FallRate

I'm going to go get some extra beer...this should make for a great thread. Flame away people!!! To get it started I'll add this possibility...skydivers are a special breed, generally unwilling to accept what society tells us is expected of us. Take a woman with this newfound frame of mind and you get someone who realizes she doesn't have to put her square self into life's round hole. This includes playing the part of doting wife. So she becomes a rebellious pain in the butt to her husband and he leaves her, or she decides that she would prefer to live free in an environment where she is put on a pedestal (as all skychicks should be, of course ) so she leaves the husband. If this doesn't push any buttons, I'll try again! FallRate

Perhaps what Mountainman was trying to say is that he was capable of flat packing his new canopy but was not interested in being charged rent for extra carpet space...which every flat-packer should have to pay! FallRate

It seems a little early for this, but what the heck! 0 - Can't seem to convince the North Dakota Women that I'm not a potential rapist! : 0 - Still need a four-year check on my Cypress...doesn't matter anyway, working every freakin' weekend. : 1 - First time I've posted my weekend numbers. I accept checks or pity. FallRate

I know we live in a time when judgment or criticism of any sort is considered to be an act of pure evil, but...this is a terrible mindset to have when entering a marriage. To be fair, a LOT of people have this attitude stuck in the back of their minds. But wouldn't it be best to start off with the idea that this is a real commitment, not just a temporary lifestyle change. FallRate

Try a motorcycle supply site like competitionaccessories.com They make really nice two-way radios for motorcyclists, and they are designed to be installed in helmets. FallRate

Here's another one... Why do Brides smile so much on their wedding day? Because they know they don't have to swallow anymore. FallRate

Oh yeah, I have beer! And I'm housetrained! FallRate

Well, it's actually quite similar to a jump plane. There's a door and they both smell like shit when you're ready to get out of them. FallRate

This is China right? The reporter is most likely either dead or in a re-education camp. FallRate

Oh my God! A woman who the understands importance of beer! Yahoo! Are you married Rose...would you like to be!? FallRate

A Flying-V is a Gibson. FallRate

"Heathen" meaning non-religious or unenlightened in this analogy. Whuffos could be easily described as such, but that doesn't mean that this is an insult. FallRate

Well, if Rook Nelson's introduction to the sport at age four had anything to with his level of skill, then this two-year old should be the next Olav. FallRate

I agree! If skydiving lacked this social aspect, I could have saved THOUSANDS of miles on my car and jumped at the 9 to 5 DZ in my hometown (Not a bad place, actually a really nice place.) I just happen to cherish the sunsAt activities! It's a much more fulfilling experience to spend the entire weekend at the DZ. And for any of those arrogant pricks who believe that a "social skydiver" is a lesser skydiver, please feel free to remove yourselves from our gene pool. FallRate

Dogma 2002 : The PLF. First jump students are still trained the same way they were when they were being put out under rounds. A "proper" PLF won't do much of anything if you're heading downwind under a 9-Cell Student ZP, with or without winds at around 14 mph. Note: There are heretics among us who teach the principles of the...uhh, Dear God No...the, the, the "Stand Up Landing". FallRate

no, no, no, no! It's the homosexual-man-trapped-in-a woman's-body-female that does the trick! Trust me! I found one once and let her go. I am forever damned!!! FallRate

I didn't forget to mention that...it hadn't come to mind. But it definitely seems to be the case. In other words...thanks for the input JT! Sparks a thought though...as a skydiver goes from the elation of the first jump through to an ability to take on the sport alone, there does seem to be a great amount of imprinting that takes place. What is seen throughout this safe voyage is what is right, now and forever. Hmm...if God sneezes? Batten the hatches!?

OK, so long as someone is interested. My perceived similarities are actually quite benign... The Minister at a friend's wedding once told me, while commenting on the fact that there was no air conditioning even though there were sufficient funds to have it installed, that every church congregation is populated with a small number of people who's mindset is "Hell No!". No matter what idea is presented by the congregation, if it involves change, then there will be those who say no. I have noticed this not only at my local DZ but within the skydiving community at large. In the case of the air conditioning, there were a few who believed it would in some way diminish the historic architecture of the building. It would alter the altar. I have always perceived the Church, any Church, regardless of its theological leanings, to be a place where the members of a community can come together and build relationships with people they would otherwise treat as scenery in their day to day lives. The seed for this interaction and connection within established religions seems to be a shared belief in something they, as individuals, cannot completely comprehend, but through interaction with other like-minded individuals are given the opportunity to explore, in a setting that allows for "crazy" ideas. (Just my impression, please don't flame me with definitions of religion.) Notice any similarities to skydiving? We have our shared experience that no one can really explain. We have our rituals, our dogma...we even have our heathens: the "Whuffos". I'm not looking to make a statement here...just wondering if anyone else can relate to this. FallRate

It might be a little late in this thread, but, when life gives you lemons...shove them up Life's ass and remind Life that you specifically ordered tangerines. *harrumph* FallRate

I wouldn't mind it being a freak-fest at all. God bless the freaks! I'm just curious as to why it is such a major attraction for this crowd. I don't doubt that it is and for good reason. I just don't know the reasons! From the website it appears that you can expect as much social control as you would at any other location, at any other time of the year. I guess my question is "What do you get from Burning Man that you don't get from a weekend at the DZ?" I'm not saying there isn't a difference and that even if there is a difference it isn't worth it. I would just like to get more info. FallRate

I'm not kidding!!! How do you expect me to get to sleep with that image in my head!? [there really needs to be a "frustrated" smiley] FallRate

I may have posted on this topic previously...it tends to cross my mind after a few beers. Anyway, has anyone here ever noticed a striking similarity between the locals at a DZ and a church congregation? Before I elaborate, I'll wait to see if anyone is interested in this topic. FallRate BTW...anyone know where the header comes from?

Did not see it, but did the yungun actually jump? FallRate

The really cool thing about this is that Mike's fiance', Kim is a jumper. They met during our Winter Trip at Skydive America PB last year. Really cool! FallRate

I completed AFF in Richmond with an exit weight of about 290 to 300. I had very little problem finding AFF instructors to take me out. Kirk Yerkes (great guy!) did a couple of my jumps and he can't weigh more than 150, soaking wet. It hasn't been mentioned yet, but the static line progression is a viable option for big guys. And it's relatively inexpensive. There are some who don't like the idea of it anymore, but it works. FallRate