weegegirl

I work manifest to pay for my jumps. Haven't payed for a jump in a while.

The hardest thing for me about learning to skydive, was overcoming my fear of heights - and learning to SPOT. Damn, the first time I had to really look down before getting out of the plane, I nearly fainted. But I hung in there - and I pushed myself - until finally, one day, I looked down and felt fine. Now I love to be the spotter, and I don't mind heights at all.

>>>> I surrender. If you would like to continue discussing your thoughts on this - I will not try to stop you. But, I am walking away from this thread. With me, I am taking... • A suggestion to use BASE specific gear. FYI, I was already looking into the purchase of some ever since I took that first leap off the bridge. • Some tips on accuracy training with my new BASE gear before jumping off any serious obstacles. • A suggestion to wait another hundred or so jumps before trying anything more difficult than the bridge. • A note to self - not to be AS defensive as I was here. • A second note to self - not to share any experiences that I actually enjoyed - unless I want to have them torn to shreds by big heads. On that note, I have the utmost respect for anyone that skydives or BASE jumps. We immediately have something very strong in common - a passion to push ourselves to the outer limits. I appreciate beyond words the willingness of those more experienced to offer their skills and knowledge to those who are trying to learn. I hope someday I can come face to face with some of you and we can laugh, make a jump, and have a beer. Until that day, I wish everyone safe and happy jumps. Be yourself. Be wild. Be free. Fly. CYA!

First of all, I was being sarcastic - obviously - when I said that it was a formulated sport. I never claimed to be a "BASE jumper" or to be ready to jump off of anything other than the bridge. I realize that I am not NEARLY experienced enough to do some of the crazy ass things you guys do.... and I'm not sure I'll ever WANT to be. This forum asked for first jump experiences, and I gave mine. Maybe mine wasn't as "cool" as other BASE jumps, because it was simply off the bridge. I'll tell you what - it was the coolest jump I ever did. Scared the shit out of me - felt wonderful. I wasn't claiming to know EVERYTHING I need to know for the sport. What happened here, was that a bunch of people with a ton of experience - and rightfully big heads - jumped on me for doing things that they thought were wrong. They took this breath taking, wonderful experience that I had and belittled it and made me feel like a piece of shit for having done it in the first place. I took it as an insult. I thought it was patronizing. I've asked - quite a bit ago - that this topic be brought back to its origin. I just want everybody to drop it and get off my back. I'm not saying that I'm right or wrong here - I just have my own damn opinion. I think this has gone on FAR enough. Everybody has taken their jabs at me. Everybody has had the opportunity to feel big and important and to bully the new kid around. Believe it or not, I'm not a stupid person. I wouldn't do anything that I wasn't prepared for. I'm not going to go make a jump that I'm not ready for. I wish people would give me just a little credit here. Just a little. Thank you everybody for the helpful tips that were buried in all of this bullshit. Have a nice day. BY THE WAY.... this was not directed toward Geronimo.... he was just the one I happened to hit reply to.

You know what, that right there is the problem. I respect Tom and everybody else's opinions - they do have FAR more knowledge and experience than I do - there is no comparison. However, I have met plenty of nice people in the sport who aren't ruthless and don't feel the need to insult and discourage newbies. I like the skin I have. I'm really not all that sensitive - trust me - I'm the youngest of nine. I can take it and I sure do dish it out. But sometimes people need to think before they talk. I don't see the point in unnecessary rudeness. I also want to take this time to thank all the people who sent me PMs in support of me sticking up for myself. I really really want feedback and constructive criticism. But I won't sit here and be called stupid for going through the learning process. On that note, why don't we bring this forum back to its original purpose. That's all I wanted to do was answer the damn forum. Now it's turned into a bad episode of Jerry Springer. Blue skies.

Chris - Thanks for pointing this out. I haven't had a cutaway yet, but when I do, this will be great knowledge to have. I never really thought about it that way before. That should be mentioned in FJC. -Liz

Amen.

Listen, I wanted to reply to everyone who had judged me so quickly. I love constructive criticism. That's what helps us all to learn in this sport. I welcome it with open arms. But so many people "attacked" me for my posting. I am not over-sensitive - at least I don't feel like I'm being so. But you have to admit that some of the comments made were completly out of line. (chimpanzees doing BASE jumps and comparisons to tandems). I applogize if you feel you didn't deserve to be included in that statement. I just felt that some people were outright rude to me. This is a rare happening, so maybe I didn't handle it quite well. Again, I appologize if you feel like you didn't deserve that. Some people did. Be nice. Life is short.

Yeah, I've got it coming. Had a HUGE weekend this weekend: 3 jumps Saturday 9 jumps Sunday C license achieved Hit one hour of freefall time and my 100th jump yesterday. #100 - 4way headDown exit from a cesna 182 at 5,500. The idea - get out, get scared, wait one more second, and get away. Had some beers on the ground - and was forewarned on the pie. They said they'll get me when I'm least expecting it. So...... WHOOOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!

12 jumps this weekend. 3 Saturday and 9 yesterday. I'm physically and mentally drained - in a good way.

To Skreamer, Skypuppy, TomAiello, and 3fLiEr; I got home from a busy weekend packed full of tasty skydives last night, and found all of your wonderful replies to my post on my first BASE experience. What joy I felt reading about how you guys could teach Chimpanzees to jump off of the bridge, and the wonderful comparison you made between a bridge day jump and a tandem. What a bunch of lovely BASE gods you all are. I was only trying to share MY experience with the forum, which is what had been asked. I was not looking to be insulted or ripped apart. Apparently, if I follow a different learning path than the rest of you, I am dead wrong. Well, I’ll tell you what…. IF I go in, which God help me I don’t, but if I do… all of you please come back to this board and give me one big I TOLD YOU SO. I guess I shouldn’t trust my instincts or my S&TA or my DZO or all the other experienced jumpers I’ve been jumping with since day one. Nope. That would be bad. Instead, I should follow some formula of exactly how many jumps somebody should have before making a BASE jump, etc etc. This is such a formulated sport with all sorts of rules and regulations. How could I be so dead wrong? Basically, I’m just asking that you all give me just a BIT of a break. This is not an impulsive reply. I thought about this all night last night and all morning this morning. I’m still just totally bent out of shape that I would be so attacked. Some of you were lighter than others; Skypuppy was just plain rude. You all can have your BASE forum. Enjoy. I apologize for answering the post honestly. Sincerely, Liz Bowman, A41327, waiting for my C number, bad-bad-bad BASE jumper NOW, bring on the ridicule for writing this reply. Come on, let's hear it!

Only 87 skydives and you were happy doing your first BASE jump with a modified skydiving rig that was "basically a big piece of crap"??? I'm not knocking you or Bridge Day here, but that just seems wrong. Will I saw it jumped several times. I packed it myself. And I trust the guy I borrowed it from with my life. Plus, our DZO, S&TA, and many more experienced jumpers were there over my shoulder the entire time okaying everything I did and explaining everything to me in detail. So, in my book, it was okay. I am one of the most conservative jumpers at our dropzone. The things that most people would do without question, I'd think about for hours before hand. Seriously. I had enough confidence in the rig to jump it. And one more thing, I honestly don't see the need in having hundreds of jumps before trying a BASE jump. People were confident enough in my skills to let me jump and so was I. So, thanks for your concern, but I think I'm doing just fine. Blue skies.

My first BASE jump was at Bridge Day this year. I had 87 skydives, but all this year, nearly everyday of the week. My S&TA and DZO talked it over with me a lot - and all the experienced jumpers showed me the ropes - how to pack a BASE rig, how to hold the PC, what to do/not to do, etc. They insisted that I land in the water at the bridge - which was also my live water training. I borrowed a rig that was a modified skydiving rig. It was basically a big piece of crap, but it did the job.

I'd still do it.... but it wouldn't have all the adrenaline that I can't live without. The danger of it all really gets my blood flowing. It pushes me to work harder and focus more. In fact, that's why it is such a huge stress relief. While skydiving, it is unsafe to think about anything but what you are doing in the air.... oh, and who you'll be doing on the ground. woh! did I say that out loud?

Long distance? POOH! I did that.... it sucked. Ended up ruining the relationship I had with the man I planned to marry. I was transferred to Michigan for my job and he had to stay in Massachusetts for at least six months. We saw eachother probably every 4 to 6 weeks. I would die inside every time he left. SOOOOOOOOO... he tells me to go get a hobbie and make some friends and he'd be out soon. Well... there I was.... skydiving.... with all my friends telling me everynight... red, silver. He moved out to be with me and two weeks later we broke up. He couldn't stand me being at the dropzone 24/7 and only talking about skydiving. Guess it was a good thing.

Welcome, Chaz? Where do you jump from? How many jumps you got over 10 years? Welcome to dz.com!!!! Blue Skies! -Liz

Thanks! You rock.

...or how it's done.

Hey! Are you signed up to give Bubba a sponge bath?

So, forgive me if I sound stoop-ed, but what is the difference between an Eagle and a SCR? And how does one apply for the award?

yoga - and - toga

That's cool. No worries. To each their own. This is a friendly and relaxed forum that he popped up in. I just thought he wrote me off pretty quickly. I guess my question wasn't as important as some of the others. I'm sure he is a really nice guy - I've heard good things - but if he's trying to win votes, he should probably dedicate a bit more time than just "no." Blue skies.

Thanks, Clay. Interesting article - very cool.

No worries, I have not a clue either. Guess that means I'm stoop-ed.

Wow, that was a real interesting response. Very creative. Shows your enthusiasm for some of the fun we have in this sport. Hey, would you like to become a member of The Flying Hellfish? I could arange it for you. We'll get you a number and a card and a t-shirt and you could feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. By the way, we have nearly 400 members internationally. All - or, well, most - great skydivers that have been in the sport for longer than I've been alive. In fact, even Evel Knievel is an honorary hellfish, HF#USA1. You shouldn't write off such a great thing so quickly.