Paul Boorer's

Skydive Crosswords

P
A
U
L
B
O
O
R
E
R'
S
I
T
K
E
K
N
O
W
H
O
W
Y
T
H
K
E
D
C
R
O
S
S
W
O
R
D
S
I
M
V
E
H
O
M
E
E
Solutions to the crosswords
June 2010 Main Reserve
April 2010 Main Reserve
February 2010 Main Reserve
Intermezzo 6 in this quintet - Backup
December 2009 Main Reserve
October 2009 Main Reserve
August 2009 Main Reserve
June 2009 Main Reserve
April 2009 Main Reserve
February 2009 Main Reserve
Intermezzo A quick snack - Thirty-five
December 2008 Main Reserve
October 2008 Main Reserve
August 2008 Main Reserve
April 2008 Main Reserve
February 2008 Main Reserve
Intermezzo Complex numbers - Untitled
December 2007 Main Reserve
October 2007 Main Reserve
August 2007 Main Reserve
June 2007 Main Reserve
April 2007 Main Reserve
February 2007 Main Reserve
Intermezzo Nationals - Emotica
December 2006 Main Reserve
October 2006 Main Reserve
August 2006 Main Reserve
June 2006 Main Reserve
April 2006 Main Reserve
February 2006 Main Reserve
December 2005 Main Reserve
October 2005 Main Reserve
August 2005 Main Reserve
June 2005 Main Reserve
April 2005 Main Reserve
February 2005 Main Reserve
December 2004 Main Reserve
October 2004 Main Reserve
August 2004 Main Reserve
April 2004 Main Reserve
February 2004 Main Reserve
December 2003 Main Reserve
October 2003 Main Reserve
August 2003 Main Reserve
June 2003 Main Reserve
April 2003 Main Reserve
February 2003 Main Reserve
December 2002 Main Reserve
October 2002 Main Reserve
August 2002 Main Reserve
June 2002 Main Reserve
April 2002 Main Reserve
February 2002 Main Reserve
December 2001 Main Reserve
October 2001 Main Reserve
August 2001 Main Reserve
June 2001 Main Reserve
April 2001 Main Reserve
February 2001 Main Reserve
December 2000 Main Reserve
October 2000 Main Reserve
August 2000 Main only

Skydivers tend not to be neologists. When they need a name for a new technique or piece of equipment they almost always find an existing word that sounds pleasant and recycle it.

 

In these circumstances the concise clues normally consist of a definition of the new meaning and also of the original meaning.

E.G. Canopy : Legendary flyer (6)

(I've always thought that Daedalus would have been a more sensible choice for that one).

 

The cryptic clues may use either. This has made their setting a lot easier than it might otherwise have been. Non-skydiving solvers may need to keep an eye out for the occasional innocent word - such as 'point' - which has gained a whole new range of possibilities.

 

Some of the very early clues may be a little ropey. I had yet to discover Ximenes. This was remedied as quickly as possible. The later clues are almost entirely works of pure genius are better.

 

The best approach for someone new to these crosswords is to start from the most recent and work backwards.

 

 

The intermezzi crosswords have no skydiving references, but are often themed in their own little ways. They may or may not be easier for that.