http://eedition.uniontrib.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=10_12_2007_001_023&mode=1

I think they were less crazy when you just had the video to go by– reading the article edges me closer to the Lex camp (ie that they are stark raving mad..).

/BeachBum

The sad fact is about 10 years ago, the stats pushed thru the point where >50% of the fatailites happened to those under fully opened and functioning parachutes. Cause: Too much testosterone and too many chicks (only about 10% of jumpers are female, so the ones to impress are the “whuffos” hanging about the DZ, as it were) to show off for with a “hook turn.”

Very, very cool if executed with the precision gained by experience and daring (with the luck of only being scared a few times) and a barometrically reckoned altimeter.

HOWEVER (forget all said before), just about a guaranteed ride in a helo, but not the military ones…if you misjudge the altitude from which you initial the hard, 180 deg turn, essentially tipping the high performance canopies to almost 90 deg of bank and losing all your lift for a few moments. At that point, you get a few seconds to contemplate either your whole life, or how fast you might get out of the hospital.

That’s the bad news. The good news, is deaths in the sport have stayed pretty low….

“Idiot” is a term used by those not getting the adrenaline high….

I understand the entire helmet mounted thingie…what I meant was that there was not just one idiot, but more than one!!