4wayFly

(Can you notify the thread again if it gets to 70? Thanks mate )

You know Kallend, I find myself strangely growing to like you. Thank you for being on my ass all the time, it is humbling.

Post-counter....dude...you have to stop that!

Er...do you want to go back and forth like this all day? I don't think it will get us anywhere. I was responding to someone who implied that having an opinion that differed from the majority made me ignorant. (Being different in your outlook is not always bad...you should know, you're a skydiver ) I don't have a narrow obsession on a single discipline to the exception of all else...the thread is about how the USPA treats its competitor representatives....in ALL disciplines. I don't particularly feel the USPA mag is the place to celebrate partying over and above skydiving (hence my comment that it would be sad if skydiving were just about getting drunk - that idea just degrades the entire sport - blowing off steam after a day's jumping is one thing...but skydivers have more to them than alcoholic tendencies)... That said, I do like the Club News section of the BPA magazine. There is space for both.

Yes, all that is great...I think it's part of the *sport* of skydiving. Not at all, but I think properly representing competitors who represent their associations is part of the association's role. I think it makes the sport richer, not at the expense of other participants but to everyone's benefit. That's great, sounds like you're having an awesome season :) I also like to jump with skydivers from all over the world, at dzs all over the world. It is a great global community which is a priviledge to be a part of...but that's not the point I'm making about the USPA's role. Maybe, I haven't seen it, although personally I'm somewhat of a liberal... I think competition is a showcase for the greatest talents in the sport (all disciplines) and that's an inspiration. I don't really get this point?

Probably because all their kids now think you guys are the coolest people they've ever seen and by comparison, their teachers, are not Nice one for getting the sport into schools, good on you.

Being in the minority doesn't mean you are wrong. How sad.

I agree, you might have a point.

I apologize for the confusion, I was thinking more along the lines of snowboarding, skating, or other so-called 'extreme' sports which are commonly compared to skydiving. Not that I have anything against NASCAR racing but I doubt the spectator interest would be there. Skydiving, however, could do more to drive supporter interest within the sport itself (its own magazines), as a first step. We have top level competitors who approach this 'odd hobby' as a sport and that could be recognized better.

Bill...I know car racing is a sport. But NASCAR Racing does not *define* sports.

The comment was: > They (and the rest of the world) might even begin to consider skydiving a sport (rather than a slightly odd hobby) [....] I can only think this would be a good thing for all participants . . . So your definition of 'a sport' is a NASCAR race?

Feel free to drop me a PM with questions :)

Not quite true, some people on here do agree with me about issues raised. But by all means block them out of your mind if it makes you feel better.

Thanks for your progressive comment. My point is that, were the competitive side of the sport promoted properly within the sport itself, more people *might* care about what is going on at the cutting edge of their sport. They (and the rest of the world) might even begin to consider skydiving a sport (rather than a slightly odd hobby). This in turn could attract more media interest, better funding, more participants and ever increasing standards and facilities. I can only think this would be a good thing for all participants, competitors and business owners within the sport. I fully realise some people prefer to preserve the status quo, and that is entirely your prerogative.

Old enough to know how to use a comma.