Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site lanl.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!lanl!hwe
From: hwe@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive
Subject: Re: USPA Boogie Tales
Message-ID: <30491@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 14:02:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: lanl.30491
Posted: Wed Sep 11 14:02:16 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Sep-85 07:20:54 EDT
References: <41800023@hpcvlo.UUCP> <41800026@hpcvlo.UUCP> <1220@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 49

> When I think about the pleasures of skydiving, what comes to mind is
> that it must give one a sense of great freedom and independence, ...

TRUE!!!

> Yet, most of these descriptions I have read, and this last tale of an
> accidental collision of two skydivers, emphasize GROUP activity.
> This seems to me to violate and destroy the main advantages and benefits
> of what you are doing. Once you leave that plane, and until you reach
> the ground, you can be totally alone, more alone than you can ever be in
> any other situation. So why spoil that wondrous isolation by diving in
> groups, where you contact other people, and interact with them, and have
> to pay attention to what they are doing and what you do in relation to
> them? Not only would you have the joy of total freedom, but you would be
> safer, too -- no mid-air collisions to spoil your flight.
> 
> So why do this in groups, and try to make patterns of linked bodies, or
> whatever else is done in these group activities? It all seems
> inexplicable to me.

Your confusion comes from the idea that the ALONENESS is more important
than the FLIGHT. The whole point of a SKYDIVE is to FLY with the aerodynamics
of your body. A bird has better aerodynamics than a human. The bird is
much better at flight than I. The bird can use the superior aerodynamics
to slow and land at the end of the flight while I must use some extra
drag-producing device. In spite of my poor aerodynamics, during a skydive
I FLY to the best of my ability. I turn, move forward and backward and left
and right, I slow my descent and speed my descent. This FLIGHT is the point
of each skydive.

Some folks can enjoy the FLIGHT of the body alone, just as some can
hike alone, swim alone, etc.

Many who FLY choose to do so in groups, building formations, and FLYING
relative to each other (Hmmm maybe they should call it relative work).

Just as I choose to hike with others, and swim(snorkel scuba) with others
so as to share the fine experience, pursuit of a sport with others emphasizes
the skills envolved and helps refine those skills. When I am FLYING
alone, it takes a fairly well developed sense of the relative airflow
to note that I am slipping to the right a little.
When I slip the same amount during relative work, the effects are immediate.

Don't miss the main point. FLIGHT.

By The Way: Someday soon, Try It You'll Like It !

				Skip Egdorf
				C-11444