skypuppy 1 #1 February 19, 2005 how about Bill Cole? Bill did several jumps last year around the States. He has a solid background as one of the last of the Barnstormers and over the last year has donated videos and memorabilia to different individuals and clubs. I say nominate him.If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #2 February 19, 2005 I Second The Motion! http://hometown.aol.com/pricesmoneypit/myhomepage/extreme.html ...All those In Favor~ ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skykittykat 0 #3 February 19, 2005 I put forward Kirk Verner.. Not only has he over 20,000 jumps, but he is so humble. Every skydive is a learning experience for him (his words) and he is an awesome instrutor. Kirk imparts all the knowledge that he has paid/trained for, for free and he personally follows all his "students". Liz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdfreefly 1 #4 February 19, 2005 Bill Ottley Methane Freefly - got stink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #5 February 19, 2005 QuoteBill Ottley WHO? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #6 February 19, 2005 Quote http://hometown.aol.com/pricesmoneypit/myhomepage/extreme.html Not a very flattering documentary. Suspended from the CSPA once. Then banned for life the second time. 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
airtwardo 7 #7 February 19, 2005 Quote Not a very flattering documentary. Suspended from the CSPA once. Then banned for life the second time. Quote When you're a pioneer... ~ya always end up takin' a lot of arrows! The facts behind the 'problems' tell a different story. Bill was doing a lot of high profile stuff and getting the money and press that goes along with it. There were some hard feelings involved, and Bill wouldn't be intimidated or regulated. In todays terms, it would be like the NHRA trying to regulate a jet truck that performs on the airshow circuit...or closer to home, the USPA banning a skydiver for making BASE jumps. This was back in the "Question Authority" days when "Anti-Establishment" thinking was applauded... I think for Bill, getting 'banned' said he was doing something RIGHT considering the issues regarding his banishment. He's definately..."Made His Bones!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #8 February 19, 2005 QuoteI think for Bill, getting 'banned' said he was doing something RIGHT considering the issues regarding his banishment. Jumping 'rigless' out of an airplane (not once, but twice) goes against the FAA down here. Not only the skydiver would have his license revoked, but the pilot as well. I wasn't there, nor am privy to all the information...however he got his hand slapped on the first one (suspension) and then did it again (he knew better, but said 'fuck you!' the second time). Just reading what was wrote in your posted article. 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
airtwardo 7 #9 February 19, 2005 Quote Not only the skydiver would have his license revoked, but the pilot as well. *** I would agree that's the way the rules read, even though those weren't in fact the consequences when years later it WAS done 'down here'... (Errr...cough cough 'Mexico') ...and even 'up' there, the rules weren't enforced without prejudice, others that did it without the fanfare weren't spanked. I do understand what you're saying... It's just that my heroes have ALWAYS been Cowboys! *** ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #10 February 20, 2005 Jumping 'rigless' out of an airplane (not once, but twice) goes against the FAA down here. Not only the skydiver would have his license revoked, but the pilot as well. __________________________________________________ Strangely enough, while on Bill's 1st chuteless jump he had the American pilot fly from Ohio to Canada before jumping (because of FAA), he still had no problems getting an American pilot to fly him in Ohio on the 2nd chuteless jump, or American jumpers to both hold the chute for him in freefall, film the jump, and fly safety.... The FAA may not have agreed with it, but obviously enough jumpers didn't seem to have problems with it that they were willing to go along with his and others' chuteless jumps. __________________________________________________ I wasn't there, nor am privy to all the information...however he got his hand slapped on the first one (suspension) and then did it again (he knew better, but said 'fuck you!' the second time). Just reading what was wrote in your posted article. __________________________________________________ The facts don't bear out you said - maybe I didn't do a good job writing the article you're talking about... Bill made his 2nd chuteless jump while still under suspension from CSPA - it was after that jump that he was allowed to re-join, made the FAI recognized Canadian high altitude record jump, and then was later banned again for some questionable motives.... Bill's feud now comes down to personalities - he won't back down, and the people at CSPA won't back down now either.... Incidently the 2nd person to do 2 chuteless jumps was down from your neck of the woods, Jimmy Tyler. He bounced off Half Dome in the '80's but not until making a big splash with the tv show 'That's Incredible'. He never received any flack for doing his chuteless jumps. Neither did the first American chuteless jumper (I think you can read about it at parachutehistory.com). Look up Cliff Winters at parachutehistory.com for another interesting early jumper.... Like Airtwardo said, if you're a pioneer you take a lot of arrows. Rob PriceIf some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #11 February 20, 2005 I have no problem with Kirk Verner nor any other Air Speed or Magic or other members who have in the 20000 jump range, my feeling however is that the criterium includes being an active jumper. Kirk Verner and others like him are in their 30's and 40's and will likely be doing 1000's more jumps over the next few years, doing what they're doing now and helping others learn. Cole on the other hand is in his 70's. He's jumped throughout the 60's and 70's, in the 80's, the 90's.... and last year did a tour of several states jumping, talking to clubs, distributing videos of the chuteless jumps, logbooks, jumpsuits, altimeters, and other various memorabilia. On his last jump he suffered an injury and due to his advancing age he may not do any more jumps.... So this is probably the last time he would qualify as an 'active' jumper and be able to be nominated as Skydiving's '2004 skydiver of the year'. I'm not saying he'd win, but I think it would be nice to see....If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #12 February 20, 2005 From the article: 1st chuteless jump was in Canada, expressly to avoid the FAA. He was banned from the CSPA. 2nd chuteless jump was in the USA. He was banned from the USPA. The Americans who were with him on that 2nd chuteless jump were kept in an anonymous position in the video, to keep them out of the FAA's record books. I believe Bill knew what he was doing. No question there. 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
skypuppy 1 #13 February 20, 2005 2nd chuteless jump was in the USA. He was banned from the USPA. __________________________________________________ Bill was banned from USPA after he was banned by CSPA for the 2nd time simply because they had a receprocity agreement that those banned in one country would not be allowed to jump in the other. CSPA contacted USPA to notify them of Bill's suspension and then asked them to honor it as well.... Anything more you're reading into the article, which maybe I didn[t write so well. Incidently, the fact he was banned by CSPA and USPA both did not have any effect on his career at the time. He did most of his jumps under thisloud and still exposed more people to the sport in Canada with the high-profile articles and news clips on tv then any other 'official' CSPA representative that I've ever heard of.... Mike Swain also talks about his jumps with Bill in his book 'Endless Fall'. Mike filmed the chuteless jump. Anyway, I don't really want to argue here - if you want to get more into the facts maybe it would be a good idea to pm me rather than taking the thread in directions others won't be interested in?If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kramer 0 #14 February 20, 2005 I got to do a jump with Bill in Ohio earlier this year. I'll never forget it. What I enjoyed even more were the words we exchanged on the ground. I have a lot of respect for Bill Cole. The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hazarrd 1 #15 February 20, 2005 I was also out in Ohio and was ecstatic to meet, and jump with, Bill. He's an amazing guy who we can all learn a lot from. .-. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
