Basejumper.com - archive

Hey, I started jumping at the same time as John, and we did a lot of stuff together. We were close friends until his death.

Now, I have some wild stories about John, but I have heard many from others who I have never met.

I kinda want to collect them and keep them safe before they are all forgotten. Post them here or just message them to me.

Here we are naked with quite a few beers in us BITD. He is the high guy. Well, top guy..
http://www.basejumper.com/..._were_cool_2016.html

clasic Hover picture

Hey 104, I need a new patagonia long sleeve undershirt like the one we traded in Ardmore, in 1985. By the way, the Hoov was one of the funniest guys I knew, especially before he tried to go on the wagon. Sorry to say, but the guy was happiest when he could jump and party. He used to bring the KGB to our parties in Randy and my room at B Day from mid 80's to mid 90's. If any of you old farts ever got to our room in those days, you'll probably remember it, Actually, maybe you won't!!! He actually stayed here with Joy and I one night about 6 weeks before he bounced on the road. Anyway, I have a few good stories, but only for private consumption.
Rick

That is why I said to send them to me. Lord knows I could post some stuff that ain't fit for human consumption.

Rick can verify me as one of the three musketeers from Oklahoma..Roso, Hoover, and me all started together, and did stuff for years. Hoover stayed at it, though. George is a doc and I am a Dad. That can put a damper on things.

So send me your Hoover stories. I have read some in the past that were funny as hell. He had a really good sense of humor.

I can guess what KGB stands for. John always insisted for the best.

Just found this site. I knew John pretty well. He was in my first jump class. Later, John, George, and I traveled from Oklahoma to the New River Gorge Bridge together in 1984. It was the first BASE jump for all of us. Their motto of the trip was "Death before Dishonor!"

Kathy!

Who could forget his LAUGH!!!?........and drinking beer out of his Styrofoam Cup.

He might have been the first one to pull a Spiderbaby. That being crashing through a window into an office.

John got drug right back out, though. I still have a bad copy of that jump on an old VHS tape.

John and George and I all started pretty much together and had some great times. The world was bigger than we would have ever thought, though, as evidenced by what goes on today.

Seemed pretty big at the time, though. It was already a full lifestyle for a little kernal of scattered people who always hooked up every few months even if it meant days of driving.

Mark! It has to be you!

I have a picture of John's first step into BASE jumping from the NRGB in '84. Unfortunately, I didn't have a great camera in those days so it is not the best picture, but it captures his very first leap into the world of BASE. After that, there was no looking back.

(I have a pic of George's first, too)

I still have a copy of the ParaCare video on VHS somewhere here. That thing is hilarious.

And when they're getting on objects lower and lower, call the experts at ParaCar, we can help!

Get them back to the drop zone, and back to a safe altitude, before it's too late!

http://s179.photobucket.com/...urrent=Para_Care.mp4

NickD

LoveIt. Miss Hoov

GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY, love

Meet Hoover a couple of times with my friend Linus Rains. Remember I was laughing a lot when he was around. Did a few jumps with him in Italy. The only time he was quite was when he was tired on the way to the exit point
Linus told me a lot of stories like the building strike. When his matter directbagged his son etc.

Like explaining to someone how long it takes to extract his parachute after he throws his pilot chute and his response was "6 to 8 weeks for delivery" or when he hit a building, broke the glass, landed on a guys desk, laid there for a moment, got dragged back out of the building by a gust of wind, hit the building two more times, and landed on a small building's roof, got up, used the lines on his shredded canopy to shimmy down the to the ground, and ran away.

Ah Yes, loved that one (6-8 weeks as if enternity waiting for the opening shock!). ;)

John and George Roso were quite the pair. They would have you laughing your ass off 24/7. It was like a comedy troupe.

Hoover was a little out there for most people, but he was a great friend and soul. I miss him all of the time. We jumped together on a weekly basis.

Attached is a picture of George and John the day after my first (and their second) jump. They were a riot.

SIEMPRE RIOT