Edmonton Skydiving Meetup March 28, 2005 8:04 AM   Subscribe

Metafilter Edmonton (Sorta) Skydiving meetup idea.

I've never been to one, and someone was trying to organize one a while back in the early days of the $5 signups. However, it never came to pass, or at least never came to my attention. So, I'd like to have a MESS Meetup (inspired by this thread) happen. I'm already organizing a group jump on May 14th, and I'd love to add any MeFi members from the area who are interested in a different sort of meetup. Bring cameras, but I promise no falling cars.

My contact info is on my user page (Extra link for those too lazy to move the mouse 1 line down)
posted by ChrisR to MetaFilter Gatherings at 8:04 AM (13 comments total)

That's a great idea--extreme meetups : >
posted by amberglow at 10:17 AM on March 28, 2005


Hah!

No, that'd be the Metafilter-Only BASE-jumping (MOB) Meetup. Sadly, I am not suicidal.
posted by ChrisR at 10:50 AM on March 28, 2005


please only read the following comment if you're a spinless moron who follows others without thinking:
i once went on a parachute course. everyone i was with thought it was great, but i hated it. i don't want to rain on the parade, just want to warn people as stupid as i was - if you don't think you'll enjoy it, and can't see the attraction, don't go (or, at least, don't jump). i know that's absolutely freaking obvious, but i went anyway, because a bunch of friends were going, and it was just as horrible as i thought it would be (i was so stupid i did 6 jumps - because i'd paid in advance damnit - and each was worse than the last).
this ends the public service anouncement for stupid people who do things just because their cool friends do them. why would you listen to me anyway?
posted by andrew cooke at 10:54 AM on March 28, 2005


Oh, man! Edmonton's my home town, and I'd *totally* want to do this, but I won't be around in May. Maybe June or July. Damn.
posted by painquale at 11:26 AM on March 28, 2005


painquale, I'll be going more than once this summer. Always glad to have company.
posted by ChrisR at 12:08 PM on March 28, 2005


andrew cooke writes "i once went on a parachute course. everyone i was with thought it was great, but i hated it. i don't want to rain on the parade, just want to warn people as stupid as i was - if you don't think you'll enjoy it, and can't see the attraction, don't go (or, at least, don't jump). i know that's absolutely freaking obvious, but i went anyway, because a bunch of friends were going, and it was just as horrible as i thought it would be (i was so stupid i did 6 jumps - because i'd paid in advance damnit - and each was worse than the last)."

I'm sorry to hear you were dragged into it. I do agree with you -- don't do this "Just because the cool kids are doing it," you'll regret it. It's a phenomenal experience, but there's no doubt that it's not for everyone.

On the other hand, my girlfriend did it, and she's so scared of heights that she gets vertigo on the stairs. So there's really no telling.
posted by ChrisR at 12:10 PM on March 28, 2005


Aerial shoutouts are expected; bring a small whiteboard and a marker. A few years ago I gave serious thought to posting to a web forum during freefall. The plan was to strap my cellphone and Palm, joined by a data cable to my left forearm, establish a cellular connection and load the page and compose the comment on the way up, then all I'd have to do is tap "submit" during freefall. But I really wasn't that experienced a skydiver and decided I could do without the distraction.

These days most phones can post to the web without such elaborate arrangements and I daresay phone calls from freefall are probably commonplace, wind noise notwithstanding. God knows people talk on the phone everywhere else.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:29 PM on March 28, 2005


Sadly, I'm still not qualified for solo jumping, George_Spiggott, so no go there. I'd love to sometime in the future, though.
posted by ChrisR at 1:32 PM on March 28, 2005


I am actually in Edmonton right now. I am surprised other Mefites are.

But..... skydiving? ..... A year or so ago, I wanted to... now I seem to be less into the idea. maybe it's the snow.
posted by blacklite at 4:22 PM on March 28, 2005


it seems like the snow would make for a softer landing, no?
posted by amberglow at 4:26 PM on March 28, 2005


I was gonna do a MeFi meetup at a velodrome and make everybody ride one-speed bikes that don't coast and lack brakes around a 33 degree banked oval track, but this sounds almost as good.
posted by fixedgear at 5:40 PM on March 28, 2005


So how about e-town mefites who aren't hooked on the idea of jumping out of planes, but would still like to have a meetup?
posted by tempest2i at 3:03 AM on March 29, 2005


I'm totally afraid of heights but I'm down for a e-town beat down... I mean meet up.
posted by philscience at 7:37 PM on April 13, 2005


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