ltdiver 3 #1 October 18, 2004 Flying high Senior sky divers looking to break records this weekend 11:48 PM PDT on Friday, October 15, 2004 By ROCKY SALMON / The Press-Enterprise LAKE ELSINORE - The skies over Lake Elsinore will be full of history this weekend. A former Olympian, two World War II pilots, a U2 spy plane pilot, a former national sky-diving champion and world record holders are all taking part in Skydivers Over Sixty's attempt to break a record. Last year the club set the record with 30 sky divers over the age of 60 diving in formation at Skydive Elsinore. "No matter what happens for the rest of my life I can always say I held a world record," said George White, 65, of Carmel. "It's a great, great, great pleasure and a treat to be in the same sky with these guys." Sky divers from around the world showed up to sail through the air Friday. They took to the sky in two DeHavilland Twin Otter planes in two swarms. The first group was filled with more experienced divers, said organizer Joe Wasser. The club will try to break the record at first with 32 sky divers in the first group. If they meet that number, sky divers from the second group will be added to the first group, Wasser said. The target is 50. The first jump of the day was not successful and put a scare into sky divers as one man had to cut away his parachute and open the reserve. "I opened up and saw he was in a tight spin," said Larry Elmore, 63, who was above the man on the first jump. "He didn't fool around and cut the chute away." Elmore has flown from Florida to Lake Elsinore for the past five years to participate in the club's record-setting attempts. "The first reason I come for is the camaraderie," said Elmore, who took part in a world record jump of 357 sky divers in formation in Thailand last January. "These are a fun group of guys and it's not an ego thing." Minutes after the first group landed, a few sky divers went into a trailer to watch the jump on tape. As the dark lake loomed and motorcycles raced around a track far below, the sky divers seemed to swim toward each other and began linking hands. But a few divers went to the wrong spot and the formation was not completed. Sky divers opened their parachutes creating a sea of red, blue, and green that seemingly glittered in the sky. Spectators could hear the rustling of the parachutes as the sky divers approached the landing zone. White said the first jump went better than he thought it would. "Not bad at all," said the former Air Force airman who started a parachute club at Fort Irwin in the 1950s. A few minutes after repacking his parachute, Jerry Bourquin talked to other members about the jump. The 71-year-old Murrieta man is well known in the club because he was one of the first Army Golden Knights. The knights are a special Army parachute unit. "It's a personal pride for everyone to hold this record," he said. "But it's not just about jumping, it's about talking with people on the ground. You hear the greatest stories." Bourquin then shouted out to the first group to meet up at the trailer to talk over the video. They were scheduled for another jump in 15 minutes. Reach Rocky Salmon at (951) 375-3739 or rsalmon@pe.com Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,151 #2 October 18, 2004 Are you there? If you see Sky Huminsky, say "HI".... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #3 October 19, 2004 QuoteAre you there? If you see Sky Huminsky, say "HI". I was invited, but my lack of grey hair put me out of their league (for now). ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #4 October 19, 2004 It was good to see them, and hear their stories Saturday night. Also met and had a chance to speak with Mustard and other SOS notables. Sunday was weathered out but I think all had a great time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #5 October 19, 2004 QuoteIt was good to see them, and hear their stories Saturday night. Also met and had a chance to speak with Mustard and other SOS notables. Sunday was weathered out but I think all had a great time. Did they nail a new record on Saturday? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shark 0 #6 October 19, 2004 Not sure, but last I heard there were a few out of the formation. Hopefully Djan will chime in. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akarunway 1 #7 October 19, 2004 Was Lew. S. out there? I met him the last go around. Cool guyI hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
