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I have known Steve since he threw me out on my first
static-line jump in 1993. At best, he is a dedicated,
talented and enthusiastic jumper. At worst, he is one of
the biggest wind up merchants I have ever met. During
the BCPA Nationals in 1995, he successfully convinced
everyone that there was going to be an
AWACS jet
landing at Hibaldstow for a quick load!
Steve has been jumping almost as long as I have been
alive, starting in the military and continuing today as
an instructor and active 4-way team jumper. He was on
the British record big-way (100 people) and has
travelled to many countries in his quest for more jumps.
Over to Steve and his famous Teva sandals...
Interview by Simon
Brentford |
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Name |
Steve Murphy |
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Age |
49 (and I’ve stopped counting) |
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Years in the
sport |
27 (need to stop counting that
too) |
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Number of jumps |
3300 and something (still
counting those) |
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Number of jumps
last year |
265 (never enough) |
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What kit do you
jump |
Stiletto 107, BT Pro 120, both in
javelins |
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1 |
Why
did you start jumping? |
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I was in the army at the time, stationed in
Cyprus and one of my buddies was already into jumping, he was
somewhere near achieving his cat 8. He kept on badgering me and
going on at me to put in for the parachute course available
through the adventure training centre. I kept telling him to p*ss
off and go and get his head seen to as he must be mad. He
wouldn’t give up badgering me, so I put in for the course just
to get some peace and quiet. As a result, on the 22nd of
September 1978, I found myself at 2,200feet holding onto the
wing strut of a Cessna 182 waiting to be told to let go off the
thing, which I managed to do. I haven’t looked back since. |
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2 |
What are you
doing this year? (i.e. team, commitment, goals, aspirations, fun
jumping) |
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My usual trick of trying to cram too much into
too short a time span. I’m jumping with a junior team, Murphy’s
Law, (I’m Murphy, and the three girls lay down the law) so
there’s team training to be done, we’ve got a tunnel training
weekend coming up very soon. Our major goal is to improve our
point’s average from last year’s nationals while still keeping
everything fun and enjoyable. My personal goal remains the same
as it does any year…to get better at skydiving, learn what I
don’t know, and pass on what I do know to anybody who wants to
learn off me. |
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Who inspires you in this sport? |
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Everyone. I get inspiration from all levels.
Obviously you’re always inspired by the people you want to be
like, national and world champions etc., but I also take a lot
of inspiration from the other end of the spectrum so to speak.
When I see people who used to be my students go on to achieve
great things in their skydiving, I feel a part of their success
and elation. I admire students who won’t give up if they’re
struggling with their progression, their determination to
succeed makes me more determined to help them succeed. |
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4 |
Tell me about your favourite
jump. |
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That’s a hard one, it’s a choice between two and
I’ve never been able to decide, so there’ll have to be two.
(i) As a personal achievement, it has to be
taking part in the British record 100 way in 1999.
(ii) On a par with that, as a very memorable skydive, was taking
my daughter on a tandem for her 16th birthday, thanks H and
Goody for a triffic video. |
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5 |
If you could do one thing to
improve the safety of the sport what would it be? |
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Standardise all the training programmes. Probably
easier said than done, but I see too many variances in basic
training that sometimes makes me worry. This new canopy control
manual is a good thing, it’s laying down a proper system of what
people need to achieve. |
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6 |
Favourite Food and favourite
film? |
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Really like Indian food, and not just the hot
curries, but I will try anything. Had some sushi a while ago,
really nice. I like action films but my
favourite film has to be “Dances With Wolves.” Always had a soft
spot for the American Indian, and I just like the way this film
compares the “savage” to the “civilised man??” |
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7 |
Skydiving tips to progress in
this sport (i.e. weather related, training, attitude, coaching
style) |
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You’ve never done that much in this sport that
you cannot learn more, and never, be so full of yourself as to
think that you can’t learn something off someone who’s been in
the sport less time than you have, and has a lot less jumps.
It’s all about attitude, get yourself a good one. |
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When you’re not skydiving what do
you do? (i.e. work, hobbies, interests) |
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The national lottery, in the hope I can tell work
where to shove it and skydive as much as I’d really like to.
Also I enjoy trying to keep myself fit. I am having marginally
more success with the second one of the two. |
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Comments on the internet |
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Foggy -
Apr 14, 2004, 1:59 PM
I was not the most stellar student (it
took 4 years and 107 jumps to graduate). One of the
things that kept me going was the enthusiasm of my
instructors, in particular, George Campbell, Dave
Ruffell and last (and least), Steve Murphy.
I then progressed equally slowly with my
RW skills and was exposed to various coaches and
marvelled at their ability to coax something out of me.
1400+ jumps and an AFF rating later, I
still thoroughly enjoy the whole teaching process.
Taking someone who has never flown in aircraft through
the FJC and taking them on their level 1 the same day.
There is also something about seeing someone manifesting
for a solo and taking them for a low key 2-way and
watching their eyes get big when something clicks for
them.
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Photos |
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