wrightskyguy 1 #1 September 20, 2004 Our team had a demo yesterday here in Jacksonville Fl at the opening game of our local NFL team. There were three jumpers, two solos, and one jumper tandeming in the team mascot. All the ground crew was in place (six people) and the jumpers were at the airport. About 45 minutes before go time the winds were observed to be 15 gusting to about 25 to 30. The demo was promptly cancelled. The customer was disappointed but I believe that he was impressed with the professionalism displayed and asked us back to the next home game. Bottom line is: nobody hurt, nobody dead, nobody landed off target or in the stands. GO TEAM!!! (The Art of Skydiving) John Wright World's most beloved skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 September 20, 2004 "Get 'r done!" This is a nice anti-incident report, especially after a seeming string of demo incidents over the past few months.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crwmike 0 #3 September 20, 2004 QuoteOur team had a demo yesterday here in Jacksonville Fl at the opening game of our local NFL team. There were three jumpers, two solos, and one jumper tandeming in the team mascot. All the ground crew was in place (six people) and the jumpers were at the airport. About 45 minutes before go time the winds were observed to be 15 gusting to about 25 to 30. The demo was promptly cancelled. The customer was disappointed but I believe that he was impressed with the professionalism displayed and asked us back to the next home game. Bottom line is: nobody hurt, nobody dead, nobody landed off target or in the stands. GO TEAM!!! (The Art of Skydiving) One of the hardest things to do with a demo is scrub for adverse conditions at jump time. Glad you had the guts to make the call that's right for you. BSBD, Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crutch 0 #4 September 20, 2004 Thanks for your suppost John. The decision also had nothing to do with who was on the jump with us. Although, it took quite awhile to convince Curtis we were not going to jump! Well, we will try it again in two weeks!blue skies, art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,483 #5 September 20, 2004 Being a "Pro" means making professional decisions, not popular ones. This may have been a disappointing decision, but I applaud the entire team's professionalism. And, the NFL team asked you back. Even if they hadn't; the right decision was made. Thank you.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #6 September 20, 2004 Good call! Now if we can just convince the rest of the demo teams to be equally mature .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YahooLV 0 #7 September 20, 2004 Congrats on a good call!!!!! It sucks when you have to let them down, but safety above all else!http://www.curtisglennphotography.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #8 September 20, 2004 Best call you can make is to scrap a demo if it is not right. I had a Lt Col. Yelling at my E4 ass since I would not let my team jump into a HS homecoming game. Winds where HIGH, and it was in PA in the middle of a city with NO outs. The field was next to the school, and the winds were coming over the school into the field. We poped a smoke to look at the winds....It was WAY ugly. I told the team leader I was not going to do it. He agreed it was a bad idea. He went to the Col. and told him, and the Col. jumped me asking how I can make such a call. I told him 2000+ jumps and that since I was the most experienced jumper there the Team leader agreed with me. It was quite ugly....But someone getting hurt would be worse. Good call."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #9 September 20, 2004 The hardest thing for a demo jumper to do sometimes is to "Say No". To have jumped in the conditions you described would have been ego writing a check your ass might not have been able to cash. You made a decision that showed common sense and "Professionalism". SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #10 September 20, 2004 QuoteYou made a decision that showed common sense and "Professionalism". Quote Ya beat me to it Sparky...! Kudos John! An example for others...you can't 'teach' judgement, but it's worth a try!! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crutch 0 #11 September 20, 2004 This had to be one of the toughest calls I ever had to make. It would have been real easy to cross my fingers and hope for the best, hell there were two ex-Golden Knights on the load who had done much tougher jumps. The amount of work that goes into planning and setting up a jump like this is really unbelievable, if you don't have any idea, get involved in just the ground crew one time. In the end the man who writes the check for this jump thought very well of our decision and has us coming back in two weeks, so look for pictures then (besides the tandem, we are jumping a 30' x 60' American flag into the stadium). As a footnote to anyone getting demo insurance, the people at Insurance Technologies& Programs, Inc. have been great to work with all year. They willing moved the coverage to the next game with no added fees!blue skies, art Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #12 September 20, 2004 Art, You made the hard right instead of the easy wrong. I am sure all the rest of us who do demo's and the general skydiving community appreaciate your decision, I know I do. Matt SE 0299An Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #13 September 21, 2004 QuoteAs a footnote to anyone getting demo insurance, the people at Insurance Technologies& Programs, Inc. have been great to work with all year. They willing moved the coverage to the next game with no added fees! *** Both Susan & Karen go the extra mile... They will in certain circumstances refund partial premium if weather or other factors contribute to the cancellation of part of the demo... For example only getting to perform one day of a multi day (covered) event. Unheard of in prior years ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
