steve1

Before they moved the drop zone to Lost Prairie, we jumped at a small airport at Kalispell, Mt. Once a year we'd have a jump meet there. (They didn't call them boogies back in then.) The arrival of the Canadians was something most of us looked forward to with anticipation. Many times they would be wearing kilts and the longer the party lasted the wilder things would get. This was the first time I had ever heard of "the dance of the flaming asshole". I was just wondering if Canadians are still this wild or if this practice is still done. I mean it is important to keep up traditions. The group I met at Lost Prairie last year seemed like a tamer bunch, but then again I missed most of the late hours at Tousie's bar. Steve1

No, but I'm going to start. My hearing is already about shot and I'd like to save what I have left. I really need to break down and get a hearing aide. Once it's gone, you can't get it back. Steve1

I was a rigger back in the olden days. My biggest fear was that I might mess up a pack job for someone. I'd check and recheck things, but there's still that chance you might forget something. I suppose it is the weight of this responsibility that helps to keep things safe. Steve1

Don't give up. This is one part of our sport that we all go through. Someday as your jumping skills improve you'll be part of the in-crowd. Try to understand that most jumpers want to jump with a group where their skills will be challenged, so they too can improve in ability. After returning to skydiving after a very long lay off, I found myself with newbie status again. (No fun!). It was often hard just to find someone to jump with. Finally I'm getting on some of the bigger loads again and life is good. Hang in there. It's worth the wait, and things will only get better. Steve1

What happened to him? Did he have a heart attack chasing down a good looking sheep? Was he trampled to death by a very large flock? I guess I'm not very well informed. Steve1

I haven't really researched this very well, but I think there is probably more to it than we'll ever know. It sounds like more than one shooter was involved to me. If he had an automatic, maybe not, but his rifle was a bolt action. To shoot that quickly, yet accurately, would probably be impossible. It takes a couple seconds to work the bolt, probably another second or two to get back on target. Then there are conspiracy theories. Who knows, maybe there was. Steve1

Sometime in the future I would like to go through this training. I was just wondering where you would have to go for this schooling, the cost, and what to expect. Thanks for your input. Steve1

Some of the problems I had were probably my fault. The telephone numbers I used probably had the wrong prefix. Dialing overseas is all different from here in the states. I don't know why the fax numbers I gave them wouldn't go thru. I never did receive the proper order form. I just drew out on a piece of paper what I wanted and included my credit card number. Worked like a charm that time. Steve1

I remember a girl, back in the old days, who started jumping. She was really small and not very strong. She worked her way up from static line to freefall. The only problem was that sometimes she wasn't strong enough to pull her rip cord. On one of her early freefalls she tugged and tugged on her rip cord, but it wouldn't open. Then she focussed all her attention on pulling her belly reserve rip cord, and after several tries it opened. Going to terminal with a reserve back then was no fun, because you would fall to the end of your lines, after the canopy inflated. But she was not quitter. Then the same thing happened a while later (her main wouldn't open, so she started tugging on her reserve until it opened.) So bruised and battered, she began lifting weights and got another rig that was easier to open. (I think one solution they tried was to put some teflon washers around the cones and under the ripcord pins.) Her nickname after all this was "Total". She made hundreds of jumps, and lived happily ever after. (believe it or not it's true) (this is not just another of my big windies)..... Steve1

I probably have more respect for the police than most people. My brother is a cop. But after watching this video I really think the officer who shot the dog really dropped the ball. Here comes a little dog romping out of the vehicle, wagging it's tail, and the guy blows him away with a shotgun. I can see using lethal force, if your life is in jeapordy, but I sure can't see anything of the sort in this scenario. Steve1

A friend of mine rode in a line over type malfunction (a May-West) and was unhurt. I've heard of others doing the same thing with minor or no injuries. Steve1

Someday I hope to have a whole shitload. Right now I just talk big and pretend I know what I'm talking about. Steve1

No, I just look that way. Steve1

Javelin J-2 with a Hornet 170 and tempo 170 reserve Steve1

I had an awful time communicating with South Africa, from the states, when I ordered my canopy. Most of my telephone calls wouldn't go through. Some of the fax numbers also didn't work. Don't give up, though. I got a super canopy at an unbelievable price, in about a months time. I dealt with Manny. Steve1

Montana is terribly short on snow so far this year. The worst year in 20 years. I heard some places in Colorado are getting a lot though. Many places are short of snow in the North West. I'd call ahead before going. Steve1

QuoteAyup, big differences in mods. The 4-line mod made a reserve "steerable" but insignificantly so. Just about enough to face into the wind to land. I had one... .................................................... Wendy, I remember some people had four line releases on their reserves back in the 70's. Some how they could release the four back lines, once under canopy. I never looked at one up close to figure out how it worked, but I'll bet yours was similiar. The 24 ft. reserve I jumped had some holes in the back. I can't recall if it was a T or T-U or just some holes for a modification. I think the steering lines were marked so you knew which ones to pull when steering. My memory is shot. Steve1

There is also a difference in round reserves. At least there was back in the olden days. My first reserve ride was under a 24 ft. round reserve. I can't recall the exact modification it had but it was somewhat steerable and I even got a standup on it. My second reserve ride was also under a friends 24 ft. round which was modified differently. It oscillated terribly all the way down, and was nearly uncontrollable in my efforts to steer it. I just missed some pine trees and then slammed into a rock pile in the middle of a oscillation. I sprained both ankles and needed help hobbling up and off the hillside. So much for jumping in the old days. I always heard a 26 ft. conical was a better reserve than most 24ft. rounds. I didn't jump in the 80's or 90's so I don't know much about the gear that was around then. Steve1

I beat one speeding ticket by having the wrong size of tires on my car, which made my speedometer read less than the true speed. If I recall the tires were larger and I had to have a mechanic sign some paper work. It worked in Montana, but might not in other states. So maybe you could mount up some larger tires real quick. Steve1

It seems like just about everyone I know on DZ.com (from California) is doing well or is famous. First there was Lisa who was part of a World's Record Formation. Then there was Bill Von and their recent 300 way World's record. And then I opened up the new Parachutist Magazine to find all these cool pictures and article by Paul Quade. I think I'm going to hock all my stuff (except for my rig) and hop the next freight to Perris. Steve1

This has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, so I thought I'd check out rec.skydiving. The only trouble is I can't seem to get into it. I've used www in front and .com on the end. Does anyone have the complete address? Before I thumb my nose at it, I figure I should at least take a look. The thing I really like about dropzone.com is the respect people usually have for each other even though they disagree. I often go into a taxidermy forum and what I like least about it is all the mud slinging that is found there. I'm also grateful for all the knowledge I've gained from dropzone.com. After all my years away from the sport I've had to relearn a lot. There are truly some great people here. I also feel the guy who wrote this article on rec.skydiving is not being truthful and is overly critical in his evaluation of this site. Some of his comments seem way out there. What the hell, we're all skydivers, do we really need to argue over trivia. He's probably just jealous of all us cool Dropzone.Commers. Steve1

High: Strapping on my new skiis and flying down the mountain. Low: Flying over a bank into some rocks, and then noticing several new grooves in the bottom of my new skiis. (we need snow)......I knew I should have went south to skydive. Steve1

......................................................................... Our collegiant club started in the 50's (The Silvertip Skydivers in Missoula, Mt.). I've got the exact date on a boogie T-shirt that I can't seem to find. I think it was 1958. We also owned our own plane, a 180, until someone crashed it during the 70's. The club is still in operation, but has moved to Stevensville. It is still considered a collegiant club yet both 206 aircraft are privately owned now. Steve1

I remember pulling guard duty on Ft. Bragg (back in the olden days) with two rounds of live ammo for my M-16. It kind of reminded you of Barney Fite and his one round of live ammo that he carried in his pocket. Another time I walked Guard Duty at night, at Camp Mckall, with a thompson machine gun. The only thing was we weren't trusted with any live ammo. It kind of makes you wonder what you're really supposed to do if any bad guys show up. I guess you could throw your weapon at them, and then run like hell. Steve1

I don't get to a lot of Boogies, but I hope to spend the entire week at Lost Prairie this year. I hope they can keep some of the local "red necks" out. I missed most of the party scene last year, but from what I understand there were some "Whuffo Dip Sticks" showing up and some of them were trying to fight everybody. I'm kind of a "Red Neck" myself, but this is ridiculous. So if there are any "Big Ass" skydivers out there, we may need backup this year. I've known Dave Tousy (he owns the bar) for about 30 years. It's probably great, for his business, to let everyone in, but it's too bad it can't be limited to just jumpers. A lot of the locals show up just to see what will happen at night. I truly enjoyed the boogie last year. Steve1