180plus

Blue Skies All! I wanted to give you an update on what happened (in case don't know the whole story) and on my current condition: Incident: Friday April 8th, I made a jump at Skydive The Farm and had the intention of setting up for a 270 over the pond next to the hangar. I've swooped the hell out of this pond in the past, and probably had some false confidence in my continuing to take this landing area. I have 730 jumps and only less than 100 on the 99 Crossfire I was jumping at the time. In addition to listening to Dave Hebert who told me not to land there that day, I should have had more respect for the risk I was introducing by taking that pond. Anyway, I was too low over the pond to initiate a 270, so I made a small turn with hopes of coming straight in in front of the hangar. However, there was were vehicles parked across where I was headed, and with virtually no time to react (you can see me panicing and kicking my legs on the video), I stabbed the right toggle, which turned my canopy around 180 degrees and put me in a virtually vertical dive from above the treetops. I made no attempt to recover from the dive - it's possible I blacked out or just froze up more likely. The canopy impacted at virtually the same time as my body at probably 50 miles/hour or greater. I was instantly knocked unconscious face down in the pond. Guardian angels were there and fetched me from the pond within a couple minutes and I took my first breath after being laid down next to the water. I was life-flighted to Floyd Medical Center in Rome, GA in a coma with several broken bones and a closed head injury. I came out of the coma after about 8 hours, but don't remember the next 4 days whatsoever. STATUS: I'm doing amazingly well given the trauma my body sustained. I spent 5 weeks in therapy at Shepperd Pathways (the day program for out-patients of Shepperd Center) and it was just a huge factor in getting through everything. I'm starting back to work full-time tomorrow and I have been driving again for the past week and a half. The broken bones have healed nicely and I'm just left with some left-side nerve damage that is peripheral and will heal in due time. Thanks to everyone who supported me and came to visit me in the hospital. You have no idea how important that is in early recovery from something like this. I love you all! Jerry's back baby! :-)

NICE ONE! Can't wait to see all my peeps at Skydive The Farm this weekend and jump my arse off. In the meantime, if you want to get excited about all the great action that's already taken place at The Farm, check out this video I put together of Skydive The Farm swoop action: http://www.180plus.com/skydiving/video/swoops/ blue 111s Jerry

NICE ONE! Can't wait to see all my peeps at Skydive The Farm this weekend and jump my arse off. In the meantime, if you want to get excited about all the great action that's already taken place at The Farm, check out this video I put together of Skydive The Farm swoop action: http://www.180plus.com/skydiving/video/swoops/ Note to Dial-up users: This may be too large for you to view...join the high speed revolution -- you're missing out! blue 111s Jerry

To the Princess of the Pond, "Don't think for once you've seen the last of me!" To all the peeps that came out to Skydive The Farm this weekend - awesome jumps and great time Saturday night! I added photos to the gallery from this weekend, courtesy of sky chic Michelle Simpson: http://www.180plus.com/gallery/TheFarm Dave, thanks for the swoop coaching - I'll be back for more. Greg, thanks for the food and again for providing a skydiving paradise for the rest of us!! til next time...blue 1111s Jerry

SkydiveTheFarm.com is online! http://www.skydivethefarm.com/ wahoo! see you all this weekend...

CapWeathersby dbattman MochaSkyChick Marks hans freeflypimp jumpoutnow Kelel01 (at least one day) seamanz7 ianmdrennan (and wifey poo katie) J-Rock (aka Johnny Disco Balls) Jerry (aka DJ Mistereo) Michelle Michelle and I (Jerry) will be there ALL weekend. Skydive The Farm rocks - I've made my first FEW pond swoops there now and it's become an obsession. The people and scenery at The Farm are the coolest you will find anywhere -- can't wait to see all you peeps there this weekend. BTW - Mark Shimell and I are spinning and we have a band Saturday night. Rock and/or Roll!! Jerry

Hey Spence and all! Michelle and I will both be at The Farm the 1st weekend in May. Cannot wait - it's gonna be awesome!!

I made my first visit to The Farm on Sunday. I can't say enough about how cool the vibe and the surroundings are. I have been looking for this type of atmosphere for a while now. the natural swoop ponds are really sweet. All the power lines running to the facilities are underground. No power lines, no sounds other than nature and some cool tunes, not a building in site from the dz - it's beautiful. Once the facilities are complete, this will be hands-down the coolest drop zone in Georgia and maybe anywhere in the country. btw - they made their 1st back-2-back load on Sunday, so I think Hans owes beer Greg - thanks for the yummy wings and pork chops - you're the man! I started a photo gallery on my site for The Farm. Email me pics to jerry@180plus.com if you want them posted: http://www.180plus.com/gallery/TheFarm/ peace J