scottjaco 0 #26 February 8, 2004 QuoteWhat, is skydiving not extreme enough for them? LOL! Personally I think Skydiving & Base Jumping is like the crack cocaine of extreame sports. In fact it's the original extreame sport. Unfortunatly it hasn't really become a comercial sport. The X games seems to be targeted for a a trendy wannabe MTV crowd that thinks rollerblading and going to the Warped Tour is the most "off the hook" thing you could possibly do. If they were right, I would shoot myself right now. Furtunatly the X gamers are just ill informed of what better things they could be doing with their time. If they want spectators to see whats going on, why not make Base Jumping an event? It's easy to watch from the ground and it will apeal to skydivers/base jumpers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #27 February 8, 2004 ESPN was having issues with skydiving the last couple years it ran it. Production cost was an issue for one, the other was that they could not have it at the same location or even the same time as the rest of the X-Games. The last one in CA used the Monterey Super Otter but had them landing in a vineyard with almost no spectators (bad on camera). Since ESPN didn't want to risk technical problems, they had the competition happen early, then had the announcers do play by play against a video tape. Keith Snyder was in that one - so if you know him, just ask him about it. After that, there was a push to get FreeFlying on the X-Games, I believe the Flyboyz were one of the biggest supporters of it. ESPN wanted to know if there was any support for it and put out feelers.....then turned the tables on everyone and said they had to choose "Either SkySurfing or FreeFlying" and with all the complaints that generated, they just pulled the plug on skydiving. They decided they had a better spectator sport to add to the games and went that route. I haven't watched the X-Games since. As Indyz, Phree and the rest said on costs and accessibility were major factors in this. If you do a search on rec.skydiving you will find plenty of talk about it. There were articles in Skydiving and Parachutist as well._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottjaco 0 #28 February 8, 2004 Quotebut had them landing in a vineyard with almost no spectators I thought they were jumping out of Oceanside,CA and were landing next to the Oceanside Pier overlooking the ocean. Looked pretty scenic if you ask me! Lots of spectators can watch from the pier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #29 February 8, 2004 We all need to start an email campaign to ESPN, at least try to get them to introduce swooping into the games Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #30 February 8, 2004 QuoteQuotebut had them landing in a vineyard with almost no spectators I thought they were jumping out of Oceanside,CA and were landing next to the Oceanside Pier overlooking the ocean. Looked pretty scenic if you ask me! Lots of spectators can watch from the pier. I don't know the name of the town - I just remember Rook (Keith's video guy) telling us about it when he got home. He was back in Chicago before the Skysurf section ever aired._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottjaco 0 #31 February 8, 2004 If you watch the "good stuff " video during the Rob Harris segment, it shows him landing right beside a big pier. That was a while back though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #32 February 8, 2004 Thread One Freefly in XGames ESPN voting page for freeflying 96 ESPN Pro Tour of Freefly and Skysurfing There are plenty of other threads if you look...I can't find the ones where they switched it from "Add Freeflying, to Either freeflying or skysurfing"_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazyfrog 0 #33 February 8, 2004 as said, skysurfing was part of Xgames, some people at my DZ (yeah, swiss guys) participated... but what is the difficulty of falling from a plane ?? Anybody can do that DUHHHHH---------- Fumer tue, péter pue ------------- ourson #10, Mosquito Uno, CBT 579 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #34 February 8, 2004 QuoteIf you watch the "good stuff " video during the Rob Harris segment, it shows him landing right beside a big pier. That was a while back though. Don't forget there was more than one X-Games in CA - and Rob was in most of them._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vertifly 0 #35 February 8, 2004 I paid close attention to the sport during that time. There was a routine in the SSI Pro Tour that ended up on the FlyBoyz party mix. It never appeared in the X-Games. We almost made it, but as I said - it is ALL about the $$$. Can't blame them. It will happen soon enough. We need to continue promoting freeflying and make the sport grow internally; then it will make it out the public when the sport can be better accepted. Until then, we get to watch Tony Hawk (who I remember being in the movie "Gleeming the Cube" as a Pizza Hut delivery boy. LOL ) be one of the most popular sports-advertising faces in America. To add to the confusion of why our sport doesn't make it out into the mainstream is REGULATIONS. We are FAA monitored. Most X-Games sports are advertisements for little Johny to purchase snowboards, skateboards, bicycles, rollerblades(, and etc., etc.). Little Johny's parents aren't worried about purchasing him a parachute when he's 18 because that is when he is expected to begin making it on his own. The average parent couldn't possibly afford their childs life at that age, not to mention the cost of AFF + gear. Especially given the fact that many of them are off to college. Look at the difference of what sponsorships offer pro competators in the different sports. A sponsored Burton Snowboard rider is given $50K+ per year to do what they want. That doesn't include gear, room, and board. That's because Burton is a private company with a unknown revenue (I suspect that it has an eight or nine figure gross profit margin). Could you possibly imagine how many skateboard wheels that Tony Hawk could sell if he came out with his own line. I don't know either, but it is probably in the range of LOTS. Of course, Tony Hawk is the golden-boy. Pay attention to the commercials during the X-Games this year. Try to think of some skydive equipment that a manufacturer can come up with to sell to the general public - This, in turn, will get people buying and into the sport and buying the product - Then the original sponsors pay the X-GAMES people to put on the show. ...That is the general cycle of how money is made when it comes to sports companies, ratings, and TV-networks. I doubt that any skydive corporation could pull that off these days. Let's face it, it takes a lot more that safe gear and responsible jumpers to convince the regular public that our sport is worth making a hobbie out of. This is the bottom line. Think of a way to solve this problem and cut me in for an additonal 10% and you're a multi-millionaire. Good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottjaco 0 #36 February 8, 2004 Quote Let's face it, it takes a lot more that safe gear and responsible jumpers to convince the regular public that our sport is worth making a hobbie out of. This is the bottom line. I don't think the general public will ever embrace the idea of jumping out of an airplane for fun. There is a certain anti social element to skydiving which attracts a different bread of people to it. Thats what I like about it. The downsides of having so few people in the sport are obvious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vertifly 0 #37 February 8, 2004 That is a good point, Scott. Hmmmm, the word "anti-social" is one that I would have to disagree with though. We are an extremely social group at Crosskeys. Becoming skillful in OUR sport could often attract introverted people. Then again, to an extent, the best-of-the-best in any sport is going to idiolize the more introverted types. The way it is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #38 February 8, 2004 I think Scott has a point, while skydiving definitely has a social aspect, the sport itself is such a test of yourself. I think for most people, me anyway, it's a sort of internal competition with yourself. First, is overcoming the part of you that screams "oh f$%ck no, you're not hurling me out that door, 14 thousand feet??? What?" and then the next challenge is saving your own life once you got past the first point. Just my 2/5ths of a nickel. Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottjaco 0 #39 February 9, 2004 Quotethe sport itself is such a test of yourself That is my point exacty. It's like asking yourself if you are a wolf or a sheep. The personality type that is required to even be interested in skydiving is one of aggression. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #40 February 9, 2004 I Always viewed it as a good thing - not being in the XGames that is. Modern "Extream Sports" has it's own culture today, far different than that of Skydivers. Do you really want a "Jackass" Skydiving stunt? =========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #41 February 9, 2004 QuoteDo you really want a "Jackass" Skydiving stunt? Oh, you mean something like using a Creeper and an old canopy to go down the taxiway on a winded out day? Yeah, that'd be horribly wrong.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerryfuss 0 #42 February 9, 2004 QuoteThe personality type that is required to even be interested in skydiving is one of aggression I don't know if there is a "type" that defines a skydiver. Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. When I started this thread I didn't expect to get so much feedback but most of what is being said in the posts is true. I got a better answer than I expected. I guess the X-Games is really just the $-games. Everything always comes down to the almighty buck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #43 February 9, 2004 QuoteI don't know if there is a "type" that defines a skydiver A majority of jumpers I've met are "Type A" personalities, but I think I've met just about every kind of personality out there in this sport as well. Honestly, I don't think the people in this sport are very easily defined in one group, besides "Skydiver".--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Unstable 9 #44 February 9, 2004 QuoteHonestly, I don't think the people in this sport are very easily defined in one group, besides "Skydiver I agree - I retract my last statement...=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wilmshurst 0 #45 February 9, 2004 Here's what I heard: Skysurfing was cut from the X-Games because it did not have the participant base (number of participants) that the other sports did. This was an important factor for the companies sponsoring the event - that is, the big corporates (such as Taco Bell?) that want to sell to teens, etc. They also cut the adventure race from the X-Games -another event that was truly extreme. The X-Games are still entertaining, but not as cool. I still appreciate the way the participants act at the X-Games. It is common to see them encouraging each other and winning does not seem as important as giving it your all and laying down something sick. I have seen people throw their trophy/medal into the crowd. These people seem to truly embrace the Olympic spirit at a time when the Olympics has come to involve performance enhancing drugs and professional athletes with multi-million dollar contracts and endorsements. The only thing worse than a cold toilet seat is a warm toilet seat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Newbie 0 #46 February 9, 2004 Quote***If I would have known that I could have bought a nice car with the amount of money I have spent in the last 4 years... I doubt I would have ever taken up jumping. mate are you serious? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Ron 10 #47 February 9, 2004 QuoteIn Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I would have known that I could have bought a nice car with the amount of money I have spent in the last 4 years... I doubt I would have ever taken up jumping. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mate are you serious? Well, I have spent over 50,000 on skydiving. Thats half a house."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Newbie 0 #48 February 9, 2004 QuoteQuoteIn Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I would have known that I could have bought a nice car with the amount of money I have spent in the last 4 years... I doubt I would have ever taken up jumping. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mate are you serious? Well, I have spent over 50,000 on skydiving. Thats half a house. yeah im not disputing phree could have bought a nice car, im just wondering if he would have really not got into jumping so he COULD buy a nice car. I used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Then i discovered jumping and realised as long as i could eat and had a roof over my head i would be happy. In the short time i have been jumping, i have spent about $10000 or so, so far, but i wouldnt have traded the experiences for a nice car or downpayment. I guess i could change my mind, but i made my first jump 5 years ago, and the desire to blow more money on it just seems to increase as the years go by. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Ron 10 #49 February 9, 2004 Quoteyeah im not disputing phree could have bought a nice car, im just wondering if he would have really not got into jumping so he COULD buy a nice car. I used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Then i discovered jumping and realised as long as i could eat and had a roof over my head i would be happy. In the short time i have been jumping, i have spent about $10000 or so, so far, but i wouldnt have traded the experiences for a nice car or downpayment. I guess i could change my mind, but i made my first jump 5 years ago, and the desire to blow more money on it just seems to increase as the years go by. QuoteI used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Somewould say that when you DO grow up, then you will wonder why you spent 10,000 bucks on something that really added nothing but fun to your life. Imagine that you get laid off....You start to wonder about all that money and how much you could use it now. Give it a few years...At some point I think you will go..."Aw shit, I sure wasted a lot on jumping". It might take many more years, and it may only last a few seconds...But it WILL happen. Ever notice that folks dont like to say how much they have spent so far?"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Newbie 0 #50 February 9, 2004 QuoteQuoteyeah im not disputing phree could have bought a nice car, im just wondering if he would have really not got into jumping so he COULD buy a nice car. I used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Then i discovered jumping and realised as long as i could eat and had a roof over my head i would be happy. In the short time i have been jumping, i have spent about $10000 or so, so far, but i wouldnt have traded the experiences for a nice car or downpayment. I guess i could change my mind, but i made my first jump 5 years ago, and the desire to blow more money on it just seems to increase as the years go by. QuoteI used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Somewould say that when you DO grow up, then you will wonder why you spent 10,000 bucks on something that really added nothing but fun to your life. Imagine that you get laid off....You start to wonder about all that money and how much you could use it now. Give it a few years...At some point I think you will go..."Aw shit, I sure wasted a lot on jumping". It might take many more years, and it may only last a few seconds...But it WILL happen. Ever notice that folks dont like to say how much they have spent so far? yeah i hear you Ron, but jumping is more than just fun to me (although it IS a huge amount of fun too, no disputing that). I guess that time you described above will happen when i come to think "i want a house now" instead of renting, or when the car dies and i cant afford a new one, or when i want to start a family. Right now though i can enjoy the freedom of little of the real reponsibility of adult life, even though im nearing 30, and i knwo that won't last forever. How comes you are still jumping after spending all that $ if it amounts to "nothing but fun" in your words? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 3 Next Page 2 of 3 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. 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AggieDave 6 #43 February 9, 2004 QuoteI don't know if there is a "type" that defines a skydiver A majority of jumpers I've met are "Type A" personalities, but I think I've met just about every kind of personality out there in this sport as well. Honestly, I don't think the people in this sport are very easily defined in one group, besides "Skydiver".--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #44 February 9, 2004 QuoteHonestly, I don't think the people in this sport are very easily defined in one group, besides "Skydiver I agree - I retract my last statement...=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wilmshurst 0 #45 February 9, 2004 Here's what I heard: Skysurfing was cut from the X-Games because it did not have the participant base (number of participants) that the other sports did. This was an important factor for the companies sponsoring the event - that is, the big corporates (such as Taco Bell?) that want to sell to teens, etc. They also cut the adventure race from the X-Games -another event that was truly extreme. The X-Games are still entertaining, but not as cool. I still appreciate the way the participants act at the X-Games. It is common to see them encouraging each other and winning does not seem as important as giving it your all and laying down something sick. I have seen people throw their trophy/medal into the crowd. These people seem to truly embrace the Olympic spirit at a time when the Olympics has come to involve performance enhancing drugs and professional athletes with multi-million dollar contracts and endorsements. The only thing worse than a cold toilet seat is a warm toilet seat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newbie 0 #46 February 9, 2004 Quote***If I would have known that I could have bought a nice car with the amount of money I have spent in the last 4 years... I doubt I would have ever taken up jumping. mate are you serious? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #47 February 9, 2004 QuoteIn Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I would have known that I could have bought a nice car with the amount of money I have spent in the last 4 years... I doubt I would have ever taken up jumping. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mate are you serious? Well, I have spent over 50,000 on skydiving. Thats half a house."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newbie 0 #48 February 9, 2004 QuoteQuoteIn Reply To -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If I would have known that I could have bought a nice car with the amount of money I have spent in the last 4 years... I doubt I would have ever taken up jumping. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mate are you serious? Well, I have spent over 50,000 on skydiving. Thats half a house. yeah im not disputing phree could have bought a nice car, im just wondering if he would have really not got into jumping so he COULD buy a nice car. I used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Then i discovered jumping and realised as long as i could eat and had a roof over my head i would be happy. In the short time i have been jumping, i have spent about $10000 or so, so far, but i wouldnt have traded the experiences for a nice car or downpayment. I guess i could change my mind, but i made my first jump 5 years ago, and the desire to blow more money on it just seems to increase as the years go by. "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #49 February 9, 2004 Quoteyeah im not disputing phree could have bought a nice car, im just wondering if he would have really not got into jumping so he COULD buy a nice car. I used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Then i discovered jumping and realised as long as i could eat and had a roof over my head i would be happy. In the short time i have been jumping, i have spent about $10000 or so, so far, but i wouldnt have traded the experiences for a nice car or downpayment. I guess i could change my mind, but i made my first jump 5 years ago, and the desire to blow more money on it just seems to increase as the years go by. QuoteI used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Somewould say that when you DO grow up, then you will wonder why you spent 10,000 bucks on something that really added nothing but fun to your life. Imagine that you get laid off....You start to wonder about all that money and how much you could use it now. Give it a few years...At some point I think you will go..."Aw shit, I sure wasted a lot on jumping". It might take many more years, and it may only last a few seconds...But it WILL happen. Ever notice that folks dont like to say how much they have spent so far?"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newbie 0 #50 February 9, 2004 QuoteQuoteyeah im not disputing phree could have bought a nice car, im just wondering if he would have really not got into jumping so he COULD buy a nice car. I used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Then i discovered jumping and realised as long as i could eat and had a roof over my head i would be happy. In the short time i have been jumping, i have spent about $10000 or so, so far, but i wouldnt have traded the experiences for a nice car or downpayment. I guess i could change my mind, but i made my first jump 5 years ago, and the desire to blow more money on it just seems to increase as the years go by. QuoteI used to have my priorities set up so that a nice car and somewhere to live were important to me. Then i grew up and discovered there was more to life. Somewould say that when you DO grow up, then you will wonder why you spent 10,000 bucks on something that really added nothing but fun to your life. Imagine that you get laid off....You start to wonder about all that money and how much you could use it now. Give it a few years...At some point I think you will go..."Aw shit, I sure wasted a lot on jumping". It might take many more years, and it may only last a few seconds...But it WILL happen. Ever notice that folks dont like to say how much they have spent so far? yeah i hear you Ron, but jumping is more than just fun to me (although it IS a huge amount of fun too, no disputing that). I guess that time you described above will happen when i come to think "i want a house now" instead of renting, or when the car dies and i cant afford a new one, or when i want to start a family. Right now though i can enjoy the freedom of little of the real reponsibility of adult life, even though im nearing 30, and i knwo that won't last forever. How comes you are still jumping after spending all that $ if it amounts to "nothing but fun" in your words? "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
