Has anyone tried jumping because they know you?

[Airman1270 0]

Has anyone made a jump as a result of your direct influence? Have they stayed in the sport?

I made my first jump with a friend. (I broke my ankle, he did fine.) He never jumped again, and frankly wasn't all that interested in the first place, but we were in our mid-20's & single and when I suggested it his attitude was "Okay, I guess...whatever..."

My Dad & I bought my brother a tandem for his birthday, after he'd expressed some interest. While watching the ground and waiting for the main to deploy, Steve (a marine who thought nothing of rappelling out of helicopters) decided that this was kinda cool but still crazy, and that if he landed safely he'd never do it again.

A former girlfriend came out to watch, then surprised me a few days later by saying she wanted to try it. She made two static-line jumps from the Ranch's Cessna, and was aware enough to see the instructors head watching as she fell away. She described the second ride down as nice, but a bit boring, and never did it again. A few years later, during the breakup, she said "I jumped out of a plane for you!" I told her that was a stupid thing to do...

And of course, many people have expressed interest, some sincere, but have never managed to get out to the DZ and just do it.

How about you?

Cheers,
Jon S

[2fat2fly 0]

A few tandems, one coworker. the coworker still jumps, just came back after breaking her arm at WFFC.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[adamjenner 0]

i got my old school busdriver To go jumping. He wants to do it again.

[JustaBill 0]

My sister went as a direct result of me. I called her up one day and asked "Do you wanna jump out of a plane?" We did 1 static line together, and also our 2 tandems. She plans to continue with AFP when finances are a little better. We went in together and bought my cousin a tandem for her highschool graduation and now she works in the video concession at the dropzone saving money for her AFP. And I've had a few coworkers do tandems after talking to me, and the whole first shift of the local 7-11 say they want to do tandems this spring, but we'll see if they stick to that.

------------------------------------------------
I've done so much, with so little, for so long
I'm now expected to do everything with nothing forever

[weegegirl 2]

I took an ex for his birthday. He didn't like it so I dumped him.

No, no, no... I'm kidding... but I did take him for a tandem. He said he liked it and wanted to try it again, but I don't think he ever did. I haven't spoken with him in about 2 years so I have no clue.

[ccowden 0]

sister
mom
dad
2 close friends
boss's son
and a couple aquaintances

So far, looks like about 8 people. Half of those I took myself on a tandem. Pretty cool!

[freakflyer9999 1]

I talked a co-worker into taking the first jump course with me. We were both immediately hooked and continued to jump as we became close friends.

He died Jan 16, 1999 doing the only thing I ever saw give him life.

Blue Skies Black Death

[bigway 4]

i have my bro and sister, mum and dad all going for a tandem when the weather clears up in new zealand as a xmas present from me.
I have been travelling around the uk and have just sold the following package to a mate i was travelling with(without a commission) but have a look at what this guy has signed up for and paid for...(by the way, if he pulls out he will be refunded).

10,500nzd

Package includes:


AFF Ground course

9 stage AFF training course

118 solo jumps

20 camera jumps

23 coaching jumps (RW or Freefly)

All jumps from 12,000 feet

Packing course

Manifesting procedures

Video editing course

High Altitude Course

Meteorology briefings

Gear hire for 50 jumps

Free beer card

NZ A & B Licence Issue

1 year membership to NZ Parachute Federation

3 months accommodation

Free airport transfers

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[RevJim 0]

I've never pushed anyone towards the sport, and none have even tried as a direct result of my influence. I'm working on getting a skydiving club established on campus though, so that may change.

On the opposite end of your question, I STARTED jumping due to a friend, in 98. He did ~6 or 7 jumps that summer, and has never returned, though he says every year he wants to. So, yea, the guy that got me started didn't even finish his own training.

It's your life, live it!
Karma
RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1

[Snowwhite 0]

The list is pretty long, including my daughter, my daughter in law, my husband, a bunch of my sons friends, any way the thing is I DON"T jump, so it's pretty amazing that I would have that kind of influence on them...

skydiveTaylorville.org
freefallbeth@yahoo.com

[rickjump1 0]

Two brothers jumped after watching me. One quit and the other still jumps when I come down to Fl. I came back in the sport as a result of running into an old friend who jumped with me in our college days.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[Meathorse 0]

7 tandems
1 currently doing AFF
1 A licensed skydiver that will be flying circles around me before I know it
These people were way too easy to convince though, and I'm sure they would have jumped some day whether I came along or not.

Quote

She described the second ride down as nice, but a bit boring

Hehe.... eek!

[prepheckt 0]

Yes, one of my best friends, we were in the same group during college, he started skydiving because of me. He first had me teach him to pack, so for about 40-50 jumps, I had my own packer, he got pretty good too. Now he packs faster then I do.

"Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet."
-9 toes

[airtwardo 7]

I've had quite a few over the years...

Some of the more interesting ones~

My G/F in college did 3 static lines, not the most
athletic girl on the planet...(clothed anyway)
she got injured every time. I talked her out of
anymore because I felt she was only doing
in for 'me'.

(...I always told my SO's after that NOT to do it 'because' I do,
but I'll get back to that....)

20 years ago a 15-16 year old kid comes up to
me while signing autographs at an airshow performance...

"You taught my mom how to jump when she was in college...,
will you teach me too?"

I wasn't local..but gave him info on local DZ's
and we wrote back & forth for a few years.
I sent him a subscription to "Skydiving" for
his 17th birthday...

'only one more year'.

I ran into him again at Quincy about 10
years ago...
SOB has more jumps than I do.!!!


But the best was...

When I was living in San Diego, I was in a
real serious relationship with a girl I worked with...

Single mom, working full time, college part
time, and Navy reserves...a 'busy' girl!
She would come to the DZ from time to time
to 'keep an eye on me' so to speak.

But I told her I didn't 'push' G/F's into
jumping in case they got hurt...
I'd feel it's my fault.

One time after a great day of jumping at Elsinore, I'm on the DC3 sunset load...
going to do a solo because the guy I'd been jumping with earlier 'suddenly' had to head home.

As I was moving toward the door on jump run...

My girlfriend taps me on the shoulder as say,

"How about a two way?!?!?"

Without my knowledge, she'd not only gone
through training...but had gotten her A license...bought gear...

and was a SKYDIVER!!
We'd lived together, and I had NO IDEA!!

THAT was the best sunset jump I ever made!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[skybytch 273]

I forced a friend to do a tandem. Paid for it and everything. She's one of the few people I've talked to who didn't really enjoy it.

I also made my son do an AFF level 1 for his 18th birthday. He loved it but couldn't afford to continue.

[leroydb 0]

i have got about 5 people in the sport
numerous tandems including a couple famous people

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[CieloDiosa 0]

OOOoo i love getting people to jump
one friend did 9 jumps
then 7 more did tandems, ones going through his progression
and in the spring i have a line of people waiting for the memorial day weekend boogie

~boogie ho!!
pull before impact!
L.A.S.T#14, PMS #309, Ci EL O DI O SA

[jimmytavino 16]

it is because those who might want to consider skydiving often speak with those people whom they know,, who DO skydive.... as they explore the subject...
I have never pressed anyone to jump. Instead I give accurate answers to their questions, I help make them aware of dropzones where they can learn more, and I try hard to make a positive impression on them, on behalf of our sport...
I stay away from the Rah rah rah !!!! approach, of whooping it up and TELLING people.... " You just HAVE to do this!!!! ....
Heck... this IS a very special and amazing thing which we are able to do,,, safely flying ourselves through thousands of feet of air to land gracefully under a fabric wing...
Yet in addition to being special,, it can also be frought with danger, borderline hazardess, and certainly mesmerizing.. and seductive!!!. hahahahah.....
Far be it from me to lead to lead anyone down such a path !!! But positive, encouraging, professional,???,,, yes I try to convey that...So far so good... never anything but smiles and exceeded expectations on the part of those who jumped....... even when a buddy from many years ago made a static line jump with a T-10 round,,, and managed to land IN a 4 foot deep ditch !!!
( Yikes !!! )..alongside the road, beneath the wires, with traffic whizzing by!!!, while the ditch had about a foot of water in the bottom!!!!.. The guy was a City Fireman,,, was about 6 foot 4,, about 260 POUNDS!!!!
and had a GREAT sense of humor.... ( no I was NOT the jumpmaster!! )... He came up outta that ditch soaked and with slime all over him... carrying not only his gear,, but The Hugest smile on his muddy face....... he was charged up and loving it...
and THAT is when the Rah rah rah,, hootin' and hollerin' can Commence!!!!!
skydive softly skydive often skydive with friends

[Marz 0]

I have a few friends that did tandems because of me.

Most importantly is that when I was driving my GF home from our second date five or so years ago, she asked me what I was up to tomorrow and I said "I'm going skydiving. Would you like to come?" (I had about 30 jumps at the time). She smiled and said "sure!". So she took her first tandem the next day. When she told her mom, she said that if her daughter was crazy enough.. blabla, it must be love and we were going to get married.

well, my GF signed up for her AFF the next spring and we in fact got married! Ange quit jumping when she got pregnant with our son and has now chosen to retire from the sport.

She said that if she hadn't met me she would have never taken that first tandem... AWWWWWW how sweet....

OK I'm done

[PalletMan 0]

I have some coworker friends that jumped. A couple of times I did a "Hey, let's get a big group together to go skydiving!" Each time it ended up being a small group (2 people and 4 people). I really doubt any of them would have jumped if I didn't do this.

--Art

Sky-div'ing (ski'div'ing) n. A modern sport that involves parties, bragging, sexual excesses, the imbibing of large quantities of beer, and, on rare occasions, parachuting from aircraft.

[ifall 0]

Yes