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On Thursday our own all-purpose gopher "Sacajaweea" aka Brian Lancaster finally got back up in the skies passing his level 2 jump with Steve and Wendy. Also jumping Thursday, Keith Nevins made his first AFF, nailing his level 1 with Wendy and Scott. And Sidney Hoelscher got to do a coach jump with Shelby, working on her Category G jumps. Finally, on Sunday, Mitch Cleeland and Hunter McVeigh took advantage of a light day, attended the First Jump Course and later made their training tandem jumps with Scott and Isaac and now are all set to do their Level 1 AFF jumps -- welcome to the skies guys. |
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SKYDIVE TEMPLE
25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOGIE THIS WEEKEND RAIN OR SHINE! 
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Of all the weekends to come out, Skydive Temple's 25th anniversary boogie May 31st and June 1st is the one you won't want to miss. Did you sign up on the Facebook phun jumper's page to jump the Hughes 500c Turbine Helicopter? (lift ticket $65 and B-license minimum)! Have fun improving your skydiving skills by getting with one of our load organizers jumping a SUPER CARAVAN! Be sure to tell your whuffo friends to save big bucks and make a Tandem for $25 off the regular price AND get PICTURES AND VIDEO FOR JUST $80 MORE (a savings of $70 on the media alone!) RAIN OR SHINE, we'll feast on Saturday Night Dinner Special featuring BBQ Chicken or Pork or Sausage w/ Bread, Potato Salad and Cole Slaw or Gumbo w/Red Beans & Rice with Hush Puppies all for $15, plus FREE BEER! And don't forget all the other festivities: what Mark Mark calls an Oklahoma pool party (pick-up trucks filled with water, and Chicho's large dump truck with a water slide), raffle prizes (with prizes for EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS), and a world famous Toga Party. Stay tuned for more details on our Phun Jumpers Facebook page. |
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COOL NEW SKYDIVE TEMPLE T-SHIRTS ARE IN
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Just in time for the boogie and the summer jumping season, Skydive Temple has a bunch of cool new t-shirts in! The lightweight, breathable cotton shirts come in a variety of sizes and feature the new SDT logo on the back with a retro athletic shirt design on the front that pays homage to the 25 years SDT has been in business. Pick up yours at Manifest the next time you're here for just $25. | |||
LEARN HOW TO PACK
 | One of the requirements for earning your USPA A-License is knowing how to pack your main parachute. Knowing how to pack not only saves you $7 pack jobs, it also helps you understand your equipment so much better, see how to avoid deployment malfunctions, and give you a deeper confidence in your equipment. You can contact Wendy Falkner to schedule packing sessions where you will receive personalized hands-on training and practice. It usually takes several hours but costs just $45, less than seven paid pack jobs! | |||
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DID YOU KNOW... The United States Parachute Association conducts skydiving competitions every year in seven different disciplines, including canopy piloting, aka "swooping." The 2014 USPA National Skydiving Championships of Canopy Piloting have just wrapped up Friday at Skydive City Zephyrhills in Florida. Along with the medals, America’s top canopy pilots competeted to win one of 8 slots on the U.S. Team, which will represent the U.S. at prestigious international competitions around the world. You can review the events and scores at uspanationals.com and get a feel for what skydiving competition is like. |
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| SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK |
Some manufacturers used to sell risers that had no way of stowing excess brake line once you set your brakes, increasing the risk of malfunctions and knotted steering lines. Check out this handy guidance from USPA Director of Safety & Training and FAA Senior Rigger Jim Crouch. |
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A BLOG ABOUT WHAT'S JUMPIN' AT THE DZ
25 May 2014
25 MAY 2014
18 May 2014
18 MAY 2014
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Thursdays again proved perfect for student jumps as Gabe Ward worked on Level 2 with Wendy and Scott this week Also jumping Thursday, Jasper Byrom took advantage of the blue skies and low winds to work on Level 4 turns Then on Saturday, while higher winds kept most AFF grounded, Dalvin Hickerson got up early in the day and knocked out his Category A training tandem with Scott And joining his Army buddy Dalvin on the same load, Daniel Byers also did his first training tandem, jumping with Steve. Finally, on Sunday, Michael Daniels and Kayla Ransom took the FJC from Beth, and both were able to make their training tandem jumps on the last load of the day, and the last load in N447XP, the Caravan we've been jumping over the last year.
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T-2 WEEKS 'TIL SKYDIVE TEMPLE
25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOGIE
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Skydive Temple's 25th anniversary boogie May 31st and June 1st is just two weeks away! Don't forget to sign up on the Facebook phun jumper's page to jump the Hughes 500c Turbine Helicopter! (lift ticket $65 and B-licence minimum)! In a bit of otter chaos, Spaceland mis-scheduled their Twin Otter, but we will be jumping a SUPER CARAVAN instead! Be sure to tell your whoffo friends to save big bucks and make a Tandem for $25 off the regular price AND get PICTURES AND VIDEO FOR JUST $80 MORE (a savings of $70 on the media alone!) And don't forget all the other festivities: what Mark Mark calls an Oklahoma pool party (pick-up trucks filled with water, and Chicho's large dump truck with a water slide), the free beer, great food, and a world famous Toga Party. Stay tuned for more details on our Phun Jumpers Facebook page. |
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YET ANOTHER SCR & SCS JUMP
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Saturday, just two weeks after performing a like feat, 8 jumpers ascended to help Juan get his SCR and Shelby get his SCS The Star Crest Recipient Award is earned by docking on an eight-way or larger round that is free flown from exit (no grips in the launch); and a Star Crest Solo is earned by docking eighth or later on such a formation Participating in the fun, in order of docks, Juan Carlos, visiting USPA Regional Director Jack Paland, Steve Ruiz, Scott Fritz, Wendy Faulker, Ray Shafer, Tony Albano and Shelby Palmer Yes, you can watch it all on YouTube! We'll be doing the ceremonial beer pouring Saturday night May 31st at the boogie! | |||
A CHANGE OF PLANES
| The Cessna Caravan that Skydive Temple has leased was just sold to another party, and we will instead be getting TWO Cessna 182s to jump out of. The Cessna 182 can hold up to four jumpers and is easily the most prolific jump plane in the United States. More skydivers have made more jumps out of Cessna 182s than any other aircraft. For students in particular, the change in planes means they no longer have to wait for a larger plane to fill with Tandems or other jumpers; they can often arrive, plan and dive, weather permitting -- no more "waiting for the load to fill!" The 182s should be arriving at SDT on Thursday! Will you be the first to jump them? | |||
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DID YOU KNOW... Once you've earned your A-licence, one of the most fun and rewarding skydiving disciplines is Formation Skydiving (FS), or more traditionally called Relative Work (RW) This is jumping with others in groups ranging in size from 2 to hundreds, adjusting relative fall rate and position with others to dock and make formations in the sky. The United States Parachute Association Skydivers Information manual gives some helpful guidelines on group skydiving in Section 6-1. As the boogie approaches, and you consider jumping in groups, review the guidelines to help remember some the risks and how to mitigate them safely. Avoid jumping with large groups, especially groups with a high ratio of less experienced jumpers whose flying skills in that discipline are not yet hone. Instead, seek out coaches and load organizers who can tailor a fun jump designed to advance your flying skills based on your own needs and goals. |
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| SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK |
Setting the pattern: The first person down is not always right! Lately here at Skydive Temple the winds have been light and/or heavy and very much variable. There is usually a pattern that is set for the load and jumpers stick to that shared pattern unless the winds change in a big way. You should know what the landing pattern is BEFORE you jump! If you don't know, ASK! If the winds do change the first person landing will set the new pattern and everyone behind should follow to avoid the risk of collision. However, just because the first person down set a new pattern DOES NOT mean that the new pattern is correct. It is your job to look at the wind socks and determine if the winds did in fact change or if the first person down was just wrong or had a bad pattern due to a malfunction, low opening, intentional down wind landing, or they are a swooper. If the first person down landed downwind and you follow and have never landed down wind and are not use to the increase in canopy speed over the ground you could kill or injure yourself. Let's all go out there and be safe this season and have safe, fun filled jumps AND landings at the boogie in two weeks! |
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11 May 2014
11 MAY 2014
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Several students got up on Saturday before the winds kicked up. Dan Hahn got up to do his CatB with Li'l Buddy and Wendy. Dave Garcia went up with Scott to work on turns and actually landed in the pea gravel pit for the first time-- nicely done Dave! But the big news on Saturday: Joel Gibson did his A-licence check dive and earned his USPA A-licence! Congrats Joel! The winds on Sunday kept everyone grounded, but David Mowery, Charles King, Daniel Byers, and Dalvin Hickerson took the FJC from Beth and are ready to take to the skies once the weather gets jumpable.
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TELL YOUR FRIENDS: $25 OFF TANDEMS AT SKYDIVE TEMPLE
25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOGIE 
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To celebrate 25 years in business, Skydive Temple is offering $25 off tandem jumps during our 25th anniversary boogie May 31st and June 1st! It's the perfect opportunity for you to bring all your whuffo friends who haven't yet make a skydive! They can jump at a discount, and join in on all the rest of the fun! In addition to our Caravan we'll jump Spaceland's Twin Otter, and a Hughes 500c Turbine Helicopter! (lift ticket $65)! And don't forget all the other festivities: what Mark Mark calls an Oklahoma pool party (pick-up trucks filled with water, and Chicho's large dump truck with a water slide), the free beer, great food, and a world famous Toga Party. Stay tuned for more details on our Phun Jumpers Facebook page. |
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DID YOU KNOW... The United States Parachute Association offers canopy performance awards to members who achieve certain canopy skills. Most of the awards are for canopy formation or (Canopy Relative Work CRW). You can read about the awards, the requirements and application process in the SIM, Section 8-3. |
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| SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK |
Check out this article, with pictures, on an improperly sealed reserve in Parachutist online. This particular method of sealing the reserve pin would result in a total deployment malfunction of the reserve parachute, regardless of deployment method (Ripcord, RSL, or AAD fire) by locking shut the reserve flaps. Look closely at your reserve pin and make sure it looks like the correctly sealed picture. If you have any doubts, have a rigger inspect it before jumping it |
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04 May 2014
5 MAY 2014
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Finally, with the arrival of May, a beautiful week for jumping, starting on Thursday, with Sidney Hoelscher making two awesome jumps, working on barrel rolls and flips! On Saturday many students came out to jump, starting with Gabe Ward getting to do his first two AFF jumps in the same day! Joel Gibson got back up in the air, working on fall rate adjustments with Shelby on a coach jump; just a few more jumps till he graduates! Also on Saturday, Rob Lowe knocked out his Level 2 with Scott and Steve, and had a perfect landing! Jumping with Wendy, Teri Tamarez returned to the skies after a three-month hiatus and had a great time falling free over Salado. And Tom Dean made his first single-instructor AFF with Li'l Buddy, working on free fall turns. Finally, on Sunday, while it was too windy for AFFs, Dan Hahn and Greg Smeltzer got fully refreshed in a FJC and Dan got to do a training Tandem in the afternoon. Welcome back, guys
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SKYDIVE TEMPLE
25TH ANNIVERSARY BOOGIE
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Just a month away from our awesome boogie celebrating 25 years of free fall fun at Skydive Temple on May 31st and June 1st We will host Spaceland's Twin Otter, with load organizers to put you on memorable, fun jumps that expand your skills! And for real excitement: a Hughes 500c Turbine Helicopter (lift ticket $65)! Also on tap: what Mark Mark calls an Oklahoma pool party (pick-up trucks filled with water, and Chicho's large dump truck with a water slide). And don't forget the free beer, great food, and a world famous Toga Party. Stay tuned for more details on our Phun Jumpers Facebook page. |
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SCR & SCS JUMP
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On a throw-together sun-set load organized by our very own Mark Mark, eight jumpers came together in a sweet round Saturday evening, allowing Shelby to earn his SCR, and Shane to earn his SCS. The Star Crest Recipient Award is earned by docking on an eight-way or larger round that is free flown from exit (no grips in the launch); and a Star Crest Solo is earned by docking eighth or later on such a formation Participating in the fun, in order of docks, Shelby Palmer, Feremc Remick, Scott Fritz, Brian Cavage, Wendy Faulker, Mark Mark Polack, Steve Ruiz, Bob McLaughlin and Shane MacDogal Yes, you can view the video of our fun on YouTube! | |||
CONTEST: WIN A SKYDIVING DVD 
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Recognize this sign? You could win a free Norman Kent DVD if you know exactly where on the DZ this sign is located. If so, send an email describing exactly where this sign is. The first, most exact correct answer wins an awesome Norman Kent DVD to be presented at our 25th anniversary Boogie May 31st. All entries must be received by Thursday morning May 8th. Previous winners of SDT Times DVD contests aren't eligible to win, so get your best guess in today! | |||
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DID YOU KNOW... The Skydiver's Information Manual is chock full of handy info, like this Pre-Jump Safety Check and Briefing found in Section 5. It's a pretty comprehensive list of not only gear checks, but aircraft checks, load organizing, jumper briefing and other guides to spot problems, ensure everyone is properly equipped and knows the landing patterns, exit order, time between exits, and so on. |
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| SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK |
In case you missed Safety Day in March, USPA has published a comprehensive accident summary in Parachutist online. Breaking out the fatalities into categories such as Low/no pulls, Malfunctions, Collisions, Landing Problems, comparing them to year-over-year trends, and looking at key facts helps us better identify risky behaviors and prepare for and prevent accidents beforehand. If you haven't already, study this article and implement the recommendations to keep yourself and your friends safe |
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