chopchop

ME! I did... boyfalldown and I were going to do a freefly jump when I saw a kid I had doen a little coaching with.. I knew he needed to dive and dock on a formation so we changed plans, invited him out and another very experienced jumper came along so we planned a 4-way with Chadd diving.. Well.. the three of us hung out and presented and turned and presented and hoped and prayed.. but alas.. Chadd couldn't do it that time.. so.. a little later, I invite him on a 2-way to try again.. a little more coaching.. he nails the exit but over amps and blows by me.. then back and forth and all around.. and fails again... Finally, a third chance for Chadd.. a 5-way with Mad John.. I think he freaked out because he blew the exit and flipped and spun and never got close.. Oh, well.. maybe next wekend.. boy, did I hate those days when I was that poor guy.. flying all around and not able to dock.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

:14:0 I didn't go to the boogie but had a great weekend at Byron. Sunday was a little windy and we had to shut down and start drinking early.. after 3 tandem vids (including Deuce's first paid tandem) and a couple of fun jumps. Sunday surf was up!! A couple of coaching jumps, 3 more tandem vids, some freeflying, some RW, and an awesome cross-country made for an awesome day.. Did I mention SURF WAS UP!!!? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Congrats, Jaye!! Despite the lack of pics, I'm sure you looked delicious after Amazon decorated you with whipped cream.. Umm.. she did put a big red cherry on top, riiigghhtt? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Why do people keep spitting on me when I wear it? Is that some sort of British form of showing respect? I was afraid to bring it to Cross Keys after the they chased me with pitchforks and crosses in Denver.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Thanks Garreth, You are truly an inspiration to us all.. always ready with a kind word, some gentle instruction or just a little uplifting sentiment for us younger jumpers.. It is definitely an honor to be jumping from the same aircraft as you..

That's so untrue. Toe Up loves him too... he has something to play with all day long. oops. I mean "What cat?" If Toe Up loves him so much, why did he call him "The F*cking Tasmanian Cat-Devil that shit in my gearbag" ? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

LIAR!! Toe Up is so anxious to get rid of the cat, he called me a few minutes ago asking what flight we were arriving on so he could meet us at the gate.. to hand over the beast. I'm afraid he will throw it at us and run.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

I can see your point. but it got his attention.. They sat down later that day and discussed it. He honed his skills and a month or two later flew that canopy fine.. This may not work well in all cases.. In this one, it was perfect.

Hey... ummmm... Shannon.. we are coming back to SF tomorrow.. do we still have a kitty? does it really weigh 2 pounds? what did you feed it? it was like 1/2 pound when we left.. Can we pick it up tomorrow? or whatever is left of it? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

So.. JP.. out of curiosity.. have you done your FIRST paid instructor jumps yet? tandem or AFF? How'd they go?

Exactly.. last year one of the senior jumpers (not a staff memeber) at our dz walked up to a guy who had just brought his canopy in from the landing area and laid his rig down. He calmly walks over, disconnects it, and walks away with it saying "You are not ready for this canopy yet." No one challenged him and the other jumper just stood there open-mouthed. After a little argument, he hooked his old canopy back up. He did not sell him the canopy, he was not the S & TA or the DZO or staff of any kind.. He was just being morally responsible for the other jumper and himself as he really didn't want to be in the pattern with him. I think he set a great example. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

JP.. nice rant thread.. Bonnie.. so eloquent.. Stearman.. if you really listened, and are on an appropriate canopy for your jumps, I am one happy skydiver today. edited to add: I remember 5 or 6 weeks ago when a young jumper from down south wandered into Byron with I think 30 jumps.. He had a really raggedy container and no jumpsuit.. I did a jump with him and was impressed with his early skills.. 5 or 6 of us sat around on the floor after the beer light came on and talked to him about his goals in skydiving and gear choices.. impressing upon him that his canopy was fine but he should get a better container.. He seemed to be listening and was enthusiastic about Byron becoming his new home.. That weekend he jumped with a couple of other freefliers and they were also impressed by his freefall skills. Every once in a while, though, he kept coming back to wanting faster landings or a little swoop. There were a ton of experienced jumpers talking to him and telling him to use his existing canopy.. Bonnie, Iwan, myself and others.. But there was one guy, who doesn't really jump much, telling him he could jump a Stiletto. So... 3 weeks later, a friend from Byron says he doesn't want to know that young jumper any more and he will not get close to him. He wasn't at Byron any more and neither was the other guy.. Seems my good friend had gone to a nearby dropzone and seen the young jumper was getting canopy coaching on a Crossfire 119 from the guy who rarely jumps himself.. I am sorry that kid felt it was in his interest to switch dzs and I really hope he is going to be okay but I am proud of the Byron peeps. We have our share of hi-performance canopy pilots but our staff and the up-jumper population does what I think is a very good job of teaching a safe progression. I am also sorry that my good friend is no longer willing to extend his friendship to someone because of his poor choices.. I kind of agreed with him about saving his emotions for people that listened better. Then I read your thread and Stearman gets on here and says he listened.. Makes all that talking and sharing worth it.. I'll sit down with the next young jumper that walks in the door.. and the next.. and the next.. and so on.. cuz ya never know when you'll get through.. Just one is worth it..

Sorry for messing with you a little with this thread Iwan.. You know me.. I HAD to.. Anyway, I know your heart is ALWAYS in the right place and you would never do the silly things I described.. You'll make a great instructor.. I am already very proud to be working next to you at Byron.

Thanks JP.. See, Iwan? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

There ya go, Iwan.. giving an orgasm to a woman.. will that be beer for ya? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Damn, Iwan.. You must be a Democrat the way you are changing your tune so quickly.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

I'm sorry, Iwan, but I just thought you should see that there are good reasons to become a TM and the hot chickie thing is just not good enough to put other people's lives in your hands.. I am sure the poll will show that most people will agree with me.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

I'll give you a holla the weekend I do my practice jumps.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Okay.. so it looks like Deuce, Deathscooter and I are going to go ahead and start hauling meat at Byron.. I am unaware of JP's reasons but I know I am enjoying shooting video and would like to be even more participatory in the dropzone from a staffing perspective.. I truly enjoy the interaction with the first-timers and teaching them a little about the sport.. After talking with Iwan about his reasons, I thought we should do a poll about which reasons are the best.. I tried to mix them up so you can't tell whose are whose.. Which reasons do you think are good solid reasons to become a tandem master? chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Use protection so you don't get a rash.... hmmmm... I think the Sunny one speaks from experience.. She's got experience with the Byron love, and that gave her a rash.... She said she thinks that was from GFD.. mmmmm... gurl-lovin.. mmmm... chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Use protection so you don't get a rash.... hmmmm... I think the Sunny one speaks from experience.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

The Clam is all about the love... Iwan We all know you are hetero, Iwan.. You don't need to profess your love of the bearded clam on here.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Done.. I just left him a vm telling him it is very uncool and he will probably hear from a bunch of us.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Vibes to you Randy... you'll be packing again in no time.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures

Congrat again, JP.. and thanks for the beer.. Ya know.. watching those videos, I can't help but think about all the carnage we have created together and how it's karma that we should be flying around trying to fix stuff.. Wish me luck in August. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures