JASON'S  STORM  CHASING  WORLD

\chaser\partner.html

STORM CHASING PARTNERS

I have been chasing for a while now.  Starting "offically" in 1997 and continuing to this day.  Over the years I've dealt with, and heard a great deal about who to chase with.  It is a vital part of the chase experience and is a major safety factor too.  I will try to make it clear what my opinions are, and what is generally accepted. . For reason such as cost, safety, and effectiveness all play a part in planning. I will explain them a little more in the following pages--Jason.

Hernan was my first partner in 1997, and he came up with some great ideas about what to look for while you're out on the road. It was a quick brain dump, and we have been trying to revise our "Risk List" for some time, so please excuse some of the crudeness that can be found in it. If you wish to send me a comment about the list, please feel free.

In 1998 I chased alone.  This is certainly not recommended for non-experienced chasers, or chasers who do not live in the areas they chase.  Also, concider how much you on doing when chasing.  For the veterans, transportation, camera, and years of experience are all they need.  But like most others, we drag out communications equipment, weather instrumentation, cameras, laptops, cell phones with internet access...the list goes on, and on.  To affectively use all this equipment, get the photos, and video, it takes two at the least, and more like four to affectively accomplish a full chase engagement.

I should mention here-and-now that I'm not personally looking for a chase partner.  I have joined with the Weathervine team for the past three years in the Plains and chased numerous Hurricanes with them as well.  Most of the group members live nearby in Southern Florida, and most are hams.   We briefly met at a Skywarn Picnic put on by the Wellington Radio Club, then again in early November for Hurricane Michelle in 2001 (my first hurricane hunt).   Since 2002 I've chased with Jeff Gammon's and Chris Collura out in the Great Plains. They're both main associates in Weathervine.  Also I've chased with Amos Magliocco and Jim Edds.  They're also part of the Weathervine family, but they typically ride/drive in their own transportation.

In the past, and perhaps even now, there are websites that you can submit for a request to join with an experienced chaser.  Forming partnerships is hard to do in the Chaser's world because in recent years there have been a fair number of yahoo's and folks who don't follow the ethics of chasing.  Chasers guard their hobby carefully.  If you truely are interested in chasing, please educated yourself thoroughly with sources from the net, books and videos.  I don't recommend the chat rooms, since most of the yahoos and groupies hang out in them.  There are a few veterans and upstanding chasers in the chat rooms, but not many, and the few usually are more quite. 

The last note I'll make on the subject is this:  Don't be surprised if the first person you chase with isn't your favorite.  Always be evaluating your partnership with the person(s) your chasing with, you may have to find another partner down the road.

If you'd like to email me, please mail me at this address: 

n3prz@aol.com

 Introduction, Partners, Checklists, Cost Overview, Chase Logs, Vehicle List, Links, Pictures,
Weather, Home