Different Forms of Chasers - 2010 Version

[jcooper]

Well,i'm a hybrid.

Since I have developed a probe for studying tornadoes i fall into the science aspect.However,I also stream chases for local Indiana news stations.I also am a extreme chaser since I like to be in the heart of the most intense part of the storm.And if we decided to have a TV chasers category I fall into that as well.lol.

If I had to say though.I am deff. most on the extreme chaser side of things!

 

[Laura Duchesne]

I am a "riding chaser". I am legally blind in my right eye, so I have been unable to drive. It affects my depth perception and being able to check my blind spots. Other than that, I have the other "chaser skills". Sure I am no meteorologist, but I have been able to pick apart targets, read the sky, etc.

As far as I know, the community at large does not have a dislike for "riding chasers". They can be pretty helpful to the chaser who is busy driving. Riding chasers can help with navigation, watching the sky, etc. because the driver has to constantly have their eyes on the road.

Just because you don't or cannot drive, does not make you any less of a "real" chaser than those that do drive. Sure we can be limited in some ways, but those that do know me know that I have a very big passion for storm chasing and watching the skies.

I'm certainly a Riding Chaser. I've been on tour with a person that I consider to be at the top of the field for the last five years, and I drove for the tour company this year. (PM me if you want to know the company).

There seems to be a lot of dislike for 'Riding chasers.' I would even say that there tends to be a lack of respect for Riding Chasers, as they are not considered 'real' chasers by the chaser community at large.

Have I misinterpreted people's feelings?

I chase with a tour group because I don't yet have the skills to go out on my own on a Plains storm. But I'm not sure if that makes me less of a 'chaser' because I don't select a target area myself. Your opinions are invited...

 

[John Farley]

I guess I'll finally chime in. I don't think I totally fit any of Jeff's categories, but if forced to categorize, I'm probably about 2/3 cruise chaser and 1/3 veteran-techno chaser. Although I occasionally do head out on longer and/or multi-day chases, the majority of my chases are 300 miles or less. I don't have all the latest gadgets, but must say that having radar in the car really has improved my success and gotten me to the right place on several days when I either was a bit off on my forecast or got suckered by storms that did not turn out to be the storm of the day.

 

[J Brooks]

I would definitely fall into the apprentice chaser or "noob" category given that I'm just really getting going with storm chasing, and this is my first official post here. I'll mostly be chasing fairly locally (i.e. Ms, La, & Ar), though I'll be doing everything I can to get further out as often as I can. I'm also wanting to tag some hurricanes if/when they approach the northern GoM, hopefully that will happen this year. I'm definitely a believer in having all the tools necessary at my disposal. I'm running my laptop with GR3, GPS, backup paper maps, a weather radio, working on ham radio, etc. I am constantly reading and learning everything I can from anything and anyone possible. Luckily I have a job that allows me to do this all day long.

 

[Marcus Diaz]

Half Cruise Chaser, half Extreme Chaser. Though I'm not that extreme cause I'm still worried about getting more dents in my Mazda or losing a windshield. Either way, I still like getting up close and personal. Though large hail and tornadoes aren't the only thing I chase. I've gone out through blizzards and even severe wind events with Drummond. Gotta say, if mother nature wants to go full force, we then I want to be there to feel it.

 

[Adam Lucio]

Well, I guess you can lump me into the EXTREME chaser by default. Although this year I found I am happy with a nice view of any tornado, regardless if I am 10 feet or 10 miles. There have been times where I could have focused my efforts and gotten much closer, but once I got my view I was happy setting my tripod up and sitting back and watching it.

I enjoy the cores, and experiencing the power of the storm. I PREFER to be up close and personal with the action but as I mentioned earlier I am happy with whatever view I can get. The Deer Trail tornadoes were some of my favorite because I was able to setup my tripod and sit in the back of my truck for over 10 minutes and just watch the storm/tornado and I managed to get great tripoded video.

 

[davecarlsen]

I'd also consider myself a hybrid between veteran-techno and cruise chaser. Depends on the responsibilities of work and such. But I plan on making it more into one category than the other next year. I'll leave it up to the reader to figure out which one.