SwampGod

Feel free to speak for your skydiving friends, or even your drop zone. But my experience in this sport has been far different. I meet more caring, giving people in skydiving than I do in every other part of life. And the experiences we share make a special closeness that can't be found everywhere. To be fair, I've also met some fantastic dick-head (and dick-headettes) on drop zones. But certainly not as many as I meet on the highway driving into Boston. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Guidelines are great. Well thought out guidelines even better. I'm hoping that this is but a part of a broader plan on canopy instruction, as alone it doesn't seem to tell the whole story. If I understand correctly, it seems ANY chart is subject to limitations. Not all canopies of the same size act the same. Not all individuals with 100 jumps have the same amount (or same type) of canopy experience under their belts. I learned as much in one CRW jump as I did in 50 standard canopy flights (and contact is not necessary to learn with CRW!) I asked my DZO about his downsizing suggestions for me, and he replied that once I was able to land my current canopy 10 times in a row on targets spread throughout the drop zone I was ready to downsize. He felt knowing how to land in a variety of situations (sinking it in, etc) kept me safer in the event of on and off-field landings. I don't know that the "10 in a row" PRO-ratingesque mandate is quite appropriate, and I did downsize before totally fulfilling that guideline... but the spirit of the suggestion has always impressed me. I guess I'm wondering if there's a way to tie a chart like this together with some performance objectives (more than simply doing 90 degree turns on rear risers at 2500 feet). I'm confident that the people working on this chart will come up with some very informative benchmarks for canopy progression. I learned more in one weekend of Brian Germain's canopy seminar then I ever did reading books or posts. And did I mention CRW? I do love how much one can learn about canopy flight in that manner.... -eli

I'm all for keeping one's options open, but I don't believe school will necessarily deliver the options you desire. School might be part of the right path for you... but then again it might not. I have a four-year degree, and don't feel I wasted any time (as I had a lot of fun), but didn't further my professional development. See... I haven't used my degree once. Not once. I dabbled for a bit after graduation, and quickly realized how out of place I was in corporate America. Instead, I've spent my post-grad life figuring out how to work within a sport I love and be responsible enough to get self-employment health insurance. I even sometimes wish I had started working within skydiving earlier, not wasting time on an Ivy League education that is meaningless in the world of skydiving (which I love about the sport, by the way). Making a living within skydiving isn't always easy, but neither is staying happy in cubicle-land. At least for me. (I'd spend the extra money I make on higher rent and therapy, anyway...) Maybe I'll use my degree someday. But will the material I learned still be relevant then? I can guarantee one thing -- school takes time. Years even. I'd call them wasted years if they're miserable. And people don't believe darkwing when he says he'd rather not see young people spend years unhappy? Here comes a generalization: I would think that skydivers would appreciate that life is short. I'm not suggesting we should all abandon all future planning, but why is school and corporate-sponsored health insurance the only smart way to go? Why are we pushing someone to endure something that is not truly the only path? There are some jobs that require a degree, ANY degree as a qualification for hire. There are also jobs that require drug testing. Over time, I've found myself staying away from both. Not just because of what they require, but what they tend to mean about the job itslef, and the people I'll be spending half my waking life with. But that's just me... -eli

I guess we're lucky at our DZ. The DZO believes in helping new jumpers, and offers up free slots to coaches to jump with low-timers.

10:30 am or pm?

Unless the skydivers don't mind. Keep your eyes open, have consideration for others, and you should know (hopefully) when you've overstayed your welcome. Our DZ is overflowing with babies this year, and I've yet to see a moment when someone isn't offering to hold a child. Some of the currently childless jumpers seem especially eager to play with the infants. It's a joy to behold. Which is to say, every drop zone is different. Every skydiver is different. As long as you don't expect others to take care of your responsibilites, everyone can benefit from your gift! -eli

I wasn’t in Rantoul, but have heard the rumors. I first met Erik when he started skydiving. This is my perspective, my background. I guess I’m trying to figure out where this thread is going. Is the attempt to inform the skydiving community of a possible threat? Is it to figure out how to be a better, more responsible friend to a sick skydiver? Or are we simply burning a witch at the stake? If we’re warning of a threat... I wasn’t aware that the rumors had been confirmed true. I’ve not heard of a court ruling, or anything beyond the campfire talk -- “Didja hear what happened at Rantoul?” I’m not saying anyone is innocent, because I don’t know. Something certainly went down, and whether that something is worse or better than the rumors has yet to be determined. Correct me if I’m wrong... but does anyone actually have the facts yet? I truly hope the people who have named and essentially convicted Erik on this list know what they’re talking about. Posting someone’s picture with an accusation in a public forum is tricky business. Especially since it’s been stated that the original post wasn’t actually correct (ie, the gear in the pictures wasn’t stolen). Careful, folks. What about the other point, one of being a better friend. If that’s the case, though, I find it interesting that people are stating Erik’s friends “didn’t do enough,” without knowing what was or wasn’t done in the first place. Currently, there are a lot of assumptions being made based on incomplete information. Which is natural and somewhat acceptable, if the assumptions didn’t include so many uninformed judgements. Why does everyone assume his friends could see it coming? Why does everyone assume _he_ could even see it coming? No-one (myself included) has all the information, so how can ANY of us be so sure about what should have been done? How has a forum already diagnosed the man with kleptomania? We all seem to agree that something bad happened at Rantoul. Whatever mess Erik got himself into is one he has to face. This includes the rage of MANY skydivers, including his friends. They’re mad at the breach of trust. They’re mad at the let-down. Many are even mad at themselves. Everyone feels something differenct could have been done, but this is with the benefit of hindsight. I don’t know everything, and while I don’t want to violate anyone’s privacy, I feel I should at least give you this: I first met Eirk as a shy AFF student. He reminded me of some of the kids in my chemistry class -- quiet, smart, and more than a bit shy. But he quickly grasped the concepts of skydiving, and quickly turned himself into a hell of an RW flyer. He also came out of his shell at this time, gaining confidence with every day that passed. Everyone at the DZ considered it a success story of sorts... a “shy guy finds a home” type deal. How many of society’s “misfits” have found a similar home in skydiving? Later, we didn’t see Erik for a bit, but those close to him stated he was having a hard time, and would return to the sport once his doctors felt it was time. I saw him once during this time, and I could tell he was struggling. It seemed as if he was that shy chemistry guy again. Fast-forward to this summer. Erik seemed more confident, though more likely to invade your personal space. In my personal opinion, it was the only thing that worried me, and the only thing I talked to him about working on (at least with me). The worst I saw coming for Erik in the near future was a broken nose if he gave the wrong dude’s girlfriend (or the wrong dude) a hug they weren’t ready for. In any case, I certainly don’t know him as well as others, but I think it’s a leap to suggest that we all could have seen “it” coming. I still don’t even know what “it” is.... Look, all I know is that I entered this sport in part because of the joy of the skydive itself, but also because of the family. I have a sister that drank herself into a partial coma, all but abandoned her three children to the rest of the family, and sometimes reappears for family functions. Am I angry at her? Damn straight. But she’s still my sister. I’m not suggesting everyone should embrace Erik with open arms, nor even call him brother. I’m just saying that I entered this sport in love with my family in the sky. Today, I am a bit saddened by the approach my brothers and sisters are taking. So much judgement... I truly don’t know the path to redemption here, but I have to believe it exists. I’d also like to believe we’ll be mature enough to get a few more facts in us before we speculate any further. We’ve been using the same language with Erik that we use to describe the owners of Skyride. Is that truly proper? Anyone who is guilty of something will have to face their actions, but what about how WE treat them. I agree that people who repeatedly, intentionally scar the sport certainly deserve our wrath. But what of the people that are simply trying to play the hand they’re dealt... and sometimes we simply get dealt a lousy hand. I know people want to keep this thread open, I’m just asking that it becomes a bit more productive. Thank you for your time. -eli

Most of the area otter DZs have big ways at one time or another, with an added plane (usually a Casa) bumping up the fun factor! I can't speak for other DZs, but in between events, Skydive New England nearly always has organized Wednesday RW jumping. The numbers aren't always as big as you're looking for, but they sure can be. PM me if you want me to find out which weekends and Wednesdays would look the best for you. Blue skies! -eli

Just booked a hotel room for 7 of us!

The AFF Program at Skydive New England is certainly top notch, and while I can't explain why you reached a grumpy person when you called, you'll find all of the instructors and fun jumpers to be VERY friendly.

sounds great! we gots a group trying to coordinate plane, train, and automobile schedules. mmm... herding skydivers. can't wait to jump in Moab again!

I've also had some good times at Jumptown, but spend my days, weeks, and months at Skydive New England. Wednesday afternoons find a bunch of belly flyers cruising around, and every day the super otter is flying. I personally dig the fact that Skydive New England is located on a private airport, so once the day of jumping has ended, the night of fun has only begun.

I'm hoping in our efforts to do something productive we haven't all diluted our talents. I'm still a couple of weeks away from my contribution (which I'm hoping will still be a unique approach), but with so many forms of a similiar idea appearing I'm sensing a culling in the near future. PLEASE BE SURE WE'RE CULLING THE RIGHT FOLKS. The best ideas will bring new people to the sport, rather than redirect the existing flow. Search engines and pay-per-click ads are useful, as are many of the features a "legitimate" skyride might offer... and should offer, though many DZs are doing this themselves. So long as we all play nice and act in ways that benefit the sport, and not just individual jumpers, we should be all good. Keep it in mind, folks... this is clearly not a complete list, but try to remember for now that the foe of ye foe is ye friend. http://uspa.org/dz/index.htm http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/dropzone/finder.cgi http://www.wheretojump.com/ http://www.wheretoskydive.com/ http://www.ground-rush.com/dz.htm http://www.skydivecsc.com/skydiving_us/ http://www.1800skyrider.com/