Blueskies83
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Rolla Recap 8/30/08 - 2008/09/02 17:22
Although it appears most of the skydiving population went North for Couch Freaks this weekend – some of us actually stayed and played right here in Missouri! Skydive Rolla was kind enough to open there doors to those of us here for Labor Day weekend. Big thanks to Doug, Connie, and the gang for making us feel right at home!
The day started early and on time. Actually, we drug Terry out for breakfast and the tandems were ready to be suited up by the time we got to the DZ about 8:15 Saturday morning. There is nothing like starting the day off with a big group of excited first time jumpers!
Terry and Doug belted out the tandems while Mark and Jason chased them load after load on video. Rumor has it Doug falls pretty fast – I still think I can catch you Doug – next time I’m in your neck of the woods it’s on!
Half way through the day a familiar car came rolling around the corner…. BG’s one and only Sean came out with sister Cailie in tow for her first skydive. Congrats on your first skydive Cailie, it’s so awesome to see families skydiving together, and now you are part of one huge, very dysfunctional family we like to call skydivers!
Mike, a licensed skydiver and Rolla regular made a good impression on me as he came pulling into the DZ. In order not to waste precious time, or space, Mike rode his motorcycle in wearing his jumpsuit! I wonder how many people though that his grippers were padding for taking the corners at 120MPH?? Well, I guess they wouldn’t be that far from right…
The C182 is a fun little jump ship – especially with Captain Darrin flying to altitude! Any pilot who announces at 1000 ft that the captain has turned off the seatbelt light and you are free to roam about the cabin is good in my book! The clear door is also a plus, it’s nice to get a good look at the DZ from altitude for a newbie like myself. Of course with Darrin right there to entertain you I find it is difficult to remember to take in much of the scenery!
Mark was out to continue taking Steve Babin’s Xoas 81 on a tour of the Midwest. You can’t go wrong with a bright blue sky and that pretty orange canopy lighting it up. I think Mark might be enjoying the airtime as much as the canopy is….
The airport the DZ sits on has a field of what appears to be hundreds of hay bails scattered about. There was talk about bringing in a hay bail with a saddle on it to use for accuracy landings.
No – your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you – that is the plane amongst the hay! At first I thought Darrin was in on the accuracy-landing contest but it turns out the runway goes right down the side of the field!
Ella and Mike let me come along on a fun jump with them – after Terry ditched me anyway – I guess they felt bad for me! Any who, Mike played a really good student on exit and we were able to get together for a couple points to end the day…
You know how that say behind every good man is an even better woman?? Well, it turns out behind a mediocre man there is one heck of a woman by the name of Connie! I swear the woman does it all – manifesting loads, gearing up the students, making jump certificates, and putting up with Doug! WOW! Someone give that woman a Her!
Thanks for a fun weekend guys!
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