hottamaly 1 #1 July 27, 2004 I work in the skydiving business and I have a question. When did boogies, meets, and "fun" contests, get to the point of having to have money or expensive prizes as the reward for a fun day with your friends? vent on I'm sorry, but I remember the good ol days when we could go to our local drop zone for a fun meet, whether it be for swooping, scrambles, 4-way, etc. and compete and win nothing but maybe a beer or bragging rights and have a ball doing it with all our friends. It seems now a days that if there is no cash prizes or free gifts donated by vendors, it's a big deal. I don't get it. Gear stores, manufacturers, etc are being asked to donate something for these things to the point that soon they will be so nickled and dimed to death that they won't be able to afford to give at all. rant off I can understand periodically being asked to contribute for a worthy cause but not for "everyone whom has ever gone in" boogie, "we are making up an excuse to have a boogie" boogie, "every charity needs us" boogie, etc. The rate we are going, every weekend at every drop zone will be asking for donations all year round. Sorry this is so long, but I'd like to hear everyone's opion on this trend that is evolving into something huge and out of control. Thanks for hearing me out. Skydiving gave me a reason to live I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 July 27, 2004 The last boogie competition I was in, I won two cheap little trophies. That was cool, but I didn't care about that. The bragging rights was all that it was about! Everyone was talking shit, it was a really good time!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chopchop 0 #3 July 27, 2004 I haven't really noticed.. What the hell are you talking about, Linda? Maybe we're just a little backwards up here in NorCal but I don't think we have been hit by prizeitus? yet.. We compete up here for knickknacks, beer and bragging rights.. chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #4 July 27, 2004 Linda, If I recall right, I seem to remember a video of you breaking the old DZ.com record. You all did a great job and didn't win a thing. I loved the part where you had the bragging rights and broke the record.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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crwmike 0 #5 July 27, 2004 QuoteThe last boogie competition I was in, I won two cheap little trophies. That was cool, but I didn't care about that. The bragging rights was all that it was about! Everyone was talking shit, it was a really good time! Were you limited to the Brazilian cut? Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,544 #6 July 27, 2004 Hey -- I got to pay for a cool McGowan picture of that! It's in my office. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hottamaly 1 #7 July 27, 2004 QuoteLinda, If I recall right, I seem to remember a video of you breaking the old DZ.com record. You all did a great job and didn't win a thing. I loved the part where you had the bragging rights and broke the record. THAT'S what I'm talking about. The good times. We get hit hard and I'm just assumeing (I know what that means) that allot of others are getting hit up for prizes all the time for "official" meets,boogies, etc. Maybe I'm wrong. That's why I'm throwing this out there, to find out what's up in the rest of the world. Skydiving gave me a reason to live I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dgskydive 0 #8 July 27, 2004 Get back to wrok and give me a free helmet for the "I found my cat Boogie" This weekend. I will lose him again so keep my measurments! Dom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #9 July 27, 2004 QuoteExcuse me, what happened to having fun? You're on my wavelength lady. What happened to everyone on the DZ getting together at the end of the day and doing a big way. Who cares if it's a little Zooish. What happened to pick up formation loads? What happened to hanging out around the bonfire? What happened to just having fun once and a while, blowing off training, or coaching, or whatever? What happened to smiling in freefall? What happened to kiss passes, big rounds, hokey pokey dives, and a general enjoyment of the moment?---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hottamaly 1 #10 July 27, 2004 QuoteQuoteExcuse me, what happened to having fun? You're on my wavelength lady. What happened to everyone on the DZ getting together at the end of the day and doing a big way. Who cares if it's a little Zooish. What happened to pick up formation loads? What happened to hanging out around the bonfire? What happened to just having fun once and a while, blowing off training, or coaching, or whatever? What happened to smiling in freefall? What happened to kiss passes, big rounds, hokey pokey dives, and a general enjoyment of the moment? You're right, what did happen to them? We need to bring out all the "old farts" to show these new PUPS (parachutes under phorty skydiving) how to do it up right. Skydiving gave me a reason to live I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #11 July 27, 2004 What happened to turning down bigways to go do a 2 way? What happened to turning down work jumps to go play?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #12 July 27, 2004 What happened to making a fun jump after a day of work jumps? (I can feel happy about myself, I did some of those things this weekend.)---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hottamaly 1 #13 July 27, 2004 Can anyone answer these perplexing questions? without being a smart arse Skydiving gave me a reason to live I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #14 July 27, 2004 QuoteQuoteExcuse me, what happened to having fun? You're on my wavelength lady. What happened to everyone on the DZ getting together at the end of the day and doing a big way. Who cares if it's a little Zooish. What happened to pick up formation loads? What happened to hanging out around the bonfire? What happened to just having fun once and a while, blowing off training, or coaching, or whatever? What happened to smiling in freefall? What happened to kiss passes, big rounds, hokey pokey dives, and a general enjoyment of the moment? you guys arent doing this??? daamn i guess i keep going to the right dropzones ____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hottamaly 1 #15 July 27, 2004 God love ya, keep it up (no pun intended) Skydiving gave me a reason to live I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #16 July 27, 2004 Still got an LO slot Linda? Let's change things. Every Saturday night let's do the "family load" for sunset. A big star (as big as we can get anyway). Everyone is welcome. I'll be on it. Or video if anyone want's it. C'mon it'll be fun. Bet we can get it to formation load sizes inside of 2 months.....---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkM 0 #17 July 28, 2004 QuoteCan anyone answer these perplexing questions? without being a smart arse I think a lot of people got caught up in having mad skillz, which takes a something like a gabillion "work" dives, tunnel ratting and coaching jumps to achieve. To some people if you're just goofing off or don't "plane the dive" you're wasting jump money that could be spent on improving your skills. Also if you're blowing 10k a year on your competition skills, no doubt you'll want to compete in contests with rewards. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #18 July 28, 2004 In my limited time in this sport I have had, will have, and will continue to have fun. Its not like im going to be on the national teams or anything like that. Skydiving is my way to have fun... If I funnel an attempted 4-way, screw up an exit. jump solo or go low in a formation, I'm still having fun!! I have always lived my life with the philosophy that if im not having fun at something i'll quit and never do it again. Some people take this way too seriously and get pissed if the simplest thing goes wrong. I am not and will not ever become one of those people. I have been given a precious gift to be able to afford and have the desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. The second I take this sport too seriously (except something safety related or something that is beyond my current skill level) I will sell all my equipment and never look back. See you all in Rantoul Sorry for the rant. There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crwmike 0 #19 July 28, 2004 QuoteQuoteQuoteExcuse me, what happened to having fun? You're on my wavelength lady. What happened to everyone on the DZ getting together at the end of the day and doing a big way. Who cares if it's a little Zooish. What happened to pick up formation loads? What happened to hanging out around the bonfire? What happened to just having fun once and a while, blowing off training, or coaching, or whatever? What happened to smiling in freefall? What happened to kiss passes, big rounds, hokey pokey dives, and a general enjoyment of the moment? You're right, what did happen to them? We need to bring out all the "old farts" to show these new PUPS (parachutes under phorty skydiving) how to do it up right. How bout THEM TOADS? Sharing what we know, smiling and laughing and the only cost ...is a smile (and beer :) CRW Skies, Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
luckky 0 #20 July 28, 2004 DITTO KAI2K1..LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING U AT RANTOUL,TIS ALABOUT HAVING FUNIf there are no trials in life,how will u know what is really imprtortant liv2luv luv2liv,,,SUMMOOO 1 lucky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #21 July 28, 2004 We've got a weird situation at our DZ... Its the oposite happening now! It's got a history of not being a very party, fun oriented dz. Lots of good RW loads, great place to learn, but overall, it didnt have a great vibe. Some jumpers decided to change that last year and started a social club with activities (I'm not part of that group so cant take credit). Re-built the bonfire, arranges soupers, jump activities (one that was very popular was a 2 way competition with matched teams: one experienced jumper with one low timer). Its working!Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #22 July 28, 2004 Quoteto jump out of a perfectly good airplane. There is no such thing Its gotta be about fun no matter what level you are at. If it isnt, it just isnt worth doing. There is room for fun jumpers and competitiors to co-exist, and if you have to have yourself "Are we having fun yet?" then perhaps it is time to move on? I know that for me, it isnt ALWAYS fun during training times, but that is more out of my own frustration.It can be just plain hard work doing 10+ jumps a day in the 100+ temperatures here. I take the opportunity to fun jump with friends and am reminded once again...why I started in the first place.It's about fun...so when you are out there and perhaps have lost track of why you started in the first place... go jump on a zoo load, laugh, be child like in that and allow yourself to feel the joy of tearing up the sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #23 July 28, 2004 I have that same picture in my classroom, Wendy. McGowan rocks and so did those jumps. Still some of the most fun I've had jumping. Maybe it was the company. -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybill 22 #24 July 28, 2004 Hi Hot, Yeah, what ever happened to, "Having Fun!?" "Are we having FUN yet?" "If you are having fun, you are doing it right!" There are those jumpers who are around a lot, jump with everyone and appear to be the main stream around the dz. They have fun. Then there are/were those jumpers who showed up in the spring, got on some hot shot we're-going-to-the-nationals team, jumped their butts off, (never did a FUN jump!!), went to the nationals and then never showed up at the dz till next spring!!! (begin cycle over again) Oh yes, you never got to jump with them! These people are competition oriented in everything they do! If they are not competition skydiving, they're playing competition tennis or downhill speed skiing!!! Meanwhile back at the ranch, the rest of us "Fun Jumpers" go about our DZ having fun. Sometimes, the mystique of these comp. people invades the psyche of some fun jumpers and they try to emulate these comp. people. It can get neurotic!!! Skydiving skills need practice to stay sharp. Yes! Good skills and a heads up attitude = a safer skydive! But if you can't enjoy what you are doing you might need to think about why you're doing it.SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Push 0 #25 July 28, 2004 QuoteBut if you can't enjoy what you are doing you might need to think about why you're doing it. I have met my share of competitive people. It's not that they don't enjoy what they're doing, they enjoy a different aspect of it. I can understand them. The feeling of accomplishment after something that you've been planning and practicing for half a year succeeds is a good enough reason for me. I've heard these stories about the big US dropzones. That a lot of people there don't enjoy their skydiving, it's like a job. I find it hard to believe, frankly. The Canadian national RW team trains at our DZ. They don't do any fun jumps, they jump all day and stay focused. They're also great people. Always say hi to me when they notice me. I have no doubt that they are enjoying themselves. -- Toggle Whippin' Yahoo Skydiving is easy. All you have to do is relax while plummetting at 120 mph from 10,000' with nothing but some nylon and webbing to save you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
