Joea

Werd... That would pretty much leave someone looking like Mr. Potato Head. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I know you were teasing, I'm just being an ass... and I've worked in television for over 20 years. I have a pretty good handle on what to believe and what not to believe. Most times, it's a matter of embellishment, more than it is fabrication. Hell, I've been guilty of it myself... it's all part of what makes "Good TV"!

Brian... I'm new at this and my biggest fear right now is how I'll handle a situation if and when it happens. The most amazing part of this video to me, is not that you regained control, but the visible change in your face from the moment you do, to a few moments later. You immediately look into the camera and say "WOW!"... because of the rush, but as reality set in and you realized just what happened, you look into the camera again and say "holy shit". That says it all. These two expressions are at opposite ends of the excitement spectrum. Watching this has really illustrated how much my life depends on me staying cool and "thinking" rather than panicking. Thanks for that... when I do experience my first incident, I'll remember your cool demeanor and act accordingly. I wonder how many lives this forum has saved? It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

Just repeating what I remember. I'm gonna show my age here.. Back in the early 1980's there was a tv show called "That's Incredible!" that did stories about amazing and unbelievable events. This story in particular was about a skydiver who survived an impact. If I remember correctly, he had two out and both failed, this likely slowed his descent. As they described his injuries, they said his legs "telescoped" into themselves. I don't remember any stories about the tooth fairy. Come on, we've all seen it, in rare cases the human body can survive a myriad of injuries that in 99% of instances, would kill anyone else. Why is it so hard to believe that a few shattered femur's, tibia's and fibula's would mean certain death? I mean, that's why they did an story on this guy. If he had died, he wouldn't have been on "That's Incredible!" he would have been on "That's The Way Shit Usually Happens!", which was a much less popular show. This is all rather irrelevant anyway as the question wasn't about likelihood of survival; it was about how you look when you don't. I was just always creeped out by the term "telescoped" after that. Incidentally, I have three jumps... I'm patiently waiting for my DZ to reopen in spring so I can continue. I don't call myself a skydiver yet, I haven't earned that title. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I remember years ago hearing about a double mal that ended with the jumper landing feet first on soft ground. It was the first time I heard the term "telescoped" being used for a leg break. He survived but his ankles were introduced to his hips. I guess what I'm getting at is, the amount of destruction to your body would likely depend on your position at impact. Head first would probably be messier than flat on your back. Unless of course everything is nicely contained in your helmet. Ahhh.. There's those goosebumps. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

She actually shot the video of my first jump! My brother, who's a photographer, took the pictures. I use one for my avatar.

She just looks at me and smiles... I think the thought freaks her out right now, but I bet she'll come around in a few years! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I've already started talking my 13 year old daughter into jumping when she's old enough! Way to go dannydan!... and Congratulations Sweeeet! I feel silly saying "welcome" when you have more jumps than me... but WELCOME! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

Thanks for the warm welcomes! "Blue Skies" is OK! It's a greeting and a goodbye.. kinda like "aloha". It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

That should buff right out. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

OHH, the scariest of all high risk sports! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

nahh... I'm aware there's other sports that are pushed to and beyond the extreme in movies, I was putting a skydiving spin on it because this is a skydiving forum! I just thought it might be an interesting topic because of some of the uber-experienced folks here who see something they would laugh at that someone who's never done it would look at and say "WAY COOL!" Ask a NASCAR driver what he thinks about 'Days of Thunder'. As a newb, I was also hoping to strike up some acquaintances here. I thought I might have better luck with a topic that has some teeth, rather than asking what kind of helmet I should buy. *sigh*... I'll just sit over here and be quiet. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

Skydiving has got to be one of the most misrepresented sport in movies and television. Directors love using it and taking serious artistic license with it because they know the majority of people watching won't know that you can't do a 3 minute free fall from 4000 feet with room to spare, or that two guys can't fight each other while in the air, under their canopies. Anyone want to compile a list of the most ridiculous skydiving scenarios you've seen? How about the opening scene of Moonraker, where James Bond jumps without a chute, catches a guy mid air, steals his chute and Jaws lands safely on a circus tent?... just like real life! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

38... two months before my 39th birthday.. which was last December. What the hell am I going to do for my 40th?! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I think I know what you're getting at shermanator. I only have three jumps... barely even a beginner. I certainly knew I could die on the first jump or be injured, but I'm aware of that every time I climb behind the wheel of my car. I have one close friend that I started jumping with last year, other than that... no one. I haven't built up the relationships or had the camaraderie that most of you have. I haven't lost anyone I know to this sport... I'm sure to many of you who've been doing this a long time, I'm in a very enviable position and I hope to be here a long time. However, when I joined this site, I started to read a bit of the "Incident" posts. I also read some very touching posts in Blue Skies, to those who have passed. This put a very human face on this sport for me and has not only made me think that there is not only a risk, but a very real and possible one. Not only to me, but to those friends I have, and those friends I hope to make. The fear I have now is different. It's deeper and more tangible... I know how to overcome it though... I'm going to jump out of an airplane. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

Thank you for taking the time to type that out. Very well said. Of course I know there are risks but I've never put faces to incidents until now, it just seemed to put a more human element on it than I expected. I've told myself that every activity has risks. Driving to the DZ is more of a risk than the jump itself. I've done three jumps and all three times, when my feet touched the ground, I had this overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I've yet to even do a freefall and that feeling of freedom and solitude when I step away from the plane is such a rush, that it's addictive. I'm in control of my own destiny, no one can help me if there's a problem, it's all up to me. That gives me a feeling of strength and confidence I have never experienced before. Not to mention it's just balls of fun!! If it's this much fun as a student, I would have to say that the benefits must be worth the risk. As I continue to progress through, I'll remember what you said and what I'm learning here, from my instructors and on my own and never, ever let my ego think that I'm anything more than I am. Damn... I wish I had started this when I was 19!! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I have to stop to wipe the tears from my eyes so I can read on.... You guys are crackin' me up!! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I'm 39. I picked 19 because I just should have started this 20 (nice round number) years ago.

I'm 6'3", 267lbs and I've done three jumps with no trouble at all. There was no question about my weight whatsoever. They just gave me a big canopy. 325 sq/f if I'm not mistaken. Landing was gentle. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

Priceless!! You sound just like my jumpmaster! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

Hi all! New here and new to the sport. I just thought I'd start a thread where everyone can post one of those clever quotes that they've learned over the years. Sometimes those simple one line rhymes and whatnot can save a life or at the very least, make jumps more enjoyable! Me being a newb... I'll start with the one everyone learns first. "Is it there?... is it square?" and this one I learned just today... "Having a blast on every jump is more important than achieving a task in every jump" They don't have to rhyme. Maybe this has been done.. but I'm new.. appease me. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I'm loving the all the inspiring quotes I've been learning over the last few months as well. Hmmm... think I'll start my first thread about that very topic! It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"

I'm 39 years old, I have a wife and two kids. I get nervous driving in a storm now, so I have to say, as much as I wanted to jump, I was nervous. My instructor (Craig) taught my course and made me feel at ease. We went over everything that can go wrong more than what will go right. Bad winds kept me from jumping that day, but when I did two weeks later, my first jumpaster (Bart) did a great job of making me feel comfortable and reminded me to have fun! Everyone there is extremely helpful and professional. I'm hooked and I can't wait until I have enough jumps to become a part of the community that seems to live there on weekends. I wish I had started this 20 years ago! Thanks to Joe, Craig, Bart and everyone else who stopped to provide words of encouragement! See you all in February!!

Hello everyone! A Canadian jumper here. Just did my first jump in October of 2007 and did number 2 later that day. Number three was a TRCP jump which I failed due to improper hand placement. I'll nail the next two and get that first free fall. I'm on my way to be Certified... although my mom says I should be certified for jumping out of airplanes. My DZ opens in February and I'm counting the days! I'm officially hooked... I wish I had started sooner! Looking forward to chatting and learning about this most amazing sport It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. - Clarence Worley from "True Romance"