What happened to beer tradition?

[Darktreader 0]

For the longest time before becoming a skydiver I was weened on the traditions of was expected of me as I progressed. The most common one was the BEER tradition.

I have come to understand that certain accomplishments and certain screw-ups monument this joyish tribute that must be paid.

This beer that is to be paid from what I understood was created to celebrate these moments and to be shared amongst others and handed out as each other shared and reflected the achievements/screw-ups.

The beer tradition has fallen far from what it should be.

In the year I have been jumping I have yet to see this properly done.

Lets bring back the true tradition...I am tired of hearing someone yell you owe beer for this or that...you know why people owe it and stead of showing up with it later and annoucing it. Because its lost it meaning...When I make my firsts I wanna show up with beer and hand out my beer and have people ask me what happend...am I the only one that has noticed this?

"Before we waste time talking and getting to know each other, let's just have sex once and see if we're compatible"

[DangerRoo 0]

It is a lot of fun, and I agree with you as to how it should be.

I'm sure its not like that every where but so far at my DZ. I 've seen Beer owed and has been paid. I had a great night on my 1st solo, AND it was my 1st 4 way!! We all had lots of fun and beer that night.

**** Thanks again guys****

(I.C.D#2 VP)
""I'm good with my purple penis straw" ~sky mama

[bluiev 0]

After AFF, me and my friend followed, as best we could, the beer traditions in the DZ we go to.

When I was actively jumping (it's almost been a year since my last jump ), it felt like we were the only ones bringing beer after sunset (I could be wrong). And even then, there were only a few people who would drop by.

We were still thankful for those who did, especially for the instructors that we didnt really know how to thank above and beyond the regular "thanks". But I think the fondest memory of the tradition for my so far short skydiving life is when we were about to get our A license. Did our last dive, brought beer and we had a group of Air Trash drop by. Now those are some crazy, old farts !

Anyway, from a newbie's experience, it did feel a little saddening at times hearing about the beer tradition from all the stories here, and when we got to bring some, we only had a handful to show up or stay to talk to us. And for those that did, you made some lasting impressions that me and my friend still talk about today
-blu

[aresye 0]

One thing I loved about Emerald Coast, was how they stuck to the beer tradition very well. I was moved from Florida to San Diego though, and now I jump up at Elsinore. Elsinore keeps the beer tradition well, at least among the DZ regulars. The few times I've jumped at San Diego though, I notice I'm usually the only one yelling, "beer," for crazy things that happen occasionally. Almost everybody's gone in the evening, including the regulars. The 4 or so weeks I've been jumping there, I've seen one case brought out during sunset, and I don't even think it was owed.

Although, while some DZs don't keep to the beer tradition, I must say it's probably better than a DZ that makes you owe beer for EVERYTHING!

Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours.

[Squeak 17]

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I wanna show up with beer and hand out my beer and have people ask me what happend...am I the only one that has noticed this?

I had a conversation with people at the DZ last weekend about this, and about how it's meant to help introduce new jumpers to the rest of the DZ.
I believe if you take beer from a carton make the effort to find out who bought it, and why. then go up to them and say thanks, and congrats or well done or something. and if you do not know them introduce yourself.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[CSpenceFLY 1]

For the most part it is because of all the people that never payup, those that never buy their own beer and because of thoses that live at the DZ and empty the beer fridge during the week while no one else is around.

[Thanatos340 1]

This from the Guy that had the nerve to go get a Suitcase (24 CANS of BUDLIGHT) and try to pass that off as payment for Crossing the beerline and landing in the pond??

Beer Rule #1 - Bottles.
Beer Rule #2 - Green Bottles or Equivelent.

Hint.. If you want people to celebrate you accomplishemnts and/or screwup with you.. Buy good beer (or atleast Drinkable Beer).

[Squeak 17]

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Hint.. If you want people to celebrate you accomplishemnts and/or screwup with you.. Buy good beer (or atleast Drinkable Beer).

Another reason why the tradition is dying, people impose conditions on what you should or should not supply.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[jcd11235 0]

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Beer Rule #1 - Bottles.
Beer Rule #2 - Green Bottles or Equivelent.

Hint.. If you want people to celebrate you accomplishemnts and/or screwup with you.. Buy good beer (or atleast Drinkable Beer).

Beer Rule #3 - a keg of Guinness is an acceptable substitute for a case of lesser beer

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[dreaming13000 1]

the best beer in the world is free beer

"A man only gets in life what he is believing for, nothing more and nothing less" Kenneth Hagen

[Darktreader 0]

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I had a great night on my 1st solo, AND it was my 1st 4 way!!
**** Thanks again guys****

wow didnt think you where "that" kinda girl...

after my first "solo" it took years to find a girl willing much less 4 willing at the same time

"Before we waste time talking and getting to know each other, let's just have sex once and see if we're compatible"

[NWFlyer 2]

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after my first "solo" it took years to find a girl willing much less 4 willing at the same time

I was watching when she went up for her first four-way. It was two hot chicks ... and two dudes. Sorry to ruin the fantasy.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[popsjumper 2]

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For the most part it is because of all the people that never payup, those that never buy their own beer and because of thoses that live at the DZ and empty the beer fridge during the week while no one else is around.

We did get him back...twice. By emptying his fridge one time and his "desk" area the next and returning it all to the DZ beer fridge. Yes, he's an asshole.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[popsjumper 2]

AND another thing....when people start making up bogus rules. I mean WTF...there's Beer Rules, not your own greedy-assed dream trying to squeeze people.

And that idea that 1000 jumps exempts you from it all...if that's so, then don't drink the fucking beer that the youngsters bring in for the skydivers. You skygods can go get your own fucking beer.

Beer Rules:
http://www.skydiving.org.vt.edu/goodstuff/beer.htm

Oh, hell...I re-read them and I owe 2 cases.
Off to the store.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Thanatos340 1]

And lets not forget the Beer Commandments as given to us from a great burning weed on some mountain top somewhere:

1. Always buy your beer.
2. thou shalt not bear false witness about buying your beer.
3. Thou shalt buy only green bottles **
4. Thou shalt not make beer from rice.
5. Thou shalt covet thy neighbors beer
6. Thou shalt hold no drinks above beer.
7. Thou shalt not lead students astray from buying their beer.

** Or other equally high-quality beer in other-colored bottles.

Note: Beer Commandments Stolen from a post made by his fluffyness here.

[denete 3]

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Beer Rule #1 - Bottles.
Beer Rule #2 - Green Bottles or Equivelent.

Hint.. If you want people to celebrate you accomplishemnts and/or screwup with you.. Buy good beer (or atleast Drinkable Beer).

Dude, I've got brown bottles...but I can make them green if you give me a few minutes.

SCR #14809

"our attitude is the thing most capable of keeping us safe"
(look, grab, look, grab, peel, punch, punch, arch)

[jumpoutnow 0]

I drink beer out of brown bottles and aluminum cans. And, I bring the Super Otter to the table.
Am I worthy?

People are crazy. Cuz there's more of 'em.

[diablopilot 2]

It's following the "Buy your rigger a bottle" tradition right out the hanger door........

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[denete 3]

I brought beer my first night at the dropzone. I actually had more time sitting around with folks who enjoyed my beer and told me stories that first night than most nights since (until 5 AM no less).

I've brought beer several times, and yes I owed beer. But I'm starting to figure out that it's a bogus "tradition". You might wonder why I stay at the dz on Saturday night, but don't jump on Sunday. It's because I drank all of my beer while everybody else sat on their asses in their trailers. Woo-hoo...we're skydivers...in our air-conditioned trailers...with the people we choose to hang with. I've sat on couches and drank 12 of my own, wondering if this "dropzone vibe" was real or just folklore.

Whatever man.

There's nothing like seeing a punk packer grab 4 of your beers out of the "student beer fridge", stuff two in his pockets, and have two in his hands while he talks to his girlfriend then splits. Thanks dude. Your little brother is just like you, except that he doesn't steal the beer (he was appreciative of the YooHoo that I gave him though).

I know that I don't seem really "personable" on the outside (apparently it has something to do with the way I look...seriously), but I'm just a guy that likes to have fun and drink myself to bed with some good friends. I asked Loud Dan on the way to altitude once, "Do I seem like an uptight person"? He said, "you seem like somebody that's really goal focused." I guess that was a nice way to put it. I've even gotten to the point that I'll hang out around Sunman just to see what kind of outrageous shit will come out of his mouth next. Most of the people at the dz don't want to talk about skydiving...unless it's to show you how much they know (setting the alpha order). They mostly just want to gather "their posse", and head off to their private parties and shut their trailer doors. The other people? Well, the other people are real skydivers.

I guess I was born about 20 years too late.

I'll have a beer with you any time James.

SCR #14809

"our attitude is the thing most capable of keeping us safe"
(look, grab, look, grab, peel, punch, punch, arch)

[CSpenceFLY 1]

Yep, things have changed alot in this sport.

[millertime24 8]

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Beer Rule #1 - Bottles.
Beer Rule #2 - Green Bottles or Equivelent.

Hint.. If you want people to celebrate you accomplishemnts and/or screwup with you.. Buy good beer (or atleast Drinkable Beer).

Beer Rule #3 - a keg of Guinness is an acceptable substitute for a case of lesser beer

I dissagree. When I'm buying beer its going to be what I choose. If you dont like what I buy then just dont drink it, but never bitch about free beer.

Hell, part of the reason I quit buying beer is because people are always saying "why do you get that swill beer shit?". After enough comments like that Ill just take the 25 bucks I would have spent on beer and buy another jump or pay a coach to go up with me or something.

Muff #5048

[Baksteen 84]

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Most of the people at the dz don't want to talk about skydiving...unless it's to show you how much they know (setting the alpha order). They mostly just want to gather "their posse", and head off to their private parties and shut their trailer doors.

I ask you, do you MISS these people? Let them run off and hang with the real skydivers.

At my DZ there is some friendly suckering newbies into buying beer, but it never gets out of hand. Besides, said newbs will have their own chance once the next batch of students completes their FJC.
For the most part though, there is enough people sitting around and buying each other rounds that one might not even notice that the current round is 'First' beer.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[micduran 0]

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I drink beer out of brown bottles and aluminum cans. And, I bring the Super Otter to the table.
Am I worthy?

YES you are.

Be patient with the faults of others; they have to be patient with yours.

[simplyputsi 0]

What!!?? That is crazy talk!! You are talking crazy.

Skymama's #2 stalker -

[froglady 0]

Still buy beer when I'm due, 12 pack of yummy Miller Lite for me and something else for friends that thinks that's yucky. Some how any of my leftover brown bottles are gone by morning.

My DZ keeps a running beer board and has a beer officer to make sure the fridges are stocked. Seems to work.