WFFC Fading??

[flyangel2 2]

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the folks running SKYFEST are a class act ,no little u's and big I's.They are interested in having a safe ,fun ,event that uses profit to help the sport grow.

Yes, they do a kick ass job of putting together an outstanding boogie. What makes you think there are "no little u's and big I's" at WFFC. I've seen the FBO of the airport out doing trash pick up with Don Kurlin's son. That shows me that it doesn't matter who you are, you got to work.

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at some time we all must ask how we can return to the sport all that the sport has given us. skyfest is the best example I have see that does just that .

Humm, I guess working as a LO at WFFC with the newbies doesn't count as giving back to the sport. Plus the number of experience jumpers I see going up with lower number jumpers and play in the sky with them.

"Hey, want to do a raft jump?"

"Never did that before. Sounds like fun."

"Come on, grab a ticket and you can join us and we'll show you how."

Gee, I hear converstations like that more then once during the WFFC.


I'm not arguing what SkyFest is all about. My point is that it's okay to make a profit when you are putting a boogie together.

Comparing WFFC to SkyFest is like comparing FF to RW.

Each boogie has it's own spirit and flavor to offer.

If people are going to bitch about a specific boogie, then just don't come and be the downer for those of us that enjoy attending the boogie.

It's not a contest.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[billvon 2,991]

>at some time we all must ask how we can return to the sport all that
>the sport has given us.

I spend a week a year at the WFFC organizing, coaching and trying to keep newer jumpers from killing themselves or someone else. At times I've had to be a bigway organizer, S+TA, AFF-I, and bad guy. Our pay? On good years we get a free T-shirt. That's one of the ways I give back.

[Snowwhite 0]

Thanks Mar, you really have always had that 'free fall' attitude.
I am amazed at the 'it's all about money' conversation. I've watched people pour 6.90 worth of beer on each other day after day! I have remarked to Don before that because we take the time to make the WFFC LOOK like a million bucks with a really CLASSY boogie, people assume we MAKE a million bucks. Gotta tell ya, you need to price a band, multiply it by 10, add about a couple hundred kegs of beer, pay for a bunch of garbage removal (twice a day! who lives in a city that does THAT!) pay a few tens of thousands of dollars worth of jet a bills, pay for LOTS of shuttles, trucks, golf carts, and WOW build a 200x200 pond and fill it with city water, provide FREE load organizers under FREE packing tents with FREE showers and pretty soon you too can be like Don Kirlin.
He has said it well when he told me ( and a couple of hundred people who were drinking free beer)
His comment was "I can tell you how to make a small fortune in skydiving,,,,,first you start with a LARGE fortune....."
I thank Don every year for inviting me on his vacation, cuz that is what he is doing by having me at the Convention. I help organize it, I help run it, I cry when the weather is bad, cuz my friends are not in the air where they belong. I rejoice when I hear "WOOO HOOO!!" being yelled at me from 600 feet!
When someone tells me something is bothering them that we can fix, you bet we will work our a$$e$
off to fix it. We love listening to the stories that people tell about "the first time I came to the WFFC" or some other such thing.
When someone tells me they can't come for whatever reason, I am sad, but when that happens usually the phone rings and it's someone new coming this year for the first time! So this will be the someone new who has a wonderful story to share with me at the end of the WFFC, when I finally can slow down enough to listen to it.
I look forward to taking my vacation every year to work in 100 degree heat for 27 days (yea, everyday I can take off goes to the WFFC, and not just me,, there are ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX volunteers)
just so I can hear a great story at the end of it all. So look me up you newbie, you, and let me know how much you enjoyed the WFFC!

skydiveTaylorville.org
freefallbeth@yahoo.com

[carbonezone 0]

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after teaching us its up to us to pass on for free what we got for free. Its about safety and fun not money.

There are several ways of giving back to the sport.
On the Skydiving side of things we give back TONS.
We are always looking to provide good, safe, and most importantly FUN skydives to ANYONE thats wants to play. Scotty and I are ALWAYS coaching the kids. The coach jumps are almost always FREE. When I say FREE I mean the student pays our slot. THAT’S FREE meaning we get ZERO moneys paid to us for that jump. Sometimes (a lot of times) we will pay for our own slot "if we have the funds to do so". Some people say "ahh if you people are just looking for a free slot". I say "FUCK OFF ASSHOLE" mind your own business.
As far as the cooking side of giving back to the sport goes…..should we just give out free food (just a scenario) ......I think not. We have made Skydiving our lively hood and it’s what pays our bills. Scotty and I don’t make a lot of money doing it either. I have calculated what our hourly pay rate based on some boogies we have done and it is LESS THAN 1/2 of minimum wage. Now you ask "then why do you do it"? BECAUSE WE LOVE TO DO IT........WE LOVE THE PEOPLE WE DO IT FOR.....WE LOVE WHEN THERE ARE 150 PEOPLE SITTING AT OUR TABLES LAUGHING, EATING AND FINALLY RUBBING THEIR FULL BELLY'S.
The bottom line is some people do depend on the $$$ that are generated by skydiving and they should NOT be frowned on because of it.
Hell why is skydiving so different from anything else that includes fun when it comes to money. Fuck man...people have fun at Disney Land.....and they are paying for it!
NOTE: this post is not directed toward any one person it’s just our gut. And we are also not in agreement with some of the costs regarding the convention but have brought those issues to the attention of the VERY HARD WORKING convention staff and I assure you they have been taken into consideration for change.
<>
Scotty and Tami

[dibochet 0]

I can't make it to the WFFC this year, but I agree that even at its bad times it's still worth it's weight in gold simply for the reunion (even if half the time I'm just watching the fun from the sidelines while making jello). I started out as the little kid in my dads truck, with my face glued to the back window in awe of the skydivers we'd pick up to take back to the Quincy airport. Ever since then I haven't been able enough. The WFFC is the reason I'm so addicted to being in the air.

I think the most frustrating part for my family and I is that that the ability for my paralyzed brother to do a tandem is no longer avaliable. I understand the Convention has it's reasons, but I know I'd lay my life down to see my brother smile like he did when he floated down towards the ground - nothing separating him from the hundreds of people around him. And I know anyone in our situation would do the same.

So for me I guess the coolest thing to see would be for people to appreciate the convention for what it is, and then help build it up to be what we all know it can become.

[upndownshop 0]

Mary, I know that namgrunt has good intentions in his post and yours as well. Bob is a very nice man who is somewhat new to the sport and his wife is coming along as well.
I kinda just have been sitting on this post watching. I have mixed emotions about this thread being that I have busted my ass for the last 5 years and sometimes even been "busted" because of it.(money wise)

We all work hard in the events we support, we all want them to be successful. All SD events. The more successful all the events are, the more the sport grows.

Everyday skydivers give back to the sport worldwide., in their own ways. Some are similar some are different.
I have been to the last 6 WFFC, and in the last two years I have been to about 40 other events. Everyone one I go to I hope for a perfect safety record, good weather and lots of jumps. Unfortunately it doesnt always happen.
I may just be rambling now but there is alittle competition especially when the dates are close to each other. DO I want SF to grow, you bet, do I want Rantoul to shrink, NO! Do I like being compared to Rantoul, yes and no. We have 16 manufacturers coming and holding an Auction, we have a bigger flight line than before, but will we have 2000 people, No, 400 maybe, if we are lucky.
But none of this happens with out the support and hard work that many people put into it for all boogies, and of course the skydiver.

The proceeds do go to the scholarship fund, and numerous expenses that come with that. Would I like to get paid for my 300 + hours a year that I put into it, you bet! Maybe someday.

I know I am not saying anything that you and the others dont already know, I guess what I am saying is that "cant we all just get along"I mean we are all different but same, right?

No really, I think the future will bring some new ways to give back and that we will see some joint ventures with some of the events. I know I have my plans, and some of these things will happen.


SO I wish all the boogies the best of luck, perfect weather, and lots of jumpers landing safely.

Scotty and Tami, you know I get hungry at SkyFest.. I know.... we have talked about that, just had to throw it in
"cutaway low and spot for your freebag"......JUST KIDDING, do not try that at home..

[CDRINF 1]

On the subject of special aircraft and cost: I think that the WFFC is about more than one airplane. I just don't get these people who say they won't come if the jet or a 130 doesn't show. I spent a year in Korea in 2002-2003 not able to jump at all and seeing the annual complaints in the various forums was like watching two fat men complain about having to eat prime rib instead of filet mignon. Plus, since being home, I jump at a Cessna DZ and get maybe two or three days out there a month, less in the winter. WFFC enables me to double my annual total of jumps in a week! So I am not complaining.

As for cost, even with recent price increases, the USA is still one of the cheapest places in the world to jump. Your WFFC registration will not even buy one jump ticket at the one civilian DZ in Korea where lift tickets are $80 a pop!

I go and willingly pay because of the world class load organizing and chance to jump with a group of very high skill level jumpers that meet and jump together every year.

See ya in August!

CDR

[skinnyshrek 0]

Bring paddle to the orfun boogie!!!! 2nd week-end of september i believe

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[upndownshop 0]

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Bring paddle to the orfun boogie!!!! 2nd week-end of september i believe

Lee shut up and GO AWAY!!!! god i love telling you that.. big smile on face

[skinnyshrek 0]

Dude, i am like a good case of herpes you know i will keep coming back

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[upndownshop 0]

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Dude, i am like a good case of herpes you know i will keep coming back

thats just bad dude!!!

[flyangel2 2]

Jay, I hope you haven't taken my post the wrong way. I loved attending your boogie last year, and wish I could be there again this year to help.

I posted my feelings about WFFC because once some one starts putting something down that they have no idea what they are talking about, I feel I must step in and do some educating. (afterall; some people do believe everything they read on the Internet)

I support all the boogies that happen every where. Just because I can't attending, I still support them with sending them good vibes, just as you do. No accidents, great weather, and lots of safe fun.

Now, as I said before, comparing boogies is like comparing FF to RW. Each jumper, go to the boogie of choice, have fun and be safe. But please, let's stop putting down other boogies.

If you noticed in my other post, I don't think I put down any other boogie out there. Jay if I did, please point it out to me and I will kiss some ass

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[sunshine 2]

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Porta Pots,

This year $15,000, don;t leave home with out em!

And the duct tape to trap people in them costs money too!!!

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[flyangel2 2]

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Porta Pots,

This year $15,000, don;t leave home with out em!

And the duct tape to trap people in them costs money too!!!

Or you can just shake them and run like I do

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[kai2k1 0]

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Humm, I guess working as a LO at WFFC with the newbies doesn't count as giving back to the sport. Plus the number of experience jumpers I see going up with lower number jumpers and play in the sky with them.

"Hey, want to do a raft jump?"

"Never did that before. Sounds like fun."

"Come on, grab a ticket and you can join us and we'll show you how."

Gee, I hear converstations like that more then once during the WFFC.

Thats the way it was for me last year at 50 jumps... I was invited on all sorts of FUN skydives... I was able to jump with some pretty cool people and partied with a hell of alot more.


I did my first hybrid with Cornholio and Kid Icarus.

My first 7 way with a buncha truckers.. FUNNEL

My first Helo jump with Skymedic...

My first FF jump with Skymedic... Horny Gorilla

I wish i could be there this year, but I can't, Life is getting in the way ...

In short WFFC ROCKS!! It should be experienced by everyone at least once.

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[ChangoLanzao 0]

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Porta Pots,

This year $15,000, don;t leave home with out em!

Yeah ... no kidding! Those porta potties are a MUST; there's a lotta people here who are full of shit

The WFFC is something to look forward to for the entire year, just like lots of other boogies for different reasons. It's THE CONVENTION. It's about the people and you can jump all you want and have a great time. Quit whining already!!!

*

[happythoughts 0]

I have no idea how I acquired this pic, but here it is.

[happythoughts 0]

On the side of manifest, there used to be a hose/drinking fountain. If that would return, my happiness would be complete.

If it is how out, I usually toss down a gallon or so of water during the day.

[freeflir29 0]

Just let me say thanks again. I was sitting there eating breakfast I think it was last year. You were giving your speech to the group of "kids" that was there to help clean the place up. It was inspiring to hear you talk about the WFFC. I just sat quietly and listened to you tell them how people saved their money all year just so they could come and skydive with their "family" for 10 days in August. Anyone who thinks there is a huge profit margin ANYWHERE in skydiving has obviously never seen the books. I've been asked to work in skydiving on several occasions........my answer has always been........."I'd love to but I can't afford it." I do what I can to give back when I can though. The Skymonkeys taught me that from day one.

[skybytch 273]

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Or you can just shake them and run like I do

Remember, Mar. When you least expect it.... expect it twice.

[upndownshop 0]

Mary in now way did I feel you were offensive to me or SkyFest. I thought I would give you alittel info about namgrunt and where he is coming from.

I was chatting with Happythoughs last night and he says it best. Rantoul is what you make it.

I thought this should be applied to all boogies. Like I said before everyone gives back in their own ways.

Its all good.

Oh a little ass kissing goes a long way...

luv ya babe

[Zeemax 0]

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Porta Pots,

This year $15,000, don;t leave home with out em!

And the duct tape to trap people in them costs money too!!!

that sounds so out of order. who the hell does something so sick as that. Wankers i tell you....

Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE
Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies

[freeflir29 0]

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Wankers i tell you....

Soapy TIT WANKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[popsjumper 2]

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There are several ways of giving back to the sport.

(long post deleted - Scotty & Tami...you guys are the BEST. I have yet to meet anyone who gives back more in the air, on the ground and in the cafe....
I love both of you).

I just don't understand the high registration fees.
I also don't understand the high vendor fees....how big would WFFC be if there were no vendors.
Somehow I get an uneasy "price gouging" feeling...I dunno.

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

[diverdriver 5]

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Is the WFFC losing its allure??

It seems that this year there just isn’t quite the Buzz about the convention that I have seen in previous years. The DZ.com attendee’s list seems to be shrinking faster than its Growing. Very few people that I talk to who were there last year plan on going this year.

Any speculation on why this is??
Too many other Major Boogies too close together?? (Skyfest, Lost Prairie, Summerfest)

General Slump in the economy and outrageous gas prices keeping people closer to home????

Or is everyone just waiting till the last minute to start talking up the WFFC??

Or is this just in my imagination and Rantoul will be just as big as and better than previous years.

It's not unique? People can jump turbines much easier now all across the country. "Specialty Aircraft" are confirmed and then don't show up (not blaming WFFC it's just what has happened). There have been changes (It moved from Quincy to Rantoul) and some people are just tired of dodging bad canopy pilots all the time.

I'm glad I've gotten to do both Quincy and Rantoul. Quincy was better. I think it's because Rantoul is so close to the city. Not sure but the vibe (for me) changed. The helicopter has changed (Rod Tiney rocks!) and people may not find the current line up appealing.

Don't count out the WFFC for large attendance though. A new generation of jumpers have never experienced the World Freefall Convenction and so a new vibe will be created and a new momentum could be generated.