skydance1954

Ya know, I can remember at least one very drunken safety meeting around the fire over 20 years ago where a bunch of us were trying to work out the mechanics of doing such a thing on purpose. Of course we never actually tried it, but I'm glad to see someone finally got it done. Congratulations! Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Sweet! Cool moves guys! I wish I was her age and just starting out. I would have avoided all the gear fear and nonsense of the old days. OTOH - there were some aspects of the '70s that were very cool. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Why, thank you But I have to disagree, between each load I actually HAVE been looking for a cure for cancer (and AIDS), but I keep finding those pesky test-tubes make a bloody mess when I stuff them down my jumpsuit to make the back-up, and I can't get the camera-flyer to hold the microscope for me during freefall... (Some BS about "needing both hands free in case he has a mal"...primadonna team types eh?) Yeah, sorry about that. We are SUCH whiners about things like that. However, I've got a Flat Top Pro with lots of real estate on the top, perhaps we could mount the microscope on that and you could ride my back while working the focus while I do some team video? You're on your own with the slides, though. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Probably nothing, what kind of booties do you have? If they are catching a lot of air while you're tracking away, the leverage may be tipping your legs up, thus resulting in the angle. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

How would my life be different? Oh, golly, the list is endless, but what I can think of: I'd never have met my wife of 27 years. I'd never have the great kids that I do. I'd be a different person altogether, and probably not a happy one. I'd have a lot more money. I'd still be living in Canada, freezing my butt off in the long, cold winter. I'd probably be a very shy, retiring person, like I was before I started jumping. And I'd certainly not be as cool as I am today. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

I was there! Two things I remember, besides the lovely ladies was that 1) the preacher was at the front left of stage and enjoying himself as much as the rest of us. 2) The lady giving the BJ did not actually win the contest. And it was very cold that night. The crowd huddled together a lot to stay warm. Oh, and the Herd was firing their milk cannon a lot that night. Good times. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

I've been a belly flyer for over 30 years, and never had a problem finding playmates at whatever DZ I happen to be at. Well, we're not a mega-center DZ, and with the weather we were blessed with this past weekend, we had plenty of belly flyers show up and self-organize some very good 6/8 and 12 ways that worked out very well, especially so early in the year. Some of the people on those loads were low timers (defined as less than 200 jumps). Not only did they enjoy the success of the skydives, the good vibes, the social atmosphere in the evenings, they all learned new skills that they can apply to future belly dives. A minority of those people sometimes do the team thing - but infrequently. They all looked like they were having fun to me. At least that's what I guessed from all the smiles. So far, any belly flyer who shows up is welcome to join in, provided they are safe flyers. (Cannon balls are not really a good idea.) I don't see this philosophy changing anytime soon. We also have a small, but growing, cadre of freeflyers who enjoy doing the same thing - vertically. You don't want to do the team thing? OK, that's fine, but don't make fun of those who do. Personally, I don't like competitive swooping, but I have respect for those who do. I'm also not all that keen on BASE, but again, they deserve respect. We're all skydivers here, and regardless of discipline, we should recognize that everyone brings their own flavor to the table, and we should rejoice in the variety. As already mentioned, there are asshats in every discipline. I saw it back in the day when there were only 3, Style, Accuracy and RW. I still see it. So what? I hang with the people that have good vibes and a good attitude, and try to project same back. And I'm always trying to learn to be better. There was a time that jumping out and geeking the camera for 7,000 feet was enough. I grew beyond that. Does that make me a bad person? Does it also make me bad that I try to help young jumpers see that there's more to life than just an air bath? If that's all they want, they'll tell me so. I'll say, "cool" and drop it. But it's up to them to find people of like mind and jump with them. Just as it's up to me to find people who want to do what I do and get something going. Now - you state that you're having trouble finding people to have fun jumps with. Well, sir, if you're spitting as much venom and poison at the DZ as you do on this forum, it's no wonder. It's got nothing to do with your flyings skills, or lack thereof, it's your attitude. Quite frankly, if you spoke to me in those tones while I'm trying to put together a load, I certainly would have very little incentive to include you. No one wants to deal with that kind of nastyness when they're at their happy place trying to have fun after dealing with a week's worth of badness at work. Small wonder you have to travel 700 miles. And after that DZ has had enough of you, then you'll have to travel 900. Change your tone. Instead of looking for all the bad around you, try looking for the good. Better yet, turn it around and make some good. The old adage about making lemonade from lemons rings true. I have had reason to be bitter in the past. I choose not to. Working for positive change is more rewarding. Even if there is apparently nothing in it for me. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Never pass up an opportunity to take a nap. Right on! Napping between 1 and 8 grand is an art. The trick is to come fully alive and ready to go in short order. Especially on a turbine.

Properly trimmed and prepared, a tandem instructor could feed a family of four for several days. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

So far back I simply don't remember. But the entry on my log book reads: "Very good stable First Free Fall". Entry was by Bob Young, D3976. Thanks Bob. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

No - I always make sure it's packed and ready to go, then packed away before the end of the evening. Then back in the morning for the next day. During the day, though, if it's not on my back or being packed, it's on the rig rack. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

hehehe - you just figured this out NOW? Boy, some of you kids are slow....... Last pack job of the day is always the longest...... Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Re-runs? When did they start re-runs? Oh, and Mary-Ann, hands down. In addition to being hot, she had that sweet young thing going on, whereas Ginger was a snob. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Interesting. 26 years of marriage and she's never asked me to do something like that for her. She's always taken care of her own supplies. Besides, I don't think she'd trust me to get the right kind anyways, even if she wrote it out on a pad. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Ya gotta love those reactions. It always makes me smile. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Sure, I'll give you a free copy of the video! Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Yeah! What Turtlespeed said! Scott can get the lapdance and I'll video for next year's feature! Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Great post! I'd like to add- And every spring after the winter layoff on the way up: "What the fuck am I doing?" 1/10th of a second after exit: "Oh, yeah, right. (sigh) I'm home." Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Not a clue. The DZ that I did my first jump at didn't have a waiver. For that matter, they didn't even have a real FJC. I was given 15 minutes of PLF training, bundled into some gear and off we went. My reserve procedures were: " if you look up, and it isn't round, pull on this handle here." I fell out of the plane like a sack of potatoes. Arch? Didn't know what it was since I wasn't told about it. I went to Z-hills about 6 months later and was given a real FJC. That's when it started to really sink in. Even so, the realization that it COULD happen to me still took a while to become reality. Ah to be 20 and that innocent again....... Wait, that means we'd have B4s and T10s again, nevermind. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Who's on first and Karma's the mascot? Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Groan! OK, all of you need to stop. This is turning into an Abbot & Costello routine! Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

Yeah, I tried real hard with both. The idea was - just once. Dad wasn't going to go anwhere near the idea. Mom was toying with it, but she never actually did it. Now, it ain't never gonna happen. However, I do get to jump with both my kids. And that rocks! Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

I had a similar mistake happen to me when I was released from a company back in 2001. Not as much, though, but significant money. I took the high road and immediately called them to advise of the mistake and offered to return the cheque before I cashed it. They were astonished with my honesty and allowed me to keep the money, no further questions asked. No guarantees this'll happen to you, but karma could be a bitch. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

One technique that is time honored, but not done as much as it was in the past, was to take the logbooks to the restaurant on Sunday night. Most DZs have groups of people that have dinner together prior to everyone heading home. (A great tradition IMHO) While there, you can update your logbook and then pass it down the table for signatures from everyone present. In your case, as mentioned above, you'll need to ensure that the signatures are those of pilots and actual licensed jumpers. Personally, at this point, I just like to have signatures from all present. But I'm not going for any ratings right now. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666

For all practial purposes (your stated objectives of pushing your own experience envelope) those 200 unlogged jumps are gone. You'll always have the fond memories of them, but nothing else. At this point, start logging again, and get them signed. Now they don't have to be signed by the gods. Look at it this way, you're building memories and recording them in a journal. In addition, your friends are signing those memories, and in the years to come, you'll have a record of all the places you've been, and the people you've met. I've got "regular" skydivers and multi-world champion signatures in my logbooks, along with a couple of legends. Nobody ever has told me to get lost when I've requested a signature. Or a bunch of them if I get behind, as sometimes I do. Don't be intimidated by asking. Most folks are happy to comply. And everyone knows the requirements if you want to get ratings. No biggie. Mike Ashley D-18460 Canadian A-666