We all have to do it. Also known as “sucking it up and going to a job you may hate to pay the bills,” but that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. Some skydivers do have some pretty sweet ways to pay the piper, though. If you already have your October issue of Blue Skies Mag, you know how North Carolina jumper Tommy Raymer does it—by building transmissions for a NASCAR team.

Next month, we’ll introduce you to Sean Rogan, skydiver and guitarist for Big D and the Kids Table, a ska (stroll?) band that just got off the Vans Warped Tour. Until then, enjoy the latest from Big D!

I think this is the reason my Catholic elementary school wouldn’t let us celebrate Halloween.

All photos were taken by: Joe Neal, Marcelo Garcia and “Super Dave” Johnson at past Skydive San Marcos’ Halloween Carnival. Don’t miss this year’s Carnival, October 30-November 1.

What have you (or someone you want to call out) done? Don’t be shy, post your beer fines in the comments! Submissions received by Tuesday, October 20 will be printed in the November issue of Blue Skies Mag.

P.S. We know there are a good number of beer fines being incurred at this very minute off a certain bridge in a certain town in West Virginia…

West Virginian/jumper Marcus Ellison and Bridge Day BASE jumping coordinator Jason Bell gave us the locals’ scoop on just what there is to do in Fayetteville, WV—besides jumping off a huge-ass bridge. This, along with our Bridge Day ‘09 guide in the October issue of Blue Skies Mag, should keep you set for legal activities during your Bridge Day experience. As for the other kinds of activities…we actively discourage them. (But get pictures!)

View What to Do for Bridge Day in a larger map, including Google Street View of the bridge

Based on the great help we got from all the local businesses Marcus recommended in his piece, we have to believe Fayetteville is one of the coolest towns ever. We’d have liked to print more of the great pictures they sent, but there were just too many cool establishments to have room for them all!

P.S. The Mystery Hole is not the quietly-whispered-about strip club. They’re here.

Rumors have been circulating that the big-way records attempts set to take place in Thailand this coming January (2010) have been cancelled. Kevin Gibson, the World Meet Media Director confirmed this in an e-mail to Blue Skies Magazine this morning but noted that they are still on for the attempts scheduled in 2011.

The initial plan according to the World Team website called for a 200+ big-way Sequential Freefall Formation (Guinness Book World Record) attempt in January 2010, followed by a 444 (or larger) big-way Freefall Formation (FAI and Guinness Book World Record). Then set for December 2011, a 999-way Mass Freefall Jump is planned (Guinness Book World Record as well).

Kolla had a job judging the Last Big Splash a few weeks ago, and I thought I’d go along to see some swoop carnage, test out our new FlipCam! and get some sun. It was a great weekend, apart from the sweltering heat and feeling slightly awkward at first—I used to judge Florida swoop meets as well, but having been out of the state for the last three years, I let myself out of the swoop-loop a bit. But, it turns out today’s swoopers are just as friendly, crass and awesome as they’ve always been

So, for your viewing entertainment, we bring you the first day of Last Big Splash. Let us know what you think (but be kind, it’s our first foray into video-land!) and enjoy!

We’ll also have several sweet photos from photographer Justin Carmody in the November issue of Blue Skies Mag, so keep your eye out for that—and stay tuned for Day Two of Last Big Splash…

Sick wingsuit BASE video from JT. It may not be possible to get any closer to getting out and doing it yourself—which, of course, we highly encourage.