Skydiving Customs

[Aperion 0]

I'm a very new person, since I only have 4 jumps so far. Several of the people at my airfield told me about some of the customs that skydivers have. For instance, your reserve rigger gets a 1/5 of liqor of his choice should you have a reserve deployment and he/she saves your life. Another one that my rigger told me was that on notable jumps, you buy everyone a beer, or bring a case of beer to the field. I also noticed that skydivers wear closing pin necklaces. Any others?

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I try not to hurt myself from year to year.

[hackish 8]

We all have a secret handshake before jumprun.

Not sure what you mean by 1/5 of liquor but it's usually a bottle of whatever your rigger likes. For me it's a wine. Not too expensive - I'm cheap but I know some riggers who like a glenfiddich single malt.

-Michael

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Women flashing male pilots gets more altitude. Men flashing female pilots gets restraining orders.
Be VERY nice to the packers.

Seriously, be yourself and learn, learn, learn.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[skybill 22]

Hi "A",
"Customs" (if you want to call them that) are a constantly growing, unfolding, evolving critical mass of mores and folkways that drunk skydivers come up with to try to con Beer (mostly) and Whiskey (mostly too) from an unsuspecting other jumper for some event they were not part of!!
eg; Beer Rules, Pie Rules, 1st anything Rules, ad nauseum!!
If you buy a case for whatever, take a couple for your self "FIRST" then see how long the rest lasts. A considerate skydiver will ask,"Who bought the beer?" and come congratulate you, have a beer with you and ask to hear your story. Then you start out with,"NO Shit, there I was, thought I was gonna' die!!!!!"

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out

[ladydyver 0]

not from personal experience but ..... don't get so drunk you pass out and puke on the packing carpet - it is amazing how pics start circulating around the dz.

DPH # 2
"I am not sure what you are suppose to do with that, but I don't think it is suppose to flop around like that." ~Skootz~
I have a strong regard for the rules.......doc!

[AggieDave 6]

Get your SCR, its you're "welcome to the sport" type of thing with some good old fashion hazing during the ceremony.

Search here for SCR if have questions.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Andy9o8 2]

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Not sure what you mean by 1/5 of liquor

A bottle of liquor, the volume of which is 1/5th of a gallon; or in common parlance, "a fifth". Standard size for a bottle of liquor in North America, especially the US, in pre-metric days. Some liquor mfgrs still use the size, although it's becoming increasingly obsolete. Has basically been replaced in the current marketplace by the 750 ml bottle.

[bozo 0]

Always wear white socks with your Tevas.

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.

[mjosparky 4]

This is part of the customs.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[IanHarrop 41]

See rule 9

Ten things that may keep you alive
By Bill von Novak


http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=81

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[CMiller 1]

There is a special custom when you reach 100 jumps. It's best to just get there yourself and see.

[Pulse 0]

Pies at every thousand. (NOT 100 as seems to be the case more and more.)

"Any language where the unassuming word fly signifies an annoying insect, a means of travel, and a critical part of a gentleman's apparel is clearly asking to be mangled."

[CSpenceFLY 1]

If you only do it on the 1000s most people now would never get pied.

[wildfan75 1]

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If you only do it on the 1000s most people now would never get pied.

Exactly. It used to be that in youth sports you only got a trophy if you took 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Now everyone gets a trophy 'cause its good for "self esteem".

100's should get cupcakes. 1000's should get the pies.

[kkeenan 14]

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I'm a very new person, since I only have 4 jumps so far. Several of the people at my airfield told me about some of the customs that skydivers have.

I'm surprised that no one has told you yet, but there is a very special custom in which, after your 5th jump, you give each jumper at the DZ a $20 bill. Make sure you bring plenty.

_____________________________________
Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?

[dynamicedge 0]

You must also send me $5 in the mail after every jump otherwise you will be shun from society. and no, i don't take cheques...

[Butters 0]

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If you only do it on the 1000s most people now would never get pied.

Exactly. It used to be that in youth sports you only got a trophy if you took 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Now everyone gets a trophy 'cause its good for "self esteem".

100's should get cupcakes. 1000's should get the pies.

I'm glad I didn't get pied (or cupcaked) on my 100th. I'm not really into customs, traditions, etc...

PS: I did follow the beer rules up to and including my 100th. I've since stopped ...

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I quit the beer rules because there are too many moochers(people that never buy) at the DZs today. I make sure I have beer and replace if i ever have to borrow.

[Skydivesg 7]

Clearly those who have responded so far have let this one go right over their heads. So I'll do the honors.............

Is this your first post on DZ.com??

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[Jazzthieve 0]

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We all have a secret handshake before jumprun.

Not sure what you mean by 1/5 of liquor but it's usually a bottle of whatever your rigger likes. For me it's a wine. Not too expensive - I'm cheap but I know some riggers who like a glenfiddich single malt.

-Michael

So 2 years in the sport, 100 jumps and you're telling us your a senior rigger (according to your profile).

[AggieDave 6]

Who cares? You don't have to have any jumps to be a rigger.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[DSE 5]

One of our riggers hasn't ever jumped. She's an excellent seamstress though!

[happythoughts 0]

I like to say a little prayer for world peace.

[Andy9o8 2]

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One of our riggers hasn't ever jumped. She's an excellent seamstress though!

Not to get all serious, but I like it when a rigger, or even a packer, has made at least a couple of jumps - and thus has experienced, first hand, what it's like to jump from a plane with the awareness that the only thing that will save your life is IF that rig on your back functions properly.

I remember reading that back in WWII, they sometimes used units of female service personnel to pack parachutes. The last task they had to perform to graduate from their packing class was to jump a chute they had packed. Sure brought home to them the seriousness of their task.