steveorino

I'd be interested in any insights you've gleaned into this. I've only recently written the thesis so no I haven't been able to study how to do that. Aggie Dave has great ideas. One idea I have to go along with his, is give away a self produced Skydiving vocabulary book with humorus illustrations. It is almost impossible to predetermine who will move beyond group polarization and into a personal desire to join the skydiving community at first glance. However, any indication of that desire should be met with every effort to include them into our culture. Inviting them to stay for the activities that go on after the beer light would be a good first step. steveOrino

My first jump was 1977 (military static line) made lots of those until 1980. I started freefall in 2001. Which years in sport do you think best reflect my experience? 29 years (from 1st jump until now) 8 years (3 years of static - 5 years of freefall) 5 years (years of freefall) Obviously I think the latter best represents my time in sport, but maybe you could convince me otherwise. steveOrino

Sounds like me (except I had lots more static lines and I knew where my balls were, but I was busy raising kids on the West Coast) First military jump 1977 I don't count years until I started "freefalling" 2001 steveOrino

hehe, you wish! steveOrino

Research I've studied and have done for a Master's thesis shows Skydivers’ reasons for making their first jumps are as varied as they are. Internal variables include: predispositions, goals, psychological states, and interpersonal influence. For many they are seeking one more thrill, others have an innate desire for adventure. Then some are simply socially compliant and their friends want to skydive. Some of these people would never have made a jump without the persuasion of a friend. This proposes group polarization, where the presence of peers changes the attitude from slightly positive to very positive. While compliance with the group’s expectation may be the primary motivation for the initial participation in a high-risk activity for these students, this hold over one’s decision making process diminishes after the initial experience. If after the first skydive they desire to make additional skydives, the motivating power to continue, typically switches from peer pressure to a desire to identify with a new subculture. To me that says retention would be better benfited by going out of our way to include them into our sub culture. Not an easy task. steveOrino

I was fortunate to learn under the system where the experience guys like ole Bob S. with his 6K jumps and BIGUN (yep he was one of the first to jump with me for nothing) "coached" me for free. I liked the old way. However, I'm not one to protest against the Coach rating. Heck, I am one. I'm also an IAD instructor and TM. At SDA we usually charge coach's fee for categories G&H. More often than not, after that Coaches and Instructors jump for nada or at the most a slot. I enjoy that as well. I usually take my cameras on the jumps too. I firewire any footage and give stills on a disk away too. While I'm concentrating on the student I can usually get a decent picture of them in freefall. To me, it is the best of both worlds. steveOrino

I agree people need to be fit enough to skydive, but that would based on performance more than body mass. I'm okay with our 220# limit, but I do not look forward to telling the 5'1" 190# person they aren't fit enough to skydive. I'm not saying it shouldn't be done -- I just don't want to do it. The 220# rule is posted on our website. There would be few surprises for the rejection of the 240# fatty. I can't say that about the short tubby person that is less than 220#. steveOrino

I see THAT I see as problematic. Explaining to a tandem student they aren't "fit" enough. I've seen people who came to watch someone jump that I prayed they weren't jumping as I knew they'd get the "no way, Jose" speech. steveOrino

Very nicely framed! steveOrino

I never never allow money have a say in my safety. This was discussed on a previous thread. The poster there said the TM would override his limits if he would be rewarded financially to do so. Therefore, he recommended no financial incentive to take heavier students. I don't like that suggestion because that implies it is someone else's responsibility to police my limits. Personally, I think that is ridiculous. steveOrino

Please help me to understand the reasoning behind this? Most of the DZ's I've worked at don't do this. It's a flat fee; height must be proportionate to weight and combined weight of the TI & Student cannot exceed max recommended weights. Do you charge less if they're under "X" lbs? SDA (where you use to TM) charges $1 a pound for every pound over 220#. It goes to the TM. I don't think that is a relatively new policy at SDA. With your exit weight, I doubt you took too many over #220 at SDA anyway. I do remember you taking some pretty close to that though. Maybe Lloyd kept your money. BTW: We use a digital scale and the readout is stationed where only the manifest girl can read it. steveOrino

Congrats on the 2000 AFF! BTW, I always enjoy reading your posts!

PM sent. I have papers you could use for research steveOrino

I use to see those spiders (or ones just like it) on huge webs between two pines trees near Ft. Bragg. You'd avoid them in daylight, but at night you'd walk right into them and be covered with the web and you know that big sucker is on you somewhere. steveOrino

Buck O'Neal died this weekend. No doubt he will be elected into the Hall of Fame posthumously now, but SHAME on those who did not vote on him THIS year! http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/sports/baseball/07oneil.html steveOrino

When you purchase an altimeter you might consider a digitude. it reads in BIG numbers rather than a dial. steveOrino

He believed and acted on bad intel. How did that become an impeachable offense? steveOrino

Personally, I don't like FBOW, never have. I thought this was a thread about Chris Farley, not some og! steveOrino

I can't wait to get mine! Hurry up mailman! steveOrino

Evidently the new 400D has the 2.5MM again, and I'm glad! I don't have to upgrade my remote switch just because I'm upgrading from a 10D to 400D.

For the sake of a good family name (Phelps) will you guys refer to them as the Westboro Baptist Group or WBC, not Phelps? I get sick to my stomach everytime I read his name. BTW, my dad was from KY then TX, never in KS. Fred is not kin ... I pray! steveOrino

I'll let you know when mine arrives next week. While i don't do near as many videos as i use (being a TM now) I expect it wil be a lot more than my original Rebel.

I'm writing a Masters Thesis on: Personality Traits of Licensed Skydivers. As far as papers go (and I've written 100s of them) it was one of the hardest as far as available research, but one of the most enjoyable. Good luck! Start early, and don't plagarize. College professors have tools to determine what percentage of a paper is unoriginable in about 5-10 minutes. (they use www.turnitin.com) steveOrino

If you cream in at 120 is it a painless death? The guys who know for sure aren't talking. Why do you want to jump? For the majority of tandems it is accomplish a goal or they simply fell into a mob (peer pressure) mentality with a group of friends who said, "Let's jump!" You faced your fear of jumping or taking high risk -- why do you want to do another? For the small minority that continue to jump it is usually to redefine who they are. The initial fear of I may die doing this is replaced with I may screw up this jump with my fellow jumpers. They are becoming part of a new community. All skydivers take risks, but we take what we believe are calculated risk. We push envelopes every day. We literally live on the edge. If this doesn't float your boat you probably won't keep doing this. steveOrino

IMHO unfortunately what is lost in all this crap is politics is more important than integrity, morals. Republicans and Democrats typically turn their head when their own party lacks integrity or morals. "Republicans are hypocrites!" "Clinton was worse!" I say, BS! Let's quit making excuses and quit using these opportunities of character collapses and shortcomings to play politics. It sickens me this guy is a closet gay man who prefers the young and vulnerable. It is the same sickening feeling I get when the world's most powerful man keeps his brain near his zipper. I wished the dems would desire a prez who was morally upright, and I wish the reps would police their own. steveOrino