Who wants to be famous?

[freeflir29 0]

OK....how many folks out there want to be famous skydivers? Maybe I'm weird but I really could care less about getting awards or competing. I jump for fun and just don't have any desire to do anything else. I guess getting your picture in Parachutist is cool but I'm not going to chase that. What do you guys want out of this wonderful sport?
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[jumpervali 2]

When I first started jumping all I wanted to do was escape the confines of the ground for even a brief moment. Now I've moved it to providing the resources for others to do it too. As a dzo and an instructor I can share it with anyone who shows a desire. Life is so great when you live in the moment, and still make plans for the future.
jumpervali

[freeflir29 0]

I'm with ya there. I really do enjoy helping students and especially intruducing new people to the sport. Nothing like watching a first tandem! I get all giddy right along with them.
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[kaseybec 0]

I don't know that I, personally, would do much to "get famous"-all that seems to come along with fame is not in my life plan, but being good at what I do is something different. All I want from skydiving is to enjoy the freedom and be able to have fun with others who enjoy the same! Also, it sounds like the dark side is REAL fun!! :-)
Still learning,
Kasey

[freeflir29 0]

"the dark side is REAL fun!! :-)"
Come to the "Good" side! Feel the force!
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[kaseybec 0]

Did Darth Vader just call my name?! haha :-)

[quade 4]

Fame in skydiving? Y'all gotta be kiddin' -- right?
I mean outside of skydivers, who's ever heard of Marc Steinbaugh and I'll wager a guess that there aren't a whole lot of skydivers that can tell you who HE is.
Tell you what, if you can name ANY of the folks in this photo I'd be very surprized.
Troy Hartman was famous for about 15 minutes on MTV, but I bet nobody in whatever office you may work in even recognizes his name now.
Paul
futurecam.com/skydive.html

[skybytch 273]

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Troy Hartman was famous for about 15 minutes on MTV, but I bet nobody in whatever office you may work in even recognizes his name now.

Everyone at my office recognizes Troy's name
And I can't name all the people in the pic, but I know I've jumped with some of them!
pull and flare,
lisa
---
"I wish I was the full moon shining off a Camaro's hood..."

[freeflir29 0]

Can't name them from the hip but I do know several faces. The two on the right, 3rd from the left and far left at least get facial recognition. I don't pay a lot of attention to the "famous" folks in the sport though unless I know them personally. Hell, I was hanging out with one of the swoop competitors a while back and only remembered seeing his pic in Parachutist after he told me his name. He was really cool to hang out with. I mean anybody who thinks Chuck is cool to hang out with can't be all bad...LOL
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[Donna 0]

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Tell you what, if you can name ANY of the folks in this photo I'd be very surprized.

I don't know but the one on the end is cute. Skies,
D

[quade 4]

You, Lisa, work in an exceptional environment.
I was speaking in generalities.
Paul
futurecam.com/skydive.html

[quade 4]

See, that's my point, fame in skydiving is fleeting at -best-.
Anybody who gets into skydiving with the idea of becoming famous is is probably going to be sorely dissappointed.
Or just sore. Depends on what they intend on doing.
Paul
futurecam.com/skydive.html

[airann 1]

Being famous ?? ...Well depends on what for.
Fame is a bitch. Either people hate you or love you. (Hard to tell sometimes.)
When you represent a company via sponsorhsip or whatever you kinda get famous a little. That is when you start being judged by other persons on whether or not you deserve your "fame". ...And that is when it can get really tough.
Persons can say anything they want to because they dont know. Take a well known Swooper for example, I have heard it all. He isnt as good as he used to be. He isnt as good as this kid with 300 jumps. I had a swoop that would have beat him out the other day.
Sports figures are on somedays and off somedays. Just like everyone else. Its like a in time. Competing for example. I did that and lost like a big dog. Total LOZER!!
But I entered as the only girl and I lost as the only girl. And when I was paired with a guy that was 5 times my size to do 2 Eagles.... even Rook couldnt drag me down to him. You just shouldnt put a feather with a bowling ball. Especially when said bowling ball is in a fast suit and can fly bowling ball rate and thats it.
There are statistics that are incredibly interesting and I read them today. It is more geared to big media sports persons but still........ Here they are:
"Mud Sticks!"
Minimize the Harsh Impact of Negative News
The "Mud Sticks" Theory reflects the way most human beings digest and remember information. Most information falls easily into three categories: neutral, positive or negative. The goal is to position yourself and your information in the most advantageous way. When the information about you is negative it's critical to reposition it in as positive or at least as neutral a manner as possible.
1. Neutral information makes a psychological impact on the public because they're learning something about you, your abilities, etc. Impact Factor: 1x
2. Positive information has double the psychological impact on the public. They're learning about you and they're developing a positive impression. Impact Factor: 2x
3. Negative information (a.k.a. "Mud") has four times the psychological impact. Bad news has a much stronger impact on our psyches and we remember it much longer. Impact Factor: 4x
Skydive~Friends~Happiness
AirAnn
www.AirAnn.com

[freeflir29 0]

"When you represent a company via sponsorhsip"
Been there and done that! It's nice to get cash but also puts you on a leash. Everything you do "Reflects on the company" I guess thats one major advantage to just fun jumping. I don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks. Cause I don't have to care. They either like me or hate me or just don't even know I exist. It's all good with me.
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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Now I've moved it to providing the resources for others to do it too. As a dzo and an instructor I can share it with anyone who shows a desire.

Agreed. I have been on the dropzone all my life and had an Instructor rating as soon as I was able. I really enjoy teaching and get a great deal of satisfaction when I run into past students much later in their jumping careers who come up and thank me or say "hello". So, being picked out of a crowd by those people makes me kind of "famous" to at least them. I have been a competive skydiver in two disciplines and all I ever wanted out of it was a good time. Being in that competitive atmosphere, though, got me face-to-face with some of the very best jumpers in the business. What that does for you is make it very easy to get on "the good jumps" at pretty much any DZ you walk onto. Does THAT mean you are famous? Once again, I don't think so, because the average Joe still has never met you; only the other competitors. Still, it sure is nice not to have to lay out a resume just to get on a 8-way somewhere. Same goes with the swoop community. We are a pretty small group, so it's always "old home week" anytime we get together at the meets. Most of us have been in the magazine before at least once or twice, but that certainly doesn't mean shit to 99.999% of the world population. I sure as hell haven't ever had anyone seriously ask me for an autograph!
Yeah, it's all about the fun skydives and the good DZ vibe.
Chuck

[skybytch 273]

Hey Chuck! Seriously. Next time you're at Perris, can I have your autograph??
pull and flare,
lisa
---
"I wish I was the full moon shining off a Camaro's hood..."

[freeflir29 0]

"I sure as hell haven't ever had anyone seriously ask me for an autograph!"
I have a bunch of times! Oh wait...that's just cause you were the closest person to me after I finished logging the last jump........LMAO Hell Chuck, You're my idol. I wish I had a job working in the wind tunnel that paid as well as yours. Oh wait....Thats right I never wanted to go to Ranger School or get SF qual'd.... Just call me lazy!
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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can I have your autograph?

LOL! Sure, Lisa. I will be the drunken redneck at the Bombshelter. Oh wait, that could be anyone! OK, I will be the drunken idiot with the skymonkey hat at the Bombshelter.
Chuck
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

[Michele 1]

Hey Donna-

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the one on the end is cute.

The one all the way over to the right (as my heart beat actually sped up for the first time today...). And look at his left hand - no ring, and no tan lines.. Gives a girl hope, it does. Of course, he'd just laugh me right out of his circle. .....sigh. ...good while it lasted......
As for the fame thing, my father is a minor celeb, and it is a problem for him occasionally. Not something which I would want for myself. He mainly enjoys it, but then again, as an actor, he loves being "on stage". Me? Nawwww........
Ciels-
Michele
"What of the dreams that never die? Turn to your left at the end of the sky".
~e e cummings~

[lewmonst 0]

i just want to hang with the best in the air,
so i just want to be a better flyer,
so i just want lots of practice and jump time,
so i just want to be sponsored to be able to practice and jump all the time...
so i just want to be famous to get sponsored...
so basically i just want to be famous so i can jump wtih the famous, in the skydiving world that is, cause cmon, other than troy's senseless stunts, what whuffo can name anyone besides db cooper in our sport?
although, i like being able to do videos and give them to people, i like being able to teach and see the excitement of students, i like doing demos, and landing in the spectator area at quincy... just for kicks, maybe it shows the young and everyone for that matter, that they can do whatever they dream of doing...
and i was a camp counselor, and i get a huge kick when a kid at a random place recognizes me and says hi and you used to work at camp kern, i remember you when you did this and that was fun.... becuase mostly i remember my couselors and how much admiration i had for them. they were my heros. same with teachers...
it comes back to that email forward, that says, name a famous person and how they changed your life or somethig like that, and then name a teacher, coach, parent, counselor, role-model, etc, and how they changed their life. we remember those who directly influence our lives, and while the great and famous inspire us to dream, it's those people we come in contact with every day that teach us to believe in ourselves and pave the way...
so with that in mind, i hope i haven't brainwashed my 7th graders too bad...
and btw, CHUCK is famous, (nice new photo btw) but until now, how many of you would recognize him? i didn't, until in the casa he said "hey lewmonst" and i read his mudflap
so check out my photo on the left - looks like commercial potential eh?
so, anyone want to sponsor me? didn't think so lew

[LittleJumper 0]

I skydive cuz i want to see what my limitations are....so far...i've found none!! : ) I also want to look the judge straight in the face & say "ya know...i really want to hurry along here with this shitty-ass waste my time-case management conference so that i can go jump with some with some REAL people!! J/K if any judges are lerking nearby!!

[billvon 3,090]

>Everyone at my office recognizes Troy's name
Lisa, everyone in your office recognizes Lew Sanborn's name.
-bill von

[PhreeZone 20]

See... I reconize that name too Be safe, be smooth, be fast..... and most importantly.... be phree

• Quote

[jfields 0]

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Lisa, everyone in your office recognizes Lew Sanborn's name.

Does anyone in your office recognize the name James Gavin? I bet some on this thread will.
Justin
My Homepage

[Slappie 9]

Gen. James Gavin
The Commanding Officer of the 82nd Airborne Division that jumped in Normandy on D-Day, 1944, Major General James Gavin was raised in the Dooleyville patch outside Mt. Carmel.
"Born in 1907, James Gavin was the son of an unwed Irish immigrant. He was placed in a New York City orphanage at the age of one or two. He was eventually adopted by Martin and Mary Gavin, a Pennsylvania coal-mining family. His youth taught him the discipline and hard work that would pay dividends throughout his life. He enlisted in the US Army at age 17. Showing promise, he was selected for admittance to West Point."
"Gen. Gavin came to be known as the "jumping general" because he parachuted with combat troops during World War II. ...While a paratrooper, he led assaults on Sicily and on Salerno Bay, Italy, in 1943, reaching the rank of brigadier general, and jumped with the parachute assault section of the division on the first night of the Normandy Invasion (June 5-6, 1944). Elements of Gavin's section took the town of Sainte-Mère-Église and guarded river crossings on the flank of the Utah Beach landing area. Gavin was later made major general at age 37, the youngest major general since Gen. George Armstrong Custer. He commanded the 82nd Airborne during operations in The Netherlands and his division later fought in Germany until the German army surrendered in 1945."
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