Kevin Burkart is on a mission to raise awareness and money for Parkinson’s Disease research. In 2008 he did 100 jumps in one day, then 200 in 2010, and this summer, he’ll attempt 300 skydives in one day.

The “200 Perfect Jumps” DVD is now available at www.perfectjumps.com. Check out the trailer:

Buy a DVD, send a donation, sponsor a jump at www.perfectjumps.com. Go on, it’s good karma.

It’s Thursday, November 16th, 2011.
Today, Congress holds hearings on the first American Internet censorship systems – Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). It is understood that this legislation as written will NOT stop piracy, but what it will do is stop social media and sites thriving on user-generated content dead in their tracks. If this bill passes, the Internet and free speech with it, will never be the same.
Anyone operating a website or interacting on a social network could face blocking, risk of jail, and perhaps the worst – the end of fun. That includes us.

More info?
Click play or proceed to this infographic.

Don’t like it either? Americans, you can send a note to Congress saying so.

The Jump4Heroes guys have been at it again.  This time they’ve been skydiving with an animated character called Mobi. He’s the Mascot of Phones For Heroes, a company that raises money for military charities by recycling cell phones. The team wanted to help them raise awareness of their cause and so set about donating a cell phone while in freefall and alongside the company’s mascot. The cause is especially close to the hearts of the Jump4Heroes team – 2 of them are currently serving in Afghanistan (this was filmed just before they deployed).

So please check out the video and help support our Troops:

See more of Jump4Heroes on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/jump4heroes or on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jump4heroes

The Bluest Office!

Now it’s your turn. Help the DeLand kids getting some free tickets and a night out on the town, along with promoting skydiving to the public. You do that with your mouse… or fingers for those of you on mobile devices.
CLICK HERE – look at the pretty picture and scroll down a little bit to vote for Skydive DeLand. You can vote as many time as you want. We suggest to keep on going until your hand cramps up, but that is of course a personal choice. So, get going. Share on Facebook. Tell your friends. Do whatever just help ‘em get to Blue Man!

Skydivers Unite is a great new idea hitting Facebook. Like it if you, well, like it.

About
When Crisis Hits, We’ve Got Your Back.

Description
The concept is simple. We have created “Skydivers Unite” to serve as the central network of skydivers worldwide who “make the pledge” to gift $5, £5, or €5 to the victim or their immediate family members in “severe trauma” events. “Like” this and you will witness the power of a worldwide network to ease pain for a fellow skydiver. More details to come soon at SkydiversUnite.org

Website
http://www.SkydiversUnite.org

A double fatality occurred at Perris Valley Skydiving last Friday, on April 1st when Pat McGowan and Chris Stasky, both very experienced jumpers and instructors, collided under canopy. The collision took place too low to allow them to separate and recover in time for landing – estimated at 300-400 feet. Both jumpers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigation is still underway, but at present time there are no hard facts pointing to the exact causes of this incident.
Patrick McGowan and David Stasky were both respected and experienced instructors and were working at a training camp with the Canadian military.

This incident has sent ripples through the skydiving community and initiated many discussions around bonfires and in online forums about canopy safety and what can be done to prevent this type of incident from happening. Unfortunately there are no simple solutions, but we are glad to see the level of awareness increase.

Stasky was single, but Pat McGowan leaves behind a wife – Blue McGowan – and 2 young children, Rose and James.
Perris Valley Skydiving has set up a fund to benefit Pat’s family and children and we encourage those of you that are able to to donate to the McGowan family fund.

We send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of both Pat and Chris. We join thousands of skydivers from all over the world in remembering Pat as an incredibly talented skydiver and a gifted instructor and coach.

From our friend Duane Palmer in Tennessee,

“Please meet Jennifer & Steve Helffrich…

Jennifer & Steve Helffrich

Jennifer, Steve & Friends

Steve as Tandem Master

On Saturday, April 10, 2010, during a normal skydive, Steve experienced a double malfunction (failure of both the main and reserve parachutes to fully deploy and/or inflate) and was flown via Life Flight to the only trauma center within 150 miles, Regional Medical Center (also known as ‘The Med’) in Memphis, Tennessee.

Steve sustained multiple life threatening injuries including damage to his aorta (the most serious of his injuries), punctured/deflated left lung, dislocated/broken right hip, and broken ribs on the right side (#5 thru #9).

Since being admitted into the trauma ICU, Steve has undergone several surgeries including vascular surgery to repair his aorta, the insertion of 6 chest tubes total, as well as surgery last week to remove excess fluid and infection surrounding his left lung.

Known by many as the “Mom and Dad” of the drop zone, Jen & Steve are always doing kind things for others while expecting nothing in return.  Most of us that skydive with them spend every weekend sharing our passion for the sport and the amazing friendships that have been established.  To a majority of us, they are our extended family.  Jen & Steve are both amazing skydivers, coaches, and most of all, friends – sharing this zest for life with anyone and everyone that will listen to them speak about the sport.

In this time of need, those of us that are friends, family, acquaintances, and those that will never “jump out of a perfectly good airplane,” have the opportunity to show them our support – whether it be through well wishes, cards, private prayer/church prayer lists, and/or donations.

Thankfully, Jen & Steve have insurance but with an accident of this severity, there are numerous additional incurred bills/daily hardships.  In order to show support, the Helffrich Benefit Fund has been established through First Tennessee Bank.

There are 3 options of how you can donate to this Fund:

#1:        Visit ANY First Tennessee Bank branch with the following account information:
Helffrich Benefit Fund (Account #182355531)
** NOTE: To find the closest First Tennessee Bank location to you, CLICK HERE **

#2:        Visit https://public.serviceu.com/payment/default.asp?OrgID=12725&PaymentID=7920

Enter contact information & banking information
(Check #/Checking Account Number/Routing Number)

** NOTE: This payment option is through David P. Smith’s Company, ServiceU Corporation, whose business is processing secure online transactions. **

#3:        If you are unable to visit a First Tennessee Bank location, do not have a branch in your area and/or do not wish to donate online, a check made out to Helffrich Benefit Fund can be sent to:

David P. Smith
1154 Talamore Cove
Collierville, TN  38017

Should you wish to send a card to Jen & Steve, please address them to:

David P. Smith
Attn:  Helffrich Family
1154 Talamore Cove
Collierville, TN  38017″

Current Update: He finally made it home last week. As it turned out he was really, really lucky!! It was really touch and go for a while there. He is now up and able to move around to a degree with a walker. And is very positive about life!!

But the running tally was 3 surgeries, 9 chest tubes (at different times), 31 days in ICU, 1 night in a regular room, 2 nights in Trauma Step Down ICU, countless x-rays and CT’s, a stent in the aorta, a trach, several broken bones all healing and about 35 lbs dropped. Plus 2 weeks in an rehab center.

The family could still use the financial help until he is able to get back up and to work. Any help would be great!!

He actually was able to get up and made it out to the DZ last weekend (didn’t jump naturally, but his wife got in a couple). The incident didn’t scare him away from the sport in the least. I think that he will be more involved now than ever. In training, coaching and teaching safety!! I can’t wait until he is able to be back in the air with us…

Well, this is a post I never thought I’d write. The seemingly indestructible Hungarian jumper Peter G has passed on to the great drop zone in the sky. I’ve never had a bigger crush on a bigger ass (if you knew him, you know what I mean) and we’ll all miss the infamous Peter G-isms. Like, “Vat, vat do you mean I can’t go downwind across the spectator area?” and “My friend, my friend…[insert awesomely weird advice here].” and “I’m alvays jumping. Even ven I sleep I am jumping.” Got more? Please share in the comments!

Peter’s family would like his ashes to return to Hungary, so there are a few fundraisers to help make that happen. Tanya Hannington is organizing an auction at the Ranch in New York. Prizes – so far – include 2 Blue Skies Mag subscriptions, Sun Path gear bags, reserve pack jobs, framed photographs, coach jumps and tons more. Donate something if you can and get to the Ranch to bid on some cool stuff.

Here are some photos that Peter G sent us and my slacker ass never got around to doing anything with.

The story he sent was,

“On September 6th during the infamous Skydive New England Tiki Bar Boogie freeflyers set an official Maine state Head Down record. The jump was part of 3 day freefly bender. With Travis Fienhage and Andy Malchiodi from SoCal Converge on hand organizing head up, head down, angle flying, and spaceball jumps it was only natural to throw a record in there. After determining that there was no official record it was decided to put together an 8-way round that would launch right out the door slot perfect. Local New England flyers Adam Laware, Chris McNaughton, Mark Rouillard, PJ Jackson and Dave Swanson combined with Dave Colucci, and the SoCal guys to put a record in the books on the first attempt. To ensure all went as planned Peter G. was on hand to get the perfect shot.”

Sorry, guys, to take so long to get that up. BSBD, Peter G.

On June 16, Kevin Burkart will attempt 200 jumps in 24 hours to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease research. The project is 200 Perfect Jumps and there are three excellent reasons to donate: 1) be a good person, 2) Mirage container and 3) PD canopy.

Mirage Systems is donating a complete container (a $2,800 value!) to be auctioned off. Bidding closes March 31 and proceeds will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. If you win the auction, you get a 100% free Mirage Systems complete container with 100% options, all for free! Mirage Systems has committed to manufacturing the container within 8 weeks, so you’ll have it in time to jump at the Perfect Jumps event on June 16! Bids should be submitted to kevin@stepstonegroup.com.

In addition, Performance Designs has donated a canopy (excluding cross-braced models) to be raffled off. Kevin is selling 100 $100 “chance tickets.” Contact Kevin, Nick Grillet at PD or possibly someone in your area for one of these coveted tickets.

Good luck Kevin, and the future winners of that rig and canopy!

Mum! Topless! Haiti! Skydive!

We first learned of Kat Mager’s charity skydive from this headline bait: Mum’s Topless Haiti Skydive! I was very scared to open the link, fearing…well, the worst. But, Kat is super hot and, as it turns out, super sweet. She is trying to raise £2,000 (~ $3,000) for Haiti relief, and if she does, she will indeed skydive topless.

We think it behooves all of our subscribers to support this worthy cause. Donate here and now! And be sure to kick in a little extra so she can afford to hire a videographer. (UK Skydiving videographer, you might find a publication willing to print those photos. We just can’t think of which one that would be )