airann 1 #1 December 27, 2001 Ya know- I totally bug the hell outta ole Chuckie! But I gotta tell you guys this.. . . . . . .A little background info first:I have this Mentor Program thing that I do. It is where I pair (or try to) an experienced skydiver with someone that needs a little help. This can be a student or low numbered jumper, etc.I discovered a trend that we have. Its ... that sometimes ... you dont really want to come out with a question that you may have. My God, please ask somebody!! Please.! There are no stupid questions in skydiving. We all know its the question that you DONT ask that makes it stupid. (this goes for all of us)It can be that your instructor cant communicate well with you. This is difficult. There are teachers in this world and there are those who try really hard. And too, for people new to the sport, you have the skydiving lingo to deal with. Most new people dont know all the meanings of the words that we use. SO... I ask experienced skydivers to swing by and introduce themselves to my buddy who is learning at the same DZ. Have a beer and talk about whatever. And it works really well. We all gotta give back to the sport every once in a while. Everyone remembers a time where we didnt know who to ask about what. So anyway..., Chuck Blue did this for me. I just want him and everyone else to know that he ia really good guy and a real Hero!!! .. He never once acted like or inferred that any of the questions posed didnt have a logical answer. He even answers all of the Instant Messages he gets every 5 minutes. LOLSo here we go -an excellent example of a skydiver giving back to the sport. I understand that ...NOW... to learn to pack it costs $50. And- we have been all thru the coach jump issue and you know how I feel about that one. Pay me and I will show you. Pay me and I will jump with you. -That kind of thing. ERrrggg!! Having said that, I dont believe that any of us would actually do that to a brand new skydiver. Give me a break please. I learned to skydive and to Freefly from some of the best in the business and it basically didnt cost me a dime. This is because some really good skydivers Gave Back. Its my turn to do that again. I hope you all will give Chuck some due credit for giving up some of his time to a new skydiver. This skydiver that Chuck talks to is going to be awesome. She nearly fell out of her rig on her 2nd jump. Literally. Her email to me sounded like she was crazy. She sent me a funny email about her choaking on the chest strap and she thought she was going to fall out. Ha ha ha... I laughed my ass off .... until ... I realized what she was saying. She was not crazy. She didnt know her rig was adjustable. And she could barely reach her toggles and she could have easily slipped out of that rig. ~And she did not know it.~ -She told me I just hung on to it with my chin.- She said "But my instructor checked it!" AirAnn: Why didnt you check it?She said: I dont know how.Give your knowledge and experiences a chance to grow on someone else.Thank you very much Chuck, you are an outstanding example of one of the good guys. btw: Our friend has something for you from Santa. http://www.AirAnn.comUgly Girl #6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #2 December 27, 2001 Hoooyahh!! Without Chuck and all the other great people at the GBSPA I wouldn't be the skydiver I am today. Wait.....I meant that as a compliment.....really "I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #3 December 28, 2001 Yeah, Chuck could have done plenty other things with his spare time. But he didnt. I understand he is really good friends with a Dude called Captain Morgan. http://www.AirAnn.comUgly Girl #6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #4 December 28, 2001 That's awesome, Chuck! And you too Ann! I wish there were more of you around when I first started. Crap! I wish there were more of you around now! I am still just a baby in this sport! dove Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #5 December 28, 2001 Wow, look at this...Clay and Ann agreeing on something! Woohoo, it's the start of a brand new year! AndreaThe brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kizzie92 0 #6 December 28, 2001 So here we go -an excellent example of a skydiver giving back to the sport. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Great! I love to hear this kind of stuff. I guess it very much depends on where you come from as to your attitude to this. I was fortunate enough to do most of my training at a not for profit skydiving club. A rarity in North America these days. Such clubs really do tend to promote the advancement of skydiving and provide a very healthy and safe environment in which to learn because money is not the main factor here. They produce very healthy communities where giving is very much in evidence. I remember a couple of years ago when one of my coaches had to chop and couldn't find her free bag. I spent four hours out there in the freakin corn looking for the bloody thing without success. Of course I did this purely out of friendship with no thought of return what so ever. Next thing you know, free coach jumps and video when time allowed. I used to fire up the barbie and sell burgers for a couple of hours turning the profits back into the club. Well it would maybe just about pay for a sunshade for the spectator area but it kept people happy and got noticed. That evening a few beers would find their way to my table. As the old saying goes, you reap what you sow. As a student I found that my instructors were very giving, well now its my turn. If I find a novice that seems enthusiastic and I have nothing else going on, I'll give em a free coach jump and full debrief. Why not! I still get an incredible thrill out of watching someone get accompished in this amazing sport of ours. I love simple being there at their mile stones.On the other side of the fence is the arguement that this kind of action undermines the integrity of proffessional jumpers who have invested huge amounts of time and money into their ratings. It's a valid point! So as with most things I think you have to find some middle ground and again it depends where you're at. I give with discretion at my home DZ because that is where I was given the gift of flight. Elsewhere I have to respect the professional integrity of the other jumpers so I am happy to charge my slot and fee.Remember also that there are other ways of giving. A friendly smile and some encouragement to a nervous student is sooooo valuable. I find that at many DZ's there is a tremendous rift between the lowly student and the almighty skygod. You've see them! Students all huddled together in one quaking bunch and the experienced divers going about their daily business without a care in the world. Git in there and muck in with students and novices, talk to them and make them feel like part of the DZ, invite them to your parties because after all they are our life blood and they will tell all their friends about their experiences.Dee dum. Thank you! Elvis has left the building.Tee hee!Sometimes I see a small speck in the sky, a human being that was given to fly -Pearl Jam! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NtheSeaOrSky 0 #7 December 28, 2001 Wow, Ann, the student you speak of sure is lucky to have you on her side! Just imagine what might have happened if you hadn't opened the doors to her, if she hadn't been able to confide in anyone {{shudders}}. Hats off to both Chuck and to YOU!! You are both wonderful people! If this student is as good as you say, then who knows what she may be able to contribute to the community when she's able. Karmac payback ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #8 December 28, 2001 Wow, Ann; Thanks for the compliment.To everyone else: feel free to E-mail me or IM me or PM me anytime with your stupid I ought to be back in North Carolina in a couple of days. Salt Lake City was FUCKING COLD, but it's OK down here in Alabama. Talk to you all soon.ChuckieMy webpage HERE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #9 December 28, 2001 Yep, its true, when I asked the Chuckmeister for help I got really good, comprehensive advice. I got unbiased advice in my selection of canopies and this is exactly why I will strongly consider a Cobalt next - because I got the advice that was right for me at the time (Hornet loaded at 1.2:1).I'll buy the beer, whatever you get from all these other groupies (AirAnn, Clay etc) is their business! /s Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #10 December 29, 2001 Ewe...Skream..You are killing me right now.Its true, GroupieONE present and accounted for. How about that Chuckie? He is ok, for a famous dude.http://www.AirAnn.comUgly Girl #6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #11 December 29, 2001 Will,no hay de que...Carlos AzulMy webpage HERE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #12 December 29, 2001 hey I thought I was groupie one??MarcRes Firma Mitescere Nescite Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
