skybytch 273 #1 October 19, 2002 Clouds suck. Wait, I said that once before, didn't I? Well, today the clouds weren't strong enough to combat the massive quantities of antsy, adrenalin charged estrogen at Perris Valley. We forced them to burn off dammit! It started out looking bad. Real bad. We ate breakfast, stretched, hung out, dirt dived, ate again... then magically, shortly after noon, the sun started to burn little holes in the flat, grey cloud cover. Kate called us in front of manifest for some announcements... and the clouds kept clearing. Soon after we were on a 15 minute call for a dirtdive in full gear. The Boyz were going to go up and check the weather for us, but as it turned out we went up first. We were all so ready to skydive. Smiles and a few nerves were on almost every face. E plane's awesome camera flier, Raoul Gravell, had us pose for a "team" picture before we climbed on board. Then it was off to altitude for our eighth jump of the event. What a sweet skydive. When big way jumpers talk about a "quiet" jump, they are describing a jump where everyone is flying on level, in their slot, doing their job. We did a very quiet skydive - a couple of the whackers didn't complete, but it was beautiful. It flew so well I thought we'd completed it. We landed and were immediately on a short call. I felt like I was being stuffed into the "corner of death" on the first exit so I requested that we jam it up again before the next dive. My rig wasn't packed in time (btw, my packer, Laura from Argentina, ROCKS! ), but we jammed it up anyway. Felt good in the mock up... 10 minute call to full gear dirt dive in the landing area... A couple of exit frames, a run out and some inspirational stuff ("Right Here. Right Now. This skydive. My personal best.") and it wasn't long before we were climbing to altitude for our second jump of the day. This one didn't go quite as well. I was again feeling stuffed into the corner but I managed to get a decent exit anyway. On this one the picture had changed once again; instead of being a bit below and to the right of the base I was above it - time to get my dive going! I was in my slot flying my ass off to stay there. Overall, there were a few fall rate issues and the whackers didn't get a chance to build. Another quick call after landing and we were back in the landing area for another full gear dirt dive. This time some of us were missing our teammates. The ax had fallen. Not for anything unsafe; basically a few people made a mistake on the wrong skydive. Almost all of us had blown something or other during the previous 9 skydives, but those who made obvious errors on the 10th one were the unlucky ones. We left four sisters on the ground this evening, three were cut, one had sat down on her own due to issues with her contacts (love ya, Trouble! ). We loaded up the planes - our plane took a bit of time as we figured out our new seating order. Some of our exit positions had changed since we'd lost a floater to the ax; I went from the corner of death to back of the door, inside, first row. Raoul has been handling the door for us; he's very familiar with local landmarks and flying camera for big ways, and he's done a fantastic job of getting our plane ready to go at exit time. E plane loves our camera dude. Clean exit, base is right where I expected it to be. Nice approach, not quite the docks I wanted to make but acceptable, still feeling some tension on my left leg but I flew strong and didn't let it affect me. Norm Kent sitflying underneath us. I couldn't see anyone low or obviously out in my peripheral vision (my focus is always on Kate's butt - that's my slot. I feel like I've come to know Kate's butt rather well this week... ). Nice break off, dump, land. Many of us were landing with big smiles and whoops and hollers; we all thought we'd at least completed this one. "Did you see anyone out?" "No, but I don't know if I held my grip long enough" (for the official FAI world record, the formation must be complete as dirt dived for a minimum of three seconds). I'd landed way out in the dirt on this one. The big white bus was out picking us up; when I climbed on the whole bus load was buzzing with excitement. Dropped the gear off with Laura, checked in and hung out with my son and mom for a few - David showed up just in time to watch the last load; Mom had been there to see all three. Then Kate called us to meet in front of manifest. The good news? We'd completed the formation - a 132 all female formation skydive! This marked a) the Perris Valley largest formation record, b) the California state record (note that both of those records are not gender specific).... and c) the Guiness World Record all female formation skydive. It also raised my personal largest completed formation from 34 to 132 But. We had only held it for 2.37 seconds. Not enough for the FAI world record - the one that to us really counts. So, it's another 7 am breakfast call Saturday morning. We're going to go up and do it again - this time we're going to build it a bit faster and hold it a bit longer... and we're going to set the REAL women's world record! Once we do that, we'll bring our four sisters back onto the load with us... and we'll do it again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SudsyFist 0 #2 October 19, 2002 congrats and awesome job again, lisa and sistahs!!! wooHOO!!! steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #3 October 19, 2002 Hey, Lisa? Have I mentioned how proud I am of you? How inspired I am by you? Have I told you how much you fucking RAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!???? Consider it said. And that goes for the whole JFTC Ladies in Pink! RAWK ON!!!!!!!!!! KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!! TAKE NAMES!!!!!!!!! YEHAW!!!!!!!! SET THE RECORD!!!!!!![/I] (that was supposed to be pink, but I can't figure out how to do it!) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #4 October 19, 2002 I just have to say... that much pink in the air looks really cool ;-) Ok, well that description doesn't even begin to do it justice... but I can't really come up with the words to describe the beautiful vibe that was going on at Perris today... and seeing such a beautiful group of women joined together as one... Right on! Oh yeah... and I don't think I've ever seen Ms. Skybytch's face so lit up... pretty cool, Lisa :-) BSB&D ;-)Keely When in doubt, go BIG! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 October 19, 2002 BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRR!!! Good job girl, good job! Good luck with kick the FAI's record's ass this morning, I know yall will do it.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #6 October 19, 2002 LIsa, We are so proud of you and the rest of the Pink Chicks. Keep it rocking so I can say I know someone famous. Best of luck today. Wishing you blue skies, easy docks, and soft landings. Lisa -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brisco 0 #7 October 19, 2002 AWESOME! that's all I can say, just AWESOME!! I love ya all! Brisco Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jceman 1 #8 October 19, 2002 Way to go, but a way to go... Congrats on what you've doe so far. We will be pulling for you and sendingyou lots of good vibes from here in FL. Get that 136-way! You gals rock! Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #9 October 19, 2002 sending ya good luck vibes from here lisa..u guys will do it!!!!! ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #10 October 19, 2002 Great job Lisa, I am convinced you girls will sety the "real" record today...TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #11 October 19, 2002 Pink ladies Rock!!!!!Congradulations!!!!! ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meathorse 0 #12 October 19, 2002 Quote BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRR!!! What's the ruling here? 132 cases? I love reading this stuff Lisa, and I'm sure y'all can pull off an extra second. Good luck and enjoy it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
