Requirements for Skydiving: I don't think I have what it takes!

[nutter 0]

hmmmmm,

Just get to the DZ,Pay the money all else might follow, you gotta start somewhere.

Dont stop ,play,dont stop,play

"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian."

[sasteam 0]

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. I do feel like maybe, someday, I'll fit in.
I did want to add that I do admire a well placed tattoo. And, I have thought about finding a skydiving girlfriend but I'm betting that my wife just wouldn't understand.

At least I can see a smaller canopy in my future.

Crazy Ivan and the Crew (2005-2006)
Team Insane (2004-2005)
Insane in the Airplane (2003-2004)

[jdog 0]

Smoking cigarettes is stupid

[TheBachelor 5]

I do understand what you mean, but we're not all like that:

- have and display one or more tattoos
None.

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
Never Smoked

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
No holes in body other that what god gave me.

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
I'm a lightweight
- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
I'm closer to the mesomorph.

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
Yes, my attitude is "let's have fun!"

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
No comment

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
I own a Porsche and a house with a paid-off mortgage.

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
My future is planned and secure.

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
I agree...

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
I don't think I'm so good looking, but my non-skydiving SO is.

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
85 Mile drive each way (once a week at most).

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
Hate packing -- takes at least 20 minutes

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
Yes, I have a REAL JOB.

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)
Nope

There are battered women? I've been eating 'em plain all of these years...

[Vallerina 2]

- have and display one or more tattoos
I have none!

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
Ewwww...smoke is gross

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
Belly button...So I've got one thing going for me (1)

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
Not anymore
- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
Iffy

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
Okay, got me there, too. I don't know what kind of attitude I have, but I usually have one (2)

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
Only in Wal-Marts

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
I live with my parents, and I don't own anything of value (3)

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
I don't know where I'll even be in 4 months! (4)

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
No, I dwell on my old jumps

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
Got me there...I have a good-looking skydiving so (5)

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
Heck no!

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
I could with my Falcon!

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
I wish

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)
I wish

5 isn't too bad...I just may be a skydiver after all!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[betzilla 56]

- have and display one or more tattoos
nope

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
nope

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
nope

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
nope, but can drink heavily and show up early at the gear store.

- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
Hell no

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
yep

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
yep

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
yep

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
yep

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
getting back to that

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
not these days

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
next door to the DZ

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
My canopy's much bigger than trashbag, but even my best packjob is a trash pack, so it all evens out...

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
HAHAHA, student loans + medical bills = empty bank account

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)
nope, but maybe someday

[skymama 37]

Ok, I'll play:

- have and display one or more tattoos
Nope

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
Never

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
My belly is pierced, but that was on a dare to get a friend to do a tandem

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
I drink, but not to excess.

- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
Ew, big words with many syllables....we'll skip this one so I don't have to look them up.

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
Hmmm...I'm a smart-ass, does that count?

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
Really sane people don't throw themselves out of airplanes.

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
Next month I close on a brand new 4 BR/2 BA house and then I'm going to buy a new car.

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
I look towards the future, I won't even use a credit card for jumps.

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
Ok, you got me on this one.

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
Nah, I'm old, wrinkled and saggy

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
It's about 30 minutes away, but I didn't even know it existed when I moved here.

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
LOL, no, my 170 takes me at least 30 minutes.

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
I don't usually drive the speed limit, but that's about as illegal as I get.

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)
Been living in the same area for 6 years now and will continue to live here while my kids are still in school. All my jumps are scheduled around my son's soccer games and my child custody schedule. I guess I don't meet the "requirements" either, but that's not gonna stop me from jumping!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Casie 0]

These only apply to me:

- have and display one or more tattoos
I have 2, picture of 1 attached below!

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
Other than my ears....my navel is pierced!

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
Well, I'm still working on 10 minutes, try 30!

~Porn Kitty
WARNING: Goldschlager causes extreme emotional outbursts!

[turtlespeed 221]

Quote

- have and display one or more tattoos
It's just another form of expression, so whatever

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
Well, alot of people smoke after sex...what's the difference?

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
well, not yet, but considering it.

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
Rarely

- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
I'm not going to look this up, but no i don't think so, I have a natural arch, built by Shiner Bock.

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
Well, yeah, kinda a human trait don'tcha think?

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
Yeah, ok, I resemble that remark.

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
You forgot gear...gear is rather expensive...

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
Like Kris said...401K...Investments...

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
Oh Yeah!

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
No....I know better

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
It only appears that way cuz there's nowhere else do go skydiving except at the dropzone.

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
I too fly a 190...it's a 12-15 minute ordeal for me to pack the "Beast"

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
Heh...not likely, but if you find out how to do that, let us in on it...

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)Gotta meet new people...just gotta...

So, what's an aspiring skydiver to do?

Just be you. That's all you can do. If you try to be what you are not, you end up sounding fake and plastic. Just be you and do what you like to do. There are always people around that you can relate to in some way.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[freeflygoddess 0]

- have and display one or more tattoos
yeah but I had them before I started skydiving. only gotten one added since skydiving...

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
nope

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
had two belly rings before I started and removed them before I started

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
there are loads in the morning????

- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
I have no clue what you mean here...maybe I should stop jumping and go back to school...lol yeah right

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
no I am really a nice person untill you piss me off

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
crazy I was crazy once, they locked me up, I died there, they burried me with bugs...bugs I hate bugs the drive me crazy...Crazy I was crazy once....

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
I take great pride in the material that makes my rig, main and reserve, with out the material I would die...

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
I thought that by practing emergancy exit and cutaway procedures you are looking into the future...

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
isn't that why I continue to live? So I can continue to jump? Only in death will I stop jumping.

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
well I am a gal and I look allright, but I have no SO...

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
well if I live jump to jump, of course I would seem to live at the dz...

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
it only takes me 2 seconds to say, "Hey will you pack this for me?"

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
well this comes from being a gal and having good friends and family that understand the importance of having to jump every week, because I do live from jump to jump and if I can't look forward to my next jump then I am probably dead...

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)
well there are three dzs close together here and I do tend to vist all three...I haven't ventured out any further yet, but I do have plans to.

[mwabd1 0]

I am thinking that this is a bad attempt at humor and if that is the case then
but..........if that is not the case then here's what you do, sell all of your gear, cancel your uspa membership, go and buy a teddy bear, and of course a ba-ba for your milk, and piss off!

OR.............................you can accept that skydiver's are a family and while some of us are drunks, smokers, or whatever we all still share the love of hurling our bodies at earth until we are soar, have a smoke, light a fire, get drunk, and yes get up for the first load........why?........to get rid of our hangover of coarse!

OH.............and you owe beer.

.......I hereby reject your reality and instead choose to insert my own!

[wiregoat 0]

/I am thinking that this is a bad attempt at humor and if that is the case then
but..........if that is not the case then here's what you do, sell all of your gear, cancel your uspa membership, go and buy a teddy bear, and of course a ba-ba for your milk, and piss off!

OR.............................you can accept that skydiver's are a family and while some of us are drunks, smokers, or whatever we all still share the love of hurling our bodies at earth until we are soar, have a smoke, light a fire, get drunk, and yes get up for the first load........why?........to get rid of our hangover of coarse!

OH.............and you owe beer.


I am pretty sure you just met the most important requirement.

but, but, he's a giant chicken!

[kai2k1 0]

I guess I dont get this post. Are you trying to make all of us feel sorry for you?? Or would it be the Mom "they wont play with me syndrome"? If you dont think you fit in, you probably dont. I smoke, drink to excess alot of the time, get up at the crack of dawn, have tattoos, I am crazy!! I dont have a canopy to pack so 10 min is out of the question. I do live from jump to jump, in my life it matters to me!! I dont have an unending source of money, but I work my ASS of to make every jump, 2 car payments, a house payment, and to support my wife and stepson. ATTITUDE??? Damn right I have an attitude!!! and my nipple rings are going to be in next week!

Take this WAHH WAHH crap somewhere else please!!

BTW, I dont have to "fit in" I am who I am! I learned that in basic training

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[sasteam 0]

Chill, man, it was just a joke. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously or literally.

Crazy Ivan and the Crew (2005-2006)
Team Insane (2004-2005)
Insane in the Airplane (2003-2004)

[sasteam 0]

Stick with the . It certainly was intended as humor. Whether it's bad humor is subjective.

One of my wife's first questions, after having visited the local DZ a number of times, was, "do you have to have a tattoo and smoke in order to skydive?" Obviously not but, it seems, we all have to be a little bit crazy (at least in our own way). I know I am.

She recently accused me of turning into a bad boy (hah)... just because I started riding again and took up skydiving. And she's the one that wants the tattoo.

When I first started, I couldn't get enough. 220 jumps in about a year and a half. Not huge... but not bad. I've had to slow down because of a blip in the finances.

So, don't cry for me, Argentina. I'm not looking for sympathy. I just thought we'd see either a little of ourselves or someone we know in the list.

Crazy Ivan and the Crew (2005-2006)
Team Insane (2004-2005)
Insane in the Airplane (2003-2004)

[SkyMissy 0]

Quote

Thank God the holodeck safeties are engaged or this stuff would be really dangerous!

Trekkie Alert!! Cove your tattoos and put out your smokes in your beer, we're all gonna get beamed!

________________________________________________
Mike

[Synergie 0]

Hmmm I've only been skydiving for a couple months now and after reading your posts in this thread, I fear I am already well on the road to 'Conforming' ... Does this happen to everyone? lol

- have and display one or more tattoos
Unicorn, lower right leg

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
Don't need to smoke... The second-hand smoke provides me with more than enough nicotene.

- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
I have 3 (besides my ears and No I am not telling where!)

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
Been on the second after a night of tequila (and Rodriguez initiations)... does that count?

- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
Mesomorph, but the more I stay at the dz on weekends, the more I am becomming closer to ectomorphic. I really should learn to bring snacks! Hmm two meals = the cost of one jump!

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
Mine is flirtatious and bubbly! :)

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
Aren't we all? I mean we ARE all jumping out of perfectly good airplanes! haha

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
Well, I am somewhat materialistic. Ppeople call me 'gadget girl' but then again, lately I have been selling some of said gadgets to pay for more jumps...

- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
I gave up on daydreaming about the future when I hit my last birthday. Now it's ALL present!

- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
Since I only started this summer, I am still getting that extra rush from being scared! And yes, I want more! Oh no I am shaking.... is that DT's??? I beter go do a jump!

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
I am female (consider myself average), and do not have a SO at all

- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
Do weekends count?

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
I can't pack yet but well on my way since everyone is hounding me to learn. Might as well be useful between jumps eh?

- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
I am in the Navy, so I do have a good job, but I still have to scrounge for jumps

- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)
Ummm can't answer that one

[skybytch 273]

Quote

It certainly was intended as humor. Whether it's bad humor is subjective.

This thread has certainly had me LMAO.

[WrongWay 0]

- have and display one or more tattoos
I have one, working on the second (which will be skydiving related I might add)

- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette
NOPE!!!

- have body piercings
Not a damn one, don't plan on it.

- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
Consider it done!!!

- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism

Meesawhatchamatism????

- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind

Um, my attitudes change with my drinking habits....

- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)

Well no shit sherlock.

- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)

I spend over half my paycheck on jumps. The remainder goes to gas (to get to the dz) and food (damn my human need for energy)

- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking

Whatever dude, I'm unloved by all!! Get used to it!!

- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)

Well, when I decide to pack (which isn't often these days) I can do it in about 8-9 mins.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[SDiver218 0]

Quote

I guess I dont get this post. Are you trying to make all of us feel sorry for you?? Or would it be the Mom "they wont play with me syndrome"? If you dont think you fit in, you probably dont. I smoke, drink to excess alot of the time, get up at the crack of dawn, have tattoos, I am crazy!! I dont have a canopy to pack so 10 min is out of the question. I do live from jump to jump, in my life it matters to me!! I dont have an unending source of money, but I work my ASS of to make every jump, 2 car payments, a house payment, and to support my wife and stepson. ATTITUDE??? Damn right I have an attitude!!! and my nipple rings are going to be in next week!

Take this WAHH WAHH crap somewhere else please!!

BTW, I dont have to "fit in" I am who I am! I learned that in basic training

Jesus Christ...this guy's trying to make a joke and your all over his ass. WTF? Whether he fits in or not, he obviously doesn't care if he's stuck with it for as long as he has. Learn to take a joke and quit looking for something to bitch about.

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin

Ah that's just drunk talk, sweet beautiful drunk talk. - Barney Gumbal

[kai2k1 0]

HOLY SHIT!! Dude, you had me goin with this one, ok, i fell for it hook line and sinker!!

I OWE BEER

KAI

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[freeflybella 0]

Quote

- have and display one or more tattoos
- smoke and often require at least one cigarrette between loads
- have body piercings (ears don't count anymore)
- can drink heavily in the evening and be on the first load the next morning
- are ectomorphic or, at least, fall on the ectomorphic side of mesomorphism
- have some kind of attitude (doesn't really matter what kind
- come across as a bit touched (and by touched, I mean crazy)
- live a relatively non-materialistic lifestyle (money isn't good for much except jumps and beer!)
- live in the present (can't really execute emergency procedures if you're daydreaming about the future, now, can you?)
- live from jump to jump (always thinking about that next fix)
- consider themselves good looking (the guys) and have skydiving SOs (the gals) that are good looking
- seem to actually live (!) at the drop zone
- can easily pack in 10 minutes or less (mostly, it appears, because their canopy is about the size of a trashbag)
- have a seemingly unending source of money (maybe something illegal going on here, like in that documentary CUTAWAY about that cop... what's his name... Stephen Baldwin or something)
- (some) inexplicably live nomadic lifestyles (how high do you have to exit to actually reach the next DZ?)

WOW! Sounds gorgeous!!! Can you introduce me?

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi