chuckakers

Not to pick on SDC's record, but you're assumption of the jumps to deaths ratio there is wrong. Try comparing SDC's ratio to some other "high volume" DZ's like Skydive Arizona (arguably the busiest DZ in the world), Perris, Deland, Elsinore, etc, etc, etc. I have no problem with SDC - just trying to stay with the facts. Chuck

[replyThe people getting killed during low panic turns are not the hookturners - they know how their canopy reacts to a low turn. Check your stats Bill. While I agree that some people get hurt because they were not prepared to make a "bailout" type turn (obstacle avoidance, etc.), you are waaaaay off to say that the people getting hurt by low turns are not hookturners. Intentional low turns by hookturners account for a big percentage of low turn accidents. Not good hookturners mind you, but hookturners all the same. Chuck hookin' hard and swoopin' long

The board in question can not require an airport user to provide insurance that is not available, and may not restrict airport use on such grounds. They may require "like kind" insurance - meaning if they make the flight school or FBO carry general liability insurance then they can make the skydiving entity do the same. This "slip and fall" policy is readily available through a variety of sources and costs less than $1500 per year in most cases. Additionally, the USPA 3rd party coverage insures against damage caused by a jumper, so that should not be a good arguement from the board. It sounds like what they are trying to make the DZ obtain is liability insurance to cover getting sued by an injured jumper. If that is the case, the DZ has a very strong arguement since no such insurance exists. An intricate knowledge of and ability to recite the federal regs on this issue can make a HUGE difference in the outcome. The local FSDO can guide you through the regs if needed. CA

Nah, that would be "frap" - as is "frap hat". I thought Biff was part of the Harvard skydiving team. "O.K. Biff, you and Muffy build the base so Edmond and Penelope can dock".

Although it's no longer open, Skydive USA (Houston area) was probably one of THE most after hours DZ's in the history of the sport. I remember a visiting jumper saw some guys carrying in the party supplies one evening and asked what special event we were getting ready for. "Sunset" I said. If you want to revisit the Skydive USA party experience, might I suggest you come to the SUSA Reunion Boogie, June 24 - 27 at Skydive Spaceland! We are planning an outrageous party Saturday night! Chuck Akers former DZO Skydive USA a.k.a. "the porn dz"

...gear for demos. Smoke brackets, streamers, pyro rigging, etc.? Chuck

My wife threw out my copy of skydiving that had the superbowl jump article in it. I'm looking for the organizers of that jump. Contact info apprecited! Chuck Akers Houston, TX 832-630-1213 Thanks!

thanks bro BTW - Hope to see you at the SUSA Reunion!

Hello jumpnuts, My lovely wife threw out my copy of skydiving that had the story on the superbowl jumpers. Can anyone tell me who organized that jump? I want to contact them as well, so any contact info is certainly appreciated. Thanks Chuck

So exactly how did you come up with the subject line "skydiving gatherings"? Have you been "gathering" with the Flynnster?

No - the 24 - 27 are the correct dates. Be sure to be there Thursday and Friday (24-25) for the ladies-ways!!

That's funny, the Pope saw it and replied simply "It is as it was". Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Catholic. But from what I know of the Pontif, he knows his stuff. But now that I think of it, you didn't offer any names of your "biblical scholars and historians" did you? Chuck

Russell, are you going weird on us...I mean...weirder?

You are invited to participate in the "Ladies-Ways" June 24 - 25, kicking off the Skydive USA Reunion Boogie at Skydive Spaceland June 24 - 27. This is also a tryout & warm-up for the ladies TEXAS state RW record 2 weeks later during "Skyfest", also at Skydive Spaceland. It's all part of the SUSA Reunion Boogie weekend - not to be missed by anyone!! Chuck & Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 or more info

Dear Fellow Skydivers, I am writing today with very exciting news. THE SUSA REUNION BOOGIE IS ON!!! The date is set for June 24 – 27 at Skydive Spaceland. Yes, that’s four solid days of boogieing SUSA style! Talk of a reunion began almost immediately after Delia, the kids, and I closed Skydive USA in 2001 and left the DZ business. To be honest, I think everyone really just wanted to know when the next killer SUSA party would be. We did develop quite a reputation for our little gatherings, and this one should get completely unreasonable since I don’t have to clean the place or answer to the Mayor. But seriously, Skydive USA was a very special drop zone. The jumpers embraced the true spirit of our sport – the connection of souls and the sharing of incredible experiences with the coolest people on the planet. That seamed to be at the core of everything we did, as it will be at the reunion. Please consider this your personal invitation to attend an event to be remembered. Here’s the scoop………. Thursday and Friday – Organized REUNION JUMPS!!!!! Let’s commemorate SUSA by getting old friends together for some low key, high fun-factor jumps with an emphasis on our own brand of nostalgia. Here’s a tip: schedule off work NOW!!!!!!!! Thursday evening – dinner out, location T.B.A. Thursday and Friday – LADIES-WAYS – what better way to get everyone to the DZ early than to get the ladies to the DZ early? We’ll supply the organizing!! These jumps are also a warm-up/try-out for those wanting to participate in the ladies state record 2 weeks later at Spaceland during Skyfest!! Now that I think about it, we may set a record ourselves! Friday evening – cocktail party and live acoustic music from Stacy Steele and company…bring a bottle to stock your personal bar. Cocktail mixers and beer provided. Saturday and Sunday – organized RW, CRW, and Freefly jumps all weekend!!! We’re also working on a balloon and helicopter, so watch for more information on that. Saturday night – OK, this is gonna ROCK. The climax of the weekend – Saturday at sunset. Join us for the PARTY – the BEACH PARTY – the Hawaiian BEACH PARTY!!!! OK, ok, a SUSA PARTY!!! LIVE MUSIC, KEGS, JELLO-SHOTS, REVEREND RICK’S BODY SHOT CONFESSIONAL, WORLD RECORD “WHARTON WAVE” ATTEMPTS, AND of course THE BOOZE LUGE!! IT’S A LUAU so bring your WORST HAWAIIAN SHIRT TO WIN PRIZES!!! Sunday A.M. – recovery breakfast, coffee and breakfast munchies for everyone walking, crawling, or otherwise able to move Sunday – more organized jumps and the “Survivors Party” near sunset. Location TBA??????? We hope you’ll make plans to be there for our first reunion boogie. And don’t think this event is only for old SUSA jumpers. Come share the experience. By the way, you can help make this event a success by forwarding this message to your skydiving friends. THANKS!! Chuck and Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 for more info

This is technically a post for an event, but it's also an announcement of interest to all jumpers. We are trying to spread the word of our reunion event and all help is appreciated. Like most DZ's, we have old friends spread all over the place, so we could use the help.

Hmm, would that includes THESE places? Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan

You are invited to participate in the "Ladies-Ways" June 24 - 25, kicking off the Skydive USA Reunion Boogie at Skydive Spaceland June 24 - 27. This is also a tryout & warm-up for the ladies TEXAS state RW record 2 weeks later during "Skyfest", also at Skydive Spaceland. It's all part of the SUSA Reunion Boogie weekend - not to be missed by anyone!! Chuck & Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 or more info

Dear Fellow Skydivers, I am writing today with very exciting news. THE SUSA REUNION BOOGIE IS ON!!! The date is set for June 24 – 27 at Skydive Spaceland. Yes, that’s four solid days of boogieing SUSA style! Talk of a reunion began almost immediately after Delia, the kids, and I closed Skydive USA in 2001 and left the DZ business. To be honest, I think everyone really just wanted to know when the next killer SUSA party would be. We did develop quite a reputation for our little gatherings, and this one should get completely unreasonable since I don’t have to clean the place or answer to the Mayor. But seriously, Skydive USA was a very special drop zone because the jumpers embraced what we believe is the true spirit of our sport – the connection of hearts and souls and the sharing of incredible experiences together. SUSA was as much about hangin’ with the coolest people on the planet as it was about anything else. This boogie is about that spirit. Here’s the scoop………. Thursday and Friday – Organized REUNION JUMPS!!!!! Let’s commemorate SUSA by getting old friends together for some low key, high fun-factor jumps with an emphasis on our own brand of nostalgia. Here’s a tip: schedule off work NOW!!!!!!!! Thursday and Friday – LADIES-WAYS – what better way to get everyone out to the DZ early than to host the most beautiful among us? Given the fact that the ladies at SUSA were legendary for their aerial skills and party friendly attitudes, the Ladies-Ways should be fun in the air and…well…on the ground too. These jumps are also a warm-up/try-out for those wanting to participate in the ladies state record 2 weeks later at Spaceland during Skyfest!! Friday evening – cocktail party and live acoustic music from Stacy Steele and Company…bring a bottle to stock your personal bar. Cocktail mixers provided. Saturday and Sunday – organized RW, CRW, and Freefly jumps all weekend!!! We’re also working on a balloon and helicopter, so watch for more information on that. Saturday night – OK, this is gonna ROCK. The climax of the weekend – Saturday at sunset. Join us for the PARTY – the BEACH PARTY – the Hawaiian BEACH PARTY!!!! Live music from The SUSA REUNION PLAYERS – heavy on the ROCK and BEACH ROCK!! IT’S A LUAU so bring your WORST HAWAIIAN SHIRT TO WIN PRIZES!!! Sunday – recovery breakfast, coffee and breakfast munchies for everyone walking, crawling, or otherwise moving Sunday – more organized jumps and the Survivors Party – near sunset. Location TBA??????? OK Gang – this event is all about US!! We’ve been hoping this would happen for a long time, so let’s go!! Many details are yet to be worked out, but like everything we did at SUSA, it’ll all work out!! By the way, this thing is gonna be a work of US. Help us by forwarding this post/message/whatever to your skydiving friends. THANKS!! We hope to see evreyone there!! Chuck and Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 for more info

Dear Fellow Skydivers, I am writing today with very exciting news. THE SUSA REUNION BOOGIE IS ON!!! The date is set for June 24 – 27 at Skydive Spaceland. Yes, that’s four solid days of boogieing SUSA style! Talk of a reunion began almost immediately after Delia, the kids, and I closed Skydive USA in 2001 and left the DZ business. To be honest, I think everyone really just wanted to know when the next killer SUSA party would be. We did develop quite a reputation for our little gatherings, and this one should get completely unreasonable since I don’t have to clean the place or answer to the Mayor. But seriously, Skydive USA was a very special drop zone because the jumpers embraced what we believe is the true spirit of our sport – the connection of hearts and souls and the sharing of incredible experiences together. SUSA was as much about hangin’ with the coolest people on the planet as it was about anything else. This boogie is about that spirit. Here’s the scoop………. Thursday and Friday – Organized REUNION JUMPS!!!!! Let’s commemorate SUSA by getting old friends together for some low key, high fun-factor jumps with an emphasis on our own brand of nostalgia. Here’s a tip: schedule off work NOW!!!!!!!! Thursday and Friday – LADIES-WAYS – what better way to get everyone out to the DZ early than to host the most beautiful among us? Given the fact that the ladies at SUSA were legendary for their aerial skills and party friendly attitudes, the Ladies-Ways should be fun in the air and…well…on the ground too. These jumps are also a warm-up/try-out for those wanting to participate in the ladies state record 2 weeks later at Spaceland during Skyfest!! Friday evening – cocktail party and live acoustic music from Stacy Steele and Company…bring a bottle to stock your personal bar. Cocktail mixers provided. Saturday and Sunday – organized RW, CRW, and Freefly jumps all weekend!!! We’re also working on a balloon and helicopter, so watch for more information on that. Saturday night – OK, this is gonna ROCK. The climax of the weekend – Saturday at sunset. Join us for the PARTY – the BEACH PARTY – the Hawaiian BEACH PARTY!!!! Live music from The SUSA REUNION PLAYERS – heavy on the ROCK and BEACH ROCK!! IT’S A LUAU so bring your WORST HAWAIIAN SHIRT TO WIN PRIZES!!! Sunday – recovery breakfast, coffee and breakfast munchies for everyone walking, crawling, or otherwise moving Sunday – more organized jumps and the Survivors Party – near sunset. Location TBA??????? OK Gang – this event is all about US!! We’ve been hoping this would happen for a long time, so let’s go!! Many details are yet to be worked out, but like everything we did at SUSA, it’ll all work out!! By the way, this thing is gonna be a work of US. Help us by forwarding this post/message/whatever to your skydiving friends. THANKS!! We hope to see evreyone there!! Chuck and Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 for more info

Dear Fellow Skydivers, I am writing today with very exciting news. THE SUSA REUNION BOOGIE IS ON!!! The date is set for June 24 – 27 at Skydive Spaceland. Yes, that’s four solid days of boogieing SUSA style! Talk of a reunion began almost immediately after Delia, the kids, and I closed Skydive USA in 2001 and left the DZ business. To be honest, I think everyone really just wanted to know when the next killer SUSA party would be. We did develop quite a reputation for our little gatherings, and this one should get completely unreasonable since I don’t have to clean the place or answer to the Mayor. But seriously, Skydive USA was a very special drop zone because the jumpers embraced what we believe is the true spirit of our sport – the connection of hearts and souls and the sharing of incredible experiences together. SUSA was as much about hangin’ with the coolest people on the planet as it was about anything else. This boogie is about that spirit. Here’s the scoop………. Thursday and Friday – Organized REUNION JUMPS!!!!! Let’s commemorate SUSA by getting old friends together for some low key, high fun-factor jumps with an emphasis on our own brand of nostalgia. Here’s a tip: schedule off work NOW!!!!!!!! Thursday and Friday – LADIES-WAYS – what better way to get everyone out to the DZ early than to host the most beautiful among us? Given the fact that the ladies at SUSA were legendary for their aerial skills and party friendly attitudes, the Ladies-Ways should be fun in the air and…well…on the ground too. These jumps are also a warm-up/try-out for those wanting to participate in the ladies state record 2 weeks later at Spaceland during Skyfest!! Friday evening – cocktail party and live acoustic music from Stacy Steele and Company…bring a bottle to stock your personal bar. Cocktail mixers provided. Saturday and Sunday – organized RW, CRW, and Freefly jumps all weekend!!! We’re also working on a balloon and helicopter, so watch for more information on that. Saturday night – OK, this is gonna ROCK. The climax of the weekend – Saturday at sunset. Join us for the PARTY – the BEACH PARTY – the Hawaiian BEACH PARTY!!!! Live music from The SUSA REUNION PLAYERS – heavy on the ROCK and BEACH ROCK!! IT’S A LUAU so bring your WORST HAWAIIAN SHIRT TO WIN PRIZES!!! Sunday – recovery breakfast, coffee and breakfast munchies for everyone walking, crawling, or otherwise moving Sunday – more organized jumps and the Survivors Party – near sunset. Location TBA??????? OK Gang – this event is all about US!! We’ve been hoping this would happen for a long time, so let’s go!! Many details are yet to be worked out, but like everything we did at SUSA, it’ll all work out!! By the way, this thing is gonna be a work of US. Help us by forwarding this post/message/whatever to your skydiving friends. THANKS!! We hope to see evreyone there!! Chuck and Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 for more info

Well said brother John. C-

you're right - it would be much funnier if he put the hat on the floor and danced on both sides of it! BWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAAHA!! "geez i crack myself up" ...goose

"Oops, i forgot to actually read. He didn't say VP. Oh...My...God, I look so totally stupid right now." Amazon

gotta give 'im credit for thinkin' ahead