More skydiving in the press.

[Jimbo 0]

This one is pretty nice.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dsliving/041ld2.htm

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[coconutmonkey 0]

Cool article!

Hearts & Minds
2 to the Heart-
1 to the Mind-
Home of the Coconut Lounge, Spa, & Artillery Range

[hooked 0]

That article was so good, and oh so true
The freedom, yes, the freedom

J

--------------------------------------
Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings.

[jtval 0]

awesome article

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[chicagoskydiver 0]

That's a great article. It's always nice to see our sport get positive press for a change instead of articles written from a misinformed whuffo perspective.

Hackey

[skymut 0]

Good piece of press. I like the angle, most press always goes after the 'thrill-seeking, adrenaline rush' perspective. While that is part of skydiving, I really appreciate this reporters take - I feel that way a lot.

Matt
A well-informed person is somebody who has the same views and opinions as yours.

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

Sigmund Freud, the noted Austrian psychoanalyst, believed that people dreamed of flying in response to sexual repression.

I've never bought into Freud before, but this is unfortunately making sense

[Michele 1]

Matt said:

Quote

I like the angle, most press always goes after the 'thrill-seeking, adrenaline rush' perspective. While that is part of skydiving, I really appreciate this reporters take - I feel that way a lot.

Do you think that his perspective was changed because he actually experienced a jump, and was not covering a malfunction or death? That an appreciation came through because he knows a little bit more about what we do, and also now, WHY we do this?

Just a thought. I dunno.

Ciels and Pinks-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[skymut 0]

I think you have made a very good point.
I think that this reporter has taken a further leap (pardon pun), than most people do who make the first jump. Myself included, most folks dwell on the 'rush/flirting with danger' feeling on their first jump. I could be way off on this, just because I've never taken a poll, but I'm not so sure that 'one time jumpers' ever get past this.
I remember looking at the stills from my first jump (went straight to AFF), and being disappointed that I didn't take notice of all the beautiful surroundings etc. (but very glad that I got stills). The flip side of that is, when you are a student, you tend to focus on what you are supposed to accomplish, you don't have the liberty to 'soak in' the surroundings (or I suppose a tandem experience would just be that of 'sensory overload').
I think the passion that skydivers have for the sport come from a combination of different things, and the one 'thing' that is most attractive is different from jumper to jumper. Some like the rush, others love learning new skills, others love teaching new skills, some the feeling of accomplishment, some like jumping with new folks, or jumping/hanging out with old friends, some like the sense of community/comradarie in our sport...I think you get the idea, this list could go on forever.
The reporter touched on something that appeals to me (and others I suspect), and that's the freedom thing. For 60 seconds (longer actually), you live completely in the moment - no worries of stock markets crashing, relationship problems, work that needs to get done etc. Most jumpers spend their 60 seconds trying to dock, build a formation, learning something new etc.
I enjoy all those things as well, but the reason I still don't mind solos, even with as many jumps as I have, is because I love the dynamic scenery in skydiving. I love to jump when there are tall clouds, beautiful sunsets (especially both). I love the view on the climb to altitude, I love watching groups exit the plane, I love to watch the plane as I exit etc. I think this is the one 'most attractive thing' for me.
It's really hard to explain in writing.
Kinda got long-winded on this one, just trying to explain where I'm coming from.
[size 3]Deep thoughts, by...[/size]

Matt
A well-informed person is somebody who has the same views and opinions as yours.

[rgoper 0]

that is one of the most articulate articles i have ever read about sky diving!

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[bodypilot90 0]

wow nice article, thanks Jimbo

[FliegendeWolf 0]

Quote

I remember looking at the stills from my first jump (went straight to AFF), and being disappointed that I didn't take notice of all the beautiful surroundings etc. (but very glad that I got stills). The flip side of that is, when you are a student, you tend to focus on what you are supposed to accomplish, you don't have the liberty to 'soak in' the surroundings (or I suppose a tandem experience would just be that of 'sensory overload').

This is a great point. Once I was on the ground after my first jump, it occured to me that other than the few moments after exit, and the few moments when I noticed the clouds whizzing by my head, I didn't really pay attention to the freefall. I reminded myself to take it in on the second one, but still was too focused on my maneuvers to pay attention to anything else. I hope that as I jump more, I will learn to be able to take in the whole of what's going on around me ... the scenery, the feel of flying, the freedom...

A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All