>>you're welcome, Nick, except for that was Walt Appel that gave you that
>>compliment. but gosh darn it, I agree with Walt.
Thanks for straightening me out, but I did realize my mistake right after posting that message.
Walt,
Thanks (again) for the compliment, and by the way your articles on the Web concerning BASE gear
and technique are all outstanding, and a great accessible resource for all new BASE jumpers. Thanks for putting
it up.
Harry Parker,
I need a E-mail address for you. Anne showed me the Bridge Day proposal yesterday, and it looks
Jason Bell,
I sent you a refund check for the TFOJ last week, and Im sorry you were so mad at me you felt it
necessary to flame and threaten me on the net. If you still want to follow through on your statement of, Ill
see you at Bridge Day, meet me behind the Fayettville gym, Saturday at 3:30. (Sorry its so late in the day,
but I have a few earlier bouts already scheduled). Also, let me know when you get your refund so I can cross
you off a very short list of whiners.
On BASE and PARACHUTIST,
USPA is tied to that old BOD decision, to never mention the word BASE, made shortly after the
end of legal El Cap jumps in the early 80s. However the reality is a bit different than the perception. During
a pleasant meeting with Bill Ottley at USPA several years ago (he was offering me the editorship of PARACHUTIST
that I declined) I couldnt help notice the largest picture*** on his office wall is of him launching from El Cap.
(A jump he really enjoyed). And not to mention any names at USPA, but sometimes people who call for BASE info
are unofficially directed to the proper sources for info.
KEEP COMPLAINING THOUGH, I feel its now only a matter of time.
At the very least PARACHUTIST must assist USPA members who are planning legal Bridge Day jumps.
too many skydivers show up with the, Its just another parachute jump syndrome. It is very taxing on the Bridge
Day staff and its a safety issue.
X-USPA member: Rick Stanley, 1987
Object: New River Gorge Bridge
Cause of Death: Drowning
Rick had a line over malfunction, and wasnt aware of the line over modification in use by all
experienced BASE jumpers of the time. That knowledge would have prevented his uncontrolled spinning
decent into a raging New river.
X-USPA member: Steve Gyrsting, 1987
Object: New River Gorge Bridge
Cause of Death: Impact
Steve was making his third jump of the day using a standard size (too small) skydiving pilot chute.
He was strongly advised at the launch point that he was using the wrong equipment and the last anybody
heard from him was, Its always worked before.
On this jump the small pilot chute streamered and a late reserve pull resulted in line stretch on impact.
Anybody who was there will never forget that splash at an estimated 100 mph, and the way the water turned red
with *** as his body disintegrated.
And thats just the Bridge. Just about every BASE fatality in this country is a USPA member who failed
to get the word.
Who wants to be next?
C-ya,
Nick
Head Jumpmaster, Bridge Day 1995
(Hey Harry, couldnt I be Chief Jumpmaster instead)?