Activ-L patient organizes skydiving record!

[Michelle]

Wasn't anyone else told no more skydiving or bungee jumping?? I was? Different device?? I've never done it, so attempting it now didn't seem like something I'd fight for, but I just assumed that was a common sense thing. `Course, what's sensible about jumping out of a perfectly good airplane? Always thougth I'd try it one day, but I was willing to take the trade-off!

[mmglobal]

I just dug out some skydive photos... here are some wonderful days from my past life....


Back in the days before digital cameras, skydivers were experimenting with stereo cameras.
This photo was taken with 2 side-by-side cameras to provide different perspective. They
are developed with different shading and can be viewed with a 3-d viewer that makes the
skydivers jump off the background. It was pretty impressive at the time.


This jump was made out of the King-Air that was used for the movie Point Break.
I had to appear in court (not too far from the DZ) for a speeding ticket and stopped
by just to see who was there. (140-mph coming back from a skydiving event in
Phoenix.) It was lucky that I was not planning on jumping that day and didn't bring
my rig, which is predominantly royal blue. The one I borrowed matched my suit and
is invisible in many of the pictures... just a guy in a suit in freefall!


I love exit shots! I was a late diver out of the lead DC-3. This was a world-record
attempt in 1992. We completed a 2 point 100-way, but did not beat the record with
a 3rd point. I'm leaving the aircraft about the time the picture is taken and will have to
dock on the base that is building just about off frame at the bottom left. The glare in the
middle left is the reflection of the late-afternoon sun over the Pacific, about 30 miles away.



I'm at about 2 o'clock in the third ring, 1 to the right of the purple spoke...
black jumpsuit, silver stripe on my rig... long legs. On a jump later this day,
we had a completed 100-way going through a cloud... talk about intense.
The sensation of speed as we approached the cloud was amazing. Everyone's
realization about the situation made it the smoothest flying 100-way ever,
as all of our concentration levels were at their peak.

[mmglobal]

OK... here is my favorite! YeeeeeeHaaaaahhhhhh



Lots of questions... I must explain. When the picture was taken, I just stepped off the basket.
My left foot was on the basket, left hand on the bar up near the burners.) The camera is on the
end of an 18 foot boom being held by Bear. He's very famous for his balloon jump photos and has
more ballon jumps than anyone else on the world... by a longshot. He started skydiving in 1959
and has been jumping ever since.

[dshobbies]

Awesome pictures Mark. You don't seem the type though. In all honesty, the first time I spoke to you, you came across as more ballet than rock climbing and sky diving, and I was a little surprised to discover you were married. Now this... the shock of it all. I think I need some aspirin and maybe I should lie down. I'd better go back to character school.

Dale

(I mean no offence to any group of people)

[Maria]

I wish I could feel what it would be like up there because it's really beautiful to see these photos and imagine people like myself only spinally improved up there doing such amazing feats! WOWWWW!!!! BTW, nice photo of you Mark!

[mmglobal]

Maria, the pictures really get me going because it brings me right back to those times and those feelings. Skydiving was a huge part of my life for a long time and I really, really miss it. I still have my rigs and believe that I'll jump again.

Mark

[Poncho]

This is just really kool stuff Mark!!!

Hope to see more pics like this.

Poncho