steve1

Riddler, I'll look for ya. I'm really getting pumped up to come down there. I didn't realize there were so many places to jump close to Denver. Sounds like a neat place.....Steve1

Seb....Have you been taking a thermos full of White Lightning with you to work again?.....Steve1

Oh shit, that's what I was afraid of....It'll take me a while to get my old deer rifle sighted in again, and I need to get my uncle Fred out of jail, but hang on Seb....we're coming to get "yee". (That's a new name I picked up in the bible).....Steve1

I think some stories do get stretched more than a little over time. I jumped in the old days, and things were definitely looser back then. But I'll tell you I never saw a low pull contest nor anyone getting on a load stoned. Our club would have grounded them in a hurry. I'm not saying this didn't take place in some places, but it wasn't nearly as common as some of the old jump stories say it was. We partied hard, but this was after jumping. Anyone who opened low, even by accident, was grounded. Most of us were USPA members, even in the 70's. But then again we did bend a few rules and maybe things were different at other DZ's. Some of the wildest stories I've heard were down at Casa Grande in the old days....Steve1

I started on static line, so I may be prejudiced in my opinions also. But,I think it's a great way to learn. You are taking smaller steps in the learning process, but that may be good. It's also a cheaper way to start jumping. I don't know if I would have started skydiving if I had to lay out all the cash involved for AFF. If my daughter decides to train, I think I'll have her go the static line route. And don't feel this method of training will hold you back. It won't.....Steve1

No wonder the Bytch had you locked up in a closet. Hey Bytch, ya need to get this one back on a leash Sebazz, Don't tell me those evil doers have you in their clutches again??? Just say the word Seb, old buddy, and we'll organize another rescue attempt. I got my truck running, and most of my kin are sober for a change. And this news has me in a real foul mood!......Steve1

Just don't forget to untie the reserve handle when you go to jump again. Maybe tie it with something big and colorful, so you won't miss it..... I had a friend who burned in, back in the old days. He forgot that he placed a pack opening band over his reserve rip-cord handle. He was traveling, by car, and didn't want to snag the handle on his chest mounted reserve by accident. As luck would have it, on his first jump, he had a malfunction, cut away, and fought his reserve handle all the way into the ground. Such a serious mistake is easy to miss....Steve1

I go into a physics class at least once a year to talk about skydiving. It relates well to what they are studying. When I was teaching fourth grade I used to give each of my students an egg and a limited amount of other materials to protect their egg. The plan was to drop each of their eggs off the roof of the school building. Those whose egg survived won some school money. Most of them decided to build parachutes. A great activity.....Steve1

The picture in front of the Whitehouse kind of reminded me of home. If I could figure out how to run my scanner I'd send some photos too. I've got a dandy of my old hound dog "Bro" and my uncle Leroy who's also my Dad and my wife Pam who's also my cousin.....Steve1

I do this a few times a year. Bring all you gear and a good video. Most kids love it.....Steve1

What's a ball-gag? They didn't have those in the old days....Steve1

You must mean bull, if you ride bulls, or steer if you are a bull-dogger. Cows aren't used in most rodeos. Actually rodeo people are very similiar to skydivers. There's the same feeling of comradery in the sport, and the same type of crazy people participating....I've had lot's of rodeo people ask me about how scary it must be to jump. But the truth is, It's a lot scarier to crawl onto the back of a bronc or bull....especially after you've been hurt a few times rodeoing......Steve1

Sebazz, I was just wondering if all the women folk in California are as evil minded as those ones that had you locked up in that there closet. Right now this is the only thing keeping me from coming to California.....Steve1

I didn't have any head injuries before going to jump school at Benning, but it's a wonder more folks didn't end up with severe brain injury. For almost 60 years paratroopers jumped with a steel pot on there head. No kidding. It had a plastic liner and webbing inside, but it just didn't work too well when you cracked the back of your head on the ground. I don't know much about the knew kevlar helmets, but I'd bet they are better than the old ones.....Steve1

Don't listen to Sebazz. He has a tendency to really exaggerrate. I'd just like to get in the air again. Right now it's snowing out, the winds howling, and they may shut down the only road home, before I get off work. I'm looking forward to jumping with you again, Sebazz. You'll have to teach us some new tricks. To hell with Montana. I'm ready to come to California....Steve1

I just found out, this morning at work, that I'll be going to some training in Denver, (the first part of December). Is there any jumping going on this time of year? I was just wondering whether or not to bring my rig. I'd love to get some jumps in.....Steve1

Missoula, Montana is where I was born and raised. It's where the book and movie, "A River Runs Through It" supposedly took place. The Indians called it the land of the stinking air even before the pulp mill was built (something to do with temperature inversions). Beautiful in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and has a high suicide rate in the winter......Steve1

Sebazz, You should quit your regular job and become a comedian. This was a funny one....Steve1

It may take a hundred jumps or more, but little by little the fear involved will leave. Hang in there.....Steve1

That's a coencidence. My name is Steve and I know how to speak Spanish also. Such as: Habla Espanole, See Senior, Muy bien, and Chinka Tu. I'm not sure what the last word means, but everyone get's real mad every time I say it to them.....Steve1

I've heard the magic number is 100, but this depends a lot on the individual. I remember having a couple hundred jumps in the old days and having major butterflies. I've only got a hair better than 600 jumps now and there just isn't much fear involved. It's just really really fun. Even after a long winter lay-off, I enjoy that first jump back. But, yes, I still remember those first few, terror filled jumps. I just refused to wimp out and kept coming back for more. After about ten jumps I started to enjoy the adrenaline rush it gave me. Thirty years later I'm still hooked.....Steve1

I met an old jumper from Colorado this past spring. He was telling about a time when he made an intentional water landing on his Para-commander with a belly reserve. He said he never did dry his reserve out, just kept it packed up, and kept right on jumping. I would think it would have been full of mold and rot. At any rate, he said he had a malfunction shortly there after, and it openned fine. It's a wonder more people didn't go in, in the old days.....Steve1

It's been a long time since I asked someone to lean while I packed. Yes, it usually took two to pack in the old days. You placed the apex of your canopy on a hook and then had someone hold tension by leaning against your harness. You then flaked each panel. Layed it on the ground and started folding things up. That is unless you were one of those daring souls who just flaked and sleeved things up in a hurry. In that case you just flaked it, pulled the sleeve over it, and maybe made a fold or two on the skirt or a fold on the stabilizers of a PC.....either way it usually openned fine.....There was noone to pack for you back then. Reserve repacks were mandated every 60 days. You paid your rigger $5.00 or a case of beer for a repack. Some belly reserves had pilot chutes, some didn't. Does anyone know what a kicker plate is?? This is what your pilot chute rested on in your reserve. Wouldn't it be fun to get in a time machine and go back to that era for a short visit. You'd have to leave your tight fitting jump suit behind because most everyone had super baggy ones complete with bell bottoms and sleeves (In the 70's). And don't forget a heavy duty motorcycle helmet and french jump boots. I wouldn't want to stay long though, because things are a lot more fun now, but think of the flying skills you could teach others. A ten way was big back then. I recall being in a state record star that only had 15 people in it. I remember a World's Record star that only had about 30 people in it. Jerry Bird was the king of RW. If you didn't have long hair, you might be called a Red neck. Hell, even I had hair an inch or two longer back then. And yes, I was considered a red neck brother to those I jumped with. My how things have changed.......Steve1

I started my mid-life correction at age 50. That's when I went back to jumping. I only wish I had done it sooner. No regrets.....Steve1

Lou Diamond, Tell us more about your combat jump. I alway's wondered what that would be like. I talked to a British Para-trooper at Perris a couple years ago. He said they routinely jump at 800 ft. in training now, since they have a new design para-chute that opens more quickly than the old t-1O's.....Steve1