Initiation/rites of passage

[bluefingers 0]

'Ello!
So tell me, do any of you have to go through any sort of initiation/ rite of passage at your DZ?

Kerry

[scottbre 0]

Getting pied for your 100th is sort of a rite of passage. Sort of loses it's effectiveness when they wait til you have 175 jumps before pieing you though. (That's what happened to me)

"Your mother's full of stupidjuice!"
My Art Project

[pop 0]

We use the SCR as our initiation. I had to form an 8 people star (mine was 9 people) and hold it for at least 5 sec. Later that night once that was complete I had to fill up an ice chest with beer and ice. For 10 minutes cold beer was poored on my head while i was on my knees with hands behind my back being called a fucking maggot. Then the ice chest still containing the ice was filled with water and slowly poored on my head. The pain of this ordeal is excruciating. However, you cannot get off your knees until all the beer and ice is gone. Getting up means you have to do this all over again. When done with the ordeal, everyone who was pooring the beer gave me a hug and some even a kiss

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[bluefingers 0]

We have Freefall taxi - which is done once you have done your first 3sec delay or AFF jump ...
It involves donning a really smelly student jumpsuit, stand in a student arch while everyone pours buckets of water over you. While this is happening, you have to recite the skydivers prayer, line by line, and if you get it wrong, start over. It's difficult when you cant hear a thing because water is being poured in your ear! If you relax your arch even a little, your instructor wacks you on the bum, screaming ARCH ARCH! if you get cocky, then you get made to leopard crawl to the pit, (very far away from the pub) and bring back stones. When you eventually get through the prayer (takes ages - trust me!) you then have to down a trophy filled with the most revolting concoctions they can come up with on the day (Really yucky!). You've got 7 seconds - after that it goes over your head.

SOme people have an issue with this sort of thing, but personally, I think you need to take it in the spirit intended - it's all in good fun, and definitely makes you part of the club.
k

Kerry

[jraf 0]

Oh, plenty. Most of it includes beer. I think skydiving in general was invented to prop up the brewing industry. There are the Buffalos (have to drink your drinks with your left hand. If spotted drinking with right hand you have to chug it or pour it on yourself) There are the Muff Brothers (very secret, can not reveal). And the pies, and the cases of beer. See how beer is involved everywhere. It's the global conspiracy of the brewing industry. Damn, I have to drink a coffee, I just woke up a few minutes ago.

jraf

Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui.
Muff #3275

[bluefingers 0]

We also have the beer thing - everytime you have a first/new/pass a level/introduce someone to the club/birthday/looked at the barman funny/whatever/any excuse!
Not cases of beer, cos we have a very well-stocked pub, but you have to tell your tale, then they sing a little rhyme - when you hear the word "Door", pick up your beer and consume. Whatever hasn't been consumed in 7 seconds goes over your head.

We all stagger around smelling like breweries

there are more, but I guess I'll have to progress through my skydiving career a lot more to find out what they are!

Kerry

[jraf 0]

Well I must say out bar might not have a good roof (leaks every time it rains) but the beer selection is impressive. You got your Corona, all the popular American brews (puke!), the good American brews like Sam Adams, the Hineken, the Becks, a bunch of British ales, stouts and bitters ()
On other hand the sort of initiation ritual is sitting at the table with all the experienced skydivers and waiting to be invited for a jump. Went through that, bought my case of beer. It was more fun than normaly alloud and got a mid air kiss

jraf

Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui.
Muff #3275

[gravitysurf808 0]

Yes.

It was called "First Jump Class".

BEST DAMN INITIATION I'VE EVER PARTICIPATED IN!!!