With the recent passing of one of the most humble skydivers I’ve known, I found it appropriate to discuss what I like to call the “skydiver ego.”
Let me start by saying this: we skydivers all have ego issues. Every single one of us.
(I’m confident in my assessment that none of us are exempt. After all, what skydiver doesn’t love talking about and watching videos of their jumps?)
Think about it. We spend our free time jumping out of airplanes at 13,000 feet above the Earth, plummet at speeds upwards of 120 mph to the ground – all the while manipulating the air in such a way that it appears as if we are dancing with our fellow jumpers – and get ourselves safely back to the ground under canopy.
Essentially we’re saving our own lives, with a little bit of grace, each time we jump. Who wouldn’t be a little egotistical about that?
But, as I mentioned on Twitter a while back, it’s how we package that ego that matters most.
What gets to me are those skydivers who not only obsess over themselves and the successes they’ve had along the way – everyone likes to talk about themselves to some extent – they also constantly question their fellow jumpers.
“What size canopy are you flying?”
“How current are you?”
“How many jumps do you have?”
Now, when these questions are asked at the DZ, for safety purposes, or even just making small talk, I’m all for it. But I’ve heard these questions asked at some of the most inappropriate, irrelevant times as of late. And often, the answer is followed by an egotistical remark like “I fly a…” or “I’ve got over 600 jumps now, and I just did a demo into…” or, better yet, “you’ve only got 200 jumps? you really shouldn’t be doing…like we do…”
What I’ve also found lately is the tendency for experienced male skydivers (this has yet to happen with a woman), to take one look at me and completely disregard me. Even while at the dropzone.
Fellow jumpers have had to interrupt the conversation to introduce me and point out that I too, am a jumper. I really didn’t take this personally at first. After all, I’m a 20-something, short blonde girl who looks like she’s 18 and should be at the mall with her teeny-bopper friends.
(With one of the people I credit for turning me into a skydiver. Thanks, Bailey!)
Trust me, I get that.
But this situation has occurred with more than just me, and it’s a sad truth that people are brushed aside so easily. In fact, I’ve been to a dropzone that has a tendency to treat anyone with less than 500 jumps as incompetent, unaware, or just plain dangerous to jump with.
I’ve witnessed experienced skydivers turn their nose up, literally, at the site of a fairly new jumper. There have even been a couple instances where the experts have refused to coach less experienced jumpers on the ground because they don’t have enough jumps to work with them yet. What gives?
Maybe I’m spoiled in that my mentors have taken me under their wings, talked me through questions I had and areas for improvement, without looking down on me in the process. These are the same jumpers who acknowledge that we all started in the same place. We all had our first jump at one point in time.
So why the attitude?
Personally, I respect a skydiver (or anyone, for that matter) more when there is humbleness in their demeanor. Whether you have 5 skydives or 5,000, welcoming those jumpers around you with open arms will go a long way.
I will always remember what my mentors, coaches and instructors have done for me along the way, and intend to pay it forward to those up-and-coming skydivers who look to me for advice or mentorship.
Luckily, in my first season as a skydiver, I have encountered so many humble jumpers that have welcomed me into the fold. In fact, most everyone I’ve met has been this way.
Having experienced six different dropzones this year, the latest being Skydive Pennsylvania in Grove City, they have all been filled with down-to-Earth skydivers.
If you want to experience humble, Team Fastrax from Start Skydiving are some of the most. You’d never know just by talking to them that they are some of the most skilled jumpers around. I’m grateful for having met and talked with this team on multiple occasions. It’s people like them that support the welcoming culture of the dropzone, and it’s what keeps jumpers like me coming back for more.
*Photo courtesy of Skydive Orange
As I’ve said before, skydiving is more than just a sport, it’s a social experience. It’s a community. A tight-knit one at that. Without my friends and mentors, my freefly partner and RW buddies, the sport just wouldn’t be the same for me.
What have been some of your experiences with the “skydiver ego?”
Blue skies!
Ashley
You need to come fly at our DZ. Probably a near 50% male/female ratio. We love all breeds of fliers. We’re also lucky that we’re a very safe place where we stress education and careful flying. You’re right though that even in small doses we all have some ego, most of our sports contrived of highly driven individuals and you’ll never escape that. What I hope is that everyone puts safety first and we all try and stick together as a group. It’s too important. When one person goes down because of doing something stupid we all suffer the consequences.
Blue skies, Andy
Home DZ: Skydive Carolina http://skydivecarolina.com
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I’ve been very fortunate not to be on the receiving end of any contempt, but that’s probably because I’ve been jumping at the same DZ since I started. The skydivers there have “grown” me, so to speak, so they’re really open about teaching me and mentoring me and Bear—and putting MY ego in its place when needed.
I’m not sure how it will go once I start trying different DZs. Like you, I’m a girl, and a young Asian girl at that, which is probably the last sort of person you’d expect to see diving out of planes.
You weren’t too far from my home DZ! Crosskeys is in South Jersey, but practically next door to Philly.
andy – it would be great to visit a DZ with that kind of diversity. It’s not unusual for me to be one of only a handful of girls on a typical weekend.
jj – it’s always nice to have those trusted mentors who you know will put you in your place. we all need it from time to time. and i definitely need to get out and jump with you soon. next season for sure!