MilliniaS

yesssssss mother... we ARE dressed as euro-trash ninjas for halloween..... "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

Honey your prom date is here.... OKAY!!!! Be right down.... MUAHAHAHA!!!!!! "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

aerodynamics? nope never heard of that.... I just think these wings make my brick look cool. "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

okay bro... chew on this... can vegetarians eat animal crackers? I know... thats what is going on in my brain ALLLL day..... "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

NO JOKE!!! That was the most nerveracking part!! I just did my first hop & pop yesterday and graduated!! Wahoo!! I went to the door, and looked out, light turned green and stuck my body out... came right back in, and let out a "HOLY SHIT!!!!!" Gave all the four-ways on the load a nice little chuckle. So I man'd up and jumped out.... good arch, reach, and PULL!! Just to set me up with some sweet line twists!! (thought the damn thing would never open anyways) So I cleared the twists, and landed within 10m from the target! Got right back up on the next load and did my graduation jump! "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

You see that's what I am talking about..... I am all about going out and doing what ghost Dave and ghost Corey would have wanted from us. Whether it be to get right back up or stand down for a while. All I am saying is that Rex was from Tacoma, Washington, not Houston, Texas. He had 9 jumps, not 1200. I just question the validity of these so called memorial jumps hours after the incident. If they honstly were jumps to remember Rex then I am just a dumb-ass that opened his mouth when I shouldn't have... sorry. -Its always better to remain quiet and have everybody think your stupid than to open your mouth and prove it. "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

Okay guys, sounds like I have really stepped on some toes with this one. I apologize, I understand that we as a group feel closer to the deceased in the air than on the ground. That is why we go back up, its the one common thing that everyone here does. I know that death is a part of the sport, I NOW know that people mourn for the deceased in different ways. I have gotten LOTS of private emails on the subject in a short amount of time. It also sounds like if I leave Spaceland I will be making a BIG mistake. Many of you have told me that this is the norm, and this is how it will be, no matter what DZ I call home. I am sorry if I have offended, I do have a bad habit of seeing something and putting my 2 cents into it, whether valid or not. Here is my promise. I will finish out my AFF at Spaceland, I will also talk to all the guys and see what their opinions are and what I should do. And I will not make any rash choices. Thank you. "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

N/A

This thread is in memory for Rex Williams 59 of Tacoma, Washington who passed away at Skydive Spaceland on March 12, 2008. First and foremost, prayers and thoughts go out to Rex and his family, he was a well liked guy around the DZ and an aspiring jumper. I really feel for the man that left his family behind, these are the risks we take and some of us understand these risks while many don’t. I really felt that I needed to post my thoughts here because I have some great concerns. Now truthfully I feel that I am walking on eggshells here for the simple fact that I am not too much unlike Rex. I too am currently enrolled in AFF at Spaceland and do not have many more total jumps than Rex. (15) I know that a lot of posts come from guys and gals that have been in the sport since the ‘80s and ‘90s with thousands of jumps to there credit. And some of you may feel that I am to new in the sport and “just don’t know how it really is” What I can tell you is that, I love skydiving. Also, I truly think Rex did as well. I also love the instructors at Spaceland, I put my entire confidence in them to tell me right from wrong. I have also seen the instructors tell other AFF students right from wrong. Plain and simple, nobody plays favorites, and everybody wants to promote the sport at the DZ. I have seen on other forums some people saying that the syllabus for students is “broken” and instructor ratings are “to easily handed out”. Unbelievable, this is a time for mourning and remembering Rex and his life. Sure Rex did not have his “D” license or 3200 jumps to his credit, he had 9. Now in my book, whether you have 1 jump or 1000 jumps you are a part of the family. You are a member of a small but rapidly growing community that prides itself on pulling together in times of need. Not placing blame literally hours after an incident. What I propose is a minimum 24 hour mandatory stand-down at the DZ where a major incident has taken place. Now I am not talking about having a line over, or line twists, but a fatality. In my opinion this time could be used to stop everything and regroup. Find out exactly what happened, post the results (most important) and find a method or solution to prevent this in the future. Now that being said I have come to make a very hard decision. I cannot support a DZ that hours after a major incident happens they send jumpers back up in the air. In my opinion this is the ultimate slap in the face for the Williams family. It is my own personal decision is to finish my AFF training at Skydive Spaceland and with my current instructor. I trust these guys and have grown to love them. After I complete my AFF I will not be jumping at Spaceland again, until they adopt a stand-down period. I am not looking to start a movement, this is just what I think I need to do personally for the Williams family. This hurts personally because it is such a great facility and the people have really opened there arms to me. In closing I sincerely hope the Williams family can eventually see some light from such a tragedy, and hope from sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys. Blue Skies everyone, and all of you please promise me if you cannot find your main, you pull your reserve… no matter what… Alex, you’re a hero in my book, I will jump with you anytime. "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. With regards the video, besides the bridle being hung up the student makes a really poor toss right into his burble. The bridle actually wraps around his hand which luckily for him clears itself. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> yup.... "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

It sounds like you are finally taking a moment for yourself!!! I would say that is completly responsible!!! I would consider myself honored to jump with you! "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

I am glad I got a chuckle from somebody on that comment! I always make myself laugh but usually my girlfriend just gives me that "did you really just say that?!?" look. "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.

NADA!!!!!!!! Sorry to drop the cliff hanger on you like that! Actually I did my first tandom on my 30th b-day and it was going to be the last crazy thing I did. (something about turning 30 and becoming a responsible adult) Well I was hooked. I immediately purchased my second tandom and took the ground school. So now three weeks later I am on my 5th AFF jump ( would have been more but weather hasn't cooperated) and no stopping in site! Here is my problem, I have no concerns about jumping, in fact I LOVE the rush. But right at the door my instructor always has to pull me closer to the edge and stick my head out the door. I know he has a firm grip on my straps but I never get all the way out. Then leading to a bad exit and a little buffering around before I settle into my arch. He says I got a little better on my last jump but still sizable room for improvement... he is very impressed with my head being on a swivel (constant altitude checks and DZ locating during freefall And great defensive canopy piloting.) Maybe its just a front brain thing that I will get over as I progress? "Its such a beautiful day outside, we should thank the leader." "The leader? Who the hell is that? Some sort of leader?" -Homer Simpson.