a big guy. 6'1" 280+ lbs. I could stand to lose a few pounds (or 30..lol) but I could have low body fat and still be a big guy. ASC's jump weight limit is 285 where everyone else (including the Farm) is 250. I was hoping to start jumping again by the fall instead of by next year. Secondly, location. I'll be moving to Northwest Georgia (around Trenton..15 miles west of Chattanooga) and Rome is an hour away (if they were in Rome). Thanks again for the feedback. I also just found this website for the first time before I posted and I'm excited about getting to know this community and jumping with a lot of you all.

I appreciate the feedback as well as the private messages. I know nothing about Georgia or Tennessee skydiving centers other than what I've gathered from websites. I'm looking forward to moving back to Georgia and getting to know alot of you guys and gals. I'm going to visit ASC and the Farm, but based on what I've been told I'll most likely end up at the farm. As I told someone in a PM, my reasons for initially choosing ASC were two fold. First, I'm a big guy. 6'1" 280+ lbs. I could stand to lose a few pounds (or 30..lol) but I could have low body fat and still be a big guy. ASC's jump weight limit is 285 where everyone else (including the Farm) is 250. I was hoping to start jumping again by the fall instead of by next year. Secondly, location. I'll be moving to Northwest Georgia (around Trenton..15 miles west of Chattanooga) and Rome is an hour away (if they were in Rome). Thanks again for the feedback. I also just found this website for the first time before I posted and I'm excited about getting to know this community and jumping with a lot of you all.