2003 Year in Review!

Top "Frequent Fallers"
The race OVER!  Here are the OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS of the top ten jumpers and their jump numbers (only those made at Skydive Kansas are counted) from January 1, 2003 to December 20, 2003:
Jim Sharp - 350
Jason Norris - 140
Turk Chapman - 112
Jen Sharp - 102
Rance Sackrider - 91
Bob Kemper - 89
Austin McKune - 88
Rick Gardner - 82
Steve Schonfeldt - 79
Bob Lowe - 68

MILESTONES

December 20th, Steve Schonfeldt made jump number 300!  YEAH!

September 14th, Chris Townsend earned his A license!  We welcome Chris from California where he did the first half of his training.

September 7th, Mike Earley made jump number 300!  WOO HOO!

August 30, 2003, Jamie Schonfeldt reached jump number 100 while Bob Lowe reached number 500.  Then on September 1st, Jason Norris made jump number 100 as well.

August 20, 2003, Austin McKune reached jump number 200.  A few loads later, Craig Ketter also reached jump number 200 and Turk Chapman made number 300 on the same load.  Congrats to you all!

August 3, 2003, Andrew Buckland earned his A license, same load as Nick's 200th!

August 3, 2003, Nick Bennett made jump number 200, and the next weekend, we all had his D number memorized after he repeated it so many times!

July 4, 2003, Shaun Smith made jump number 100 with some nude-- I mean NEW friends. Celebrating our Independence!

May 18, 2003, FINALLY Jason Norris earns his A license.  As a practical joke, on his graduation dive, we "faked" a call to the plane to abort the jump due to high winds.  Jason has more landings in a Cessna than most non-pilot skydivers!  Congratulations JASON!

April 26, 2003, Steve Schonfeldt makes 8 jumps in one day in order to reach jump number 200 at his home DZ before traveling for the next few weeks!

April 5, 2003, DZO Jim Sharp made tandem number 1,000 and jump number 2,200.

Congratulations to Bob Fisher who made jump number 2000 Thursday, January 2, 2003 at Z-hills!

Is it June or November?
Beautiful weather the weekend of November 16 & 17 made the DZ look almost like a summer day.

But SOME are prepared for the cold weather ahead, although Nick Bennett & Jim Sharp may need some fashion assistance...

 

If you are around the DZ you probably understand this photo.  If not, just ask Turk what this means.

actual phone calls:

February 2003 "Skydive Kansas, this is Jen." "Yeah, are you guys open on weekdays?" "No, we are only open weekends." "So you're not open tomorrow?" "Um, no, tomorrow is Tuesday, plus the high for tomorrow is predicted to be around 10 degrees..." "Oh.  Well, we're from Canada so it doesn't matter to us..."

Summer 2002 "My friend and I want to do a tandem, so we do it together?" "Sure... we have time slots available throughout the day and several people can attend the same class in a time slot." "No, I mean can we jump together?" "Sure... we can have four people in the plane, so that means you and your tandem master, then your friend and his tandem master..." "No, I mean, can he and I be hooked up to each other?"

Summer 2000 "Yes, I'm running for political office and I wanted to do something for publicity... I realize I probably can't go by myself but can I do a tandem off one of the buildings in downtown Topeka?"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKYDIVE KANSAS!
Skydive Kansas opened October 15, 1995.  Thanks to those who celebrated our birthday with 17 loads and yummy cake!

Bob Lowe makes an on target landing.  Photo by Jeremy Lyons.

LOTS OF PHOTOS THIS MONTH!
In fact, this month (August 03) was SOOO busy, this webmaster didn't have time to update photos!  Since the last update, we've had several students move up, one get an A license, Shrine Bowl Demo, Water Training, and of course, Rantoul, not to mention Rance's 50th Birthday party!  Here's a look at the past few weeks....

Rance brings in the American Flag to the Shrine Bowl in Wichita.  Everyone got on TV this year!

Jeremy Lyons slept on the concrete after water training...

 

(below) Steve Schonfeldt about to fall from an upside down Pitts...

WHAT'S NEXT?!

Bravo's Back:
Brand Spankin' New ENGINE!
Mid-May at N5901B's 100 hour, our mechanic unexpectedly broke the news that Bravo needed a new engine.  Beginning this weekend (June 21), BRAVO'S BACK!  And better than ever!  The brand new engine was "broken in" at cruise in preparation for it to resume flying skydivers.  It has a new healthy "growl" sound now, and is climbing even faster!



Clockwise from top: Perfect standup landing from Jason Norris; Jason again with the moon in the background; Rance Sackrider flares and makes an accurate landing; Larraine Sackrider helps with ground crew and shows off her "night glasses" from Turk.  Jumps ran well into the night, ending after 1am. Photos by Jen Sharp

Bill Hubbell and Steve Schonfeldt hold a hoolahoop for photographer Bob Kemper to aim for.  This game is fun plus a good tool for learning swooping control.

Kate Briggs comes by the DZ before she goes to PROM April 26, 2003, just to make sure we're doing things right and take care of us!


Saturday, April 13, 2003 was a busy one with beautiful weather and calm winds.  Thank you to Brent and Grant who flew 18 loads including some 8 ways.  Above is the dirt dive: what it's SUPPOSED to look like, and the bottom photo is reality: what it REALLY looked like!  Below is an incredulous crowd watching Jim actually pack his own rig!
Photos by Jen Sharp, Bob Kemper



Saturday, April 5, DZO James Sharp makes tandem jump number 1,000.  On the very next jump (also a tandem) he reached total jumps of 2,200.  Of those total jumps, wife Jen jokingly estimates that 2,000 of them, he has had at least one shoelace untied (see bottom photo)!  -Photo by Rance Sackrider
BOBISMS... The legend of "Bad @!%^ing Bob" Fisher

A 3 way with cameraman free flies an exit.  Bob Lowe momentarily eclipses the sun and creates an incredible picture!  The weekend of March 15 & 16 proved to be the "official" start of the season, with 14 loads including an 8 way on Sunday.  -Photo by Bob Kemper

Photo by Bob "Big Bird" Kemper.


On October 19, 2002, Craig Ketter turned 30 years old, and almost to the minute, he also made his first base jump at Bridge Day, at New River Gorge Bride in Virginia.  Craig remarked that he was "born again" at that moment!

WHO IS THIS MAN!?  Photo by Bob Kemper Here were your responses: It's LOBO our new tandem master... Lobo Ivan Jerkov Lobo Billy Ray Joe Bob Lowe Lobo, of course Yep, It's Bob Lowe sporting his favorite Christmas Present.

Happy New Year 2003! The first jump of the new year was RICK GARDNER, Saturday, January 4th.  Rick really wanted the distinction after traveling to Florida and making ZERO jumps!  Happy New Year to all!