skyyhi 0 #26 January 18, 2004 I am just in Shock. . .as a student jumper there at elsinore, I cannot believe this has happened. . .you guys there at Elsinore are just the best and I have jumped that student gear and worn those jumpsuits and helmet. . .I cannot believe something like this has happened. . . Ed, Lew, Mark, Bryan, Chris, Ellen, Tom, Dan, Robert, Smitty, Sean, Hammo, and the rest of the staff. . .I am so deeply sorry this has happened. . .my prayers go out to you guys. This is just fucking aweful. . .you all are my second family. . . What a sad thing to wake up to. . .________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #27 January 18, 2004 Oh boy....this is tragic and I am in disbelief. I'll be shooting you a PM with a couple of ideas. BB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #28 January 18, 2004 I have a virtually new Eclipse Tandem Rig & student harness you guys can use till the middle of April... if that helps. Main Canopy has about 300 jumps on it. I had new vectran lines put on it for the season. New container. Reserve has one ride. The legstraps on the student harness ain't the best. I reach over the students shoulder and grab a leg grip and have them slide the legstraps down the thigh a little bit. Hope to get a Vector student Harness this Spring. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clownburner 0 #29 January 18, 2004 Wow, I'm totally in shock. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help. PM sent.7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #30 January 18, 2004 What size canopies and harness do you jump, Ed? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #31 January 18, 2004 vibesLeroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #32 January 18, 2004 Shit. THe only equipment I've ever jumped is Elsinore Student Equipment. I don't know what to say. I haven't jumped since May, because I haven't been home at Elsinore to do it. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newsstand 0 #33 January 18, 2004 Everyone who lost equipment should check with the home owners or renters insurance to see if it might cover. "Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #34 January 18, 2004 I am so sad right now. Elsinore is so pretty and the people there are so friendly with such a spirit of togetherness. I'm not sure what I can do to help, but put me in the pool of folks willing to donate a little sweat this week.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurel 0 #35 January 18, 2004 sad. sad. sad. I had so much fun at the Chicks Rock Boogie last year. I'm calling my DZO right now to tell him...................................................................... PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074 My Pink M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajones 0 #36 January 18, 2004 I sit here with tears in my eyes and Lew by my side. I try to remember "it's only stuff." It sure seems like more - mostly it seems like my livelyhood. I can't say thank you enough to the tremendous people with offers of helping hands, gear to borrow, and even just kind words. It means a great deal to all of us. The sun hadn't even come up and we knew we were among friends. I'll post more as we find out what's next. - Cajones and Lew The laws of physics are strictly enforced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #37 January 18, 2004 Wow....words are hard to come by when I woke up and read this thread this morning! Awful! I'm glad to know that everybody's safe, though, as -that- is the spirit of Elsinore....the people. It's like a family atmosphere there, which is hard to come by at a large DZ. I've been on the phone with my boss, Jim Wallace, who's already getting in line to lend a helping hand where he can. Whether it be in equipment or employing the instructors for the season. Let us know what we can do to help. We're all a community pulling together. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanda965 0 #38 January 18, 2004 Lew, thanks for keeping us updated. Things are gonna bounce back- we are all here to help. I am very sorry to hear this, but like everyone else has said, as least you are here to type it and no one is hurt. You, Cajones and everyone that this has affected is in my thoughts and prayers.Blue skies and SAFE landings! ~Amanda~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaGimp 0 #39 January 18, 2004 I too guess am feelin the same as many others reading this. My heart goes out to Lew, Cajones, and the rest of the Elsinore family. I dont know what i would do or even where to start if this happened to me. Lew you are a good friend of mine which i truely care for, if there is any way that i can help out, even in the most minute way, ill do all i can."Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kramer 0 #40 January 18, 2004 Holy shit! When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was a joke. My goodness.... At least no one was injured, that's the most important thing. Best of luck to the DZO and everyone else involved in getting it back up and running. I'll keep Lew and Cajones and all the other staff in my thoughts...you guys'll be back on your feet in no time, just watch... -Kramer The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #41 January 18, 2004 OMG, i can't beleive this. If only there was something i could do to help. 2 times for Ed. He and everyone else is in my prayers. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #42 January 18, 2004 OK, this is the time we show the family spirit. Pay it forward, if you will. Riggerrob, you had a great suggestion. Can someone put a list together of nonoperating(snowbound) DZ's w/ equipment we could borrow for a bit? Anyone have a second rig, like Nightjumps, that you're willing to lend to instructors for a while? I am going to be grounded for a bit, so my entire rig can be loaned to whomever wants a skytruck. Anyone have spare altimeters? Have three (two audibles, and a wrist?) Can you loan the altis for a bit? Same with old helmets. Same with old jumpsuits. Who has a paypal account that can be used to accept cash donations for Elsinore? Let's look at doing an impromtu fundraiser for the instructors....how about a boogie of some kind the weekend after next? I'll coordinate/handle that. Anyone have spare time, I am sure getting to the DZ and helping clean up would be good. I can't go today, but I may be able to go on wednesday. Time for realizing what family means.... Ed, I can't help with a job, but as always, I am here for you and Lew however I can. Do not hesitate to reach out. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themitchyone 0 #43 January 18, 2004 Oh my gosh. This totally sucks. I'm sorry for all you guys that jump at Elsinore and are still students there. "If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #44 January 18, 2004 Quotei don't know what else to say. got any rigs we can borrow? Yeah, I got one for an Instructor, or Camera person. I'll give you guys a call later today.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #45 January 18, 2004 Holy shit. Im glad everyone is ok But DAMN... MAybe someone who has more info can set up a donation site or address to help out our familiy who needs a bit. If anyone can donate the cost of a jump ticket Im sure the numbers will add up to help those in need out!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #46 January 18, 2004 QuoteQuotethe dropzone has insurance. we don't. we're not sure if the dz insurance will cover instructor's gear. That is our only hope right now. If you have any home owners insurance yourself, check up on that. You never know, your property might be covered through that. Thank you all for your offers to help, ideas and support. Everyone here now is making contacts and trying to sort out how we're going to recover. We're making a list of exactly what was lost. And we linin up all volunteer for help with lending gear and discounts on ordering new gear. We will recover. It will just be a matter o time and take a lot of work. At our psuedo staff meeting this morning Hammo we're already discussing options and support offers coming in. Like I said before, I think the DZ insurance will cover the DZ gear, tandem rigs and student rigs. We're not sure yet if that insurance will cover instructors gear. Some instructors have home-owners insurance and will try that route if needed, but as I said, there are a bunch of us who do not have insurance of any kind that will cover this. cajones and I do not have a home and therefore no home-owners insurance. We do not have renter's insurance. Our only hope is that the DZ inurance will extend to cover Instructor's gear. Otherwise we're fucked. So many people lost so much. There were a dozen of us standing around this morning listing off all the gear and equipment we had in there. And many of the part-timers who weren't even here had gear in there. One poor guy who left his rig in the packing area yesterday lost it because we put it in there not wanting to leave it out overnight. I had just jumped and packed Ed's rigs all day... And walking up to the buildings, I thought for a moment, I could just put this in the camper, but nah, Ed's used to keeping it locked up in the staff gear room... if only... I am very sad for everyone who has lost something. I am extremely sad for Ed (cajones) because his gear was very unique and custom made. The split color Mirages with that embroidery were kind of a test, and said that they would never make it again becuase they were so difficult to make. His mains were hand-built Samurai's by Brian Germain. His jumpsuits were custombuilt by Chuck with Dakine. All of his gear took so long to accumulate, pay for and get just right. Like he said, this is his livelyhood. And helmets & cameras... 3 boneheads & a frap hat, 3 video cameras, a SportsCam and 2 digital still cameras (one being our 10D)... you get the idea... Multiply that by all the instructors that had their gear in there. Just off the top of my head, Ellen, YoYo, Bryan, Sean, Pat, Stan, Chris, Leif, Lob, Jonathan, Sharky, Rich, George, Ed and several other lost almost everything. The school had at least 10 tandem rigs and around 10 student rigs. Doug is about the only AFF instructor that didn't lose gear because it was in his team room. So we jokingly say it will be the Doug School of Skydiving... It was the building in the background of this photo that is completely gone. When I find a camera I will post the "after" photos... To end on a good note... the Otter is flying load 3 right now, with only experienced jumpers. Elsinore is open for business and again, most importantly, no one is physically hurt. If you have any equipment or gear you can lend for some time, a month, a couple months, anything, please email Betsy at betsy@skydiveelsinore.com She is sorting all of that out. Let her know what the gear is, what size and how long you can lend it. I've already received a few PM's and am matching up rigs with instructors of that size and ability with loaners. We sincerely appreciate everyone's help. Tandem and student gear will be more difficult to find loaners of, so if you are from a dz up north and aren't operating right now, consider sparing a tandem rig for a little while. Also, we lost a lot of video equipment. So if you can lend a video or stills camera, camera helmet for a month, let us know. We also lost all the editting equipment, so if you're nearby and have a tv/vcr recorder (or even a DVD recorder) to loan, let us know. As for replacing our personal gear... somehow that will work out. I just don't know how yet. Thanks again to everyone... Carl, Hamo, Kenny, Eddie and others have been working hard since sunrise to clean up the mess and return to business. The sooner we can get close to being back to normal, the better. Thank you for listening. Have a fabulous day of skydiving or whatever... I think i might get some sleep now. peace lewhttp://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #47 January 18, 2004 Man I dont even know what to say....Damn. I dont know if it would help, but I have a brand new Mirage G3 that will fit a 190/200 main and a new PD176R and both are still in the box the factory shipped them in.PM me if they might be needed. My heart goes out to everyone at Elsinore. "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #48 January 18, 2004 holly shit. that really sucks. good to hear no one is hurt, but my mom and dad had a fire when we used to own a dz, and it takes a long time to recover. even if the gear is insured, it still takes a long time to get new gear. some good new is, at least with the insurance we had, the instructors gear and all of the rigging customers gear the burnt up, was paid for. so you guys may get lucky and the dz may have insurance that covers that kind of stuff. i know too that some of the instuctors home insurance covered their gear, so that may be the case with you guy's stuff too. hey, if i find a couple of extra alti's around, i'll send em out to you guys later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #49 January 18, 2004 Quotegot any rigs we can borrow? hey i'll send you guys my rig to jump for a while, i won't be using it. it may be a little fast, but just slide in on you ass later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skylord 1 #50 January 18, 2004 This blows. So sorry to read about this! I can't believe it, we've had terrible misfortune with fire over the past few months out here. A week after the wildfires, my office burned up. It actually physically traumatizes you to see that kind of destruction. I was originally going to come out and do my grad dive this weekend, too. But that isn't what's important right now. Does anyone need a place to stay? Is the water and electricity back on? How devastating! Keep us posted firsthand, I'll kick in what kaish I can when the accounts get set up....... BobBob Marks "-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
