Storm Chaser "Competition" TV Show

[Doug_Kiesling]

That is true, many people simply just don't have the time to write up big emails or have huge discussions and the stigma associated with being wrong is huge but it is just like anything else, there is plenty of competition under the surface.

Now it may not be hostile competition, but you can sure bet peoples ego's get involved at times.

You got that right. Like I have time to write up an SPC forecast about where I think the weather would do and where to chase. God know that SPC gets enough crap when they bust. Last year I joked about a class action law suit against SPC for all the gas that people wasted trying to chase the mod risk busts.

 

[Mikey Gribble]

Unless you are a beginner, I don't know why you would be scared of your forecast busting. Everybody that has chased for more than a few years knows that is just how it works. I have no problem putting my forecast out there. If I bust, so what. I am very confident that I can hold my own when it comes to forecasting.

 

[Randy Denzer]

How about a contest to see how many bugs you can collect on a windshield in one day?

I would hope every responsible chaser out there realizes just how damaging a TV competition storm chase show would be to storm chasing. This would without a doubt push those involved to be in very bad situations and could end up getting someone killed. I don't see any good from this at all.

 

[Laura Duchesne]

I commented earlier about someone getting hurt or killed, and liabilities... what I really mean is if you get some chaser speeding down the interstate to try to get to the tornado first, that is dangerous if the roads are slick. I wouldn't say chasing itself is dangerous, it's the driving. Some people will treat it as a competition even if the show isn't supposed to be one... that's just the way many people are. Accidents can and do happen, it doesn't matter if the participants sign a waiver or not. If something did happen, the show would have to really cover their butts up.

But nonetheless, this just sounds like a bad case of TV not having any good ideas lately. There are practically reality shows for everything these days, so it almost isn't surprising there are ideas being tossed about for a chasing one.

 

[Chris Nuttall]

If you seriously sit down and think about trying to produce an hour-long show, or even 30 minutes, what would you do, especially on all the "bust" days? Our definition of a bust, versus the TV show's definition would be quite different. Then what - 30 minutes of giggling women in bikini tops or guys talking about how they're going to "whoop" the other team?

If I got one of those as a chase partner, I'd be on that show. Guess, there would be a "bust" every time huh?


Come on, laugh. You though it was funny, admit it. Geez, I need to get out more.

 

[Susan Strom]

it appears they are trying to get individual or "teams" of chasers to actually "compete" in the field, e.g., driving faster to get to a storm or disaster first, getting closest to a tornado, etc., etc. We turned them down based on this rather dangerous concept.

Even from the script's standpoint, there's a problem with the whole idea. Maybe it starts with the public's (mis)understanding of the word "storm chasing". We really don't "chase" storms any more than a wildlife photographer gives a foot chase to a black bear in the woods.

"Storm chasing" is a culmination, not the kind of "chase" I think they envision. Our chase is 95% journey (planning, vehicle, driving, motels, data, equipment) for 5% destination. We don't need afterburners, an Oakenfold score, and nothing blows up (hopefully). By the way, don't get any ideas about afterburners especially you amber light people <wink>

When I'm in the 5% zone, you will find me at a dry lake bed at 3am, watching out for drunks with firearms and trying to identify a multi-legged creature coming toward my truck. I'll take home a big bright CG for sure. But I'm not sure that is edge-of-seat TV.

We know what stormchasing is, it is a whole expedition. But it is not a race, nor a competition. It never has been a race, and it needn't be a competition any more than wildflowers on a hill have to compete for sunshine. There is plenty of sky for all of us.

In all honesty the producers are going to have to manufacture some excitement for the 95% part in order to pull this one off. Brace yourself for shaky canted angles and reenactments I think.

 

[Reed Timmer]

What about storm chasing on foot, or on a bicycle...with limited food and water, and a diaper. Or you could live off the land. That would add an interesting physical aspect. Then you'd have to make your forecast a few days in advance to allow some time to get to your forecast area. Of course you'd have to have body armor for the large hail.

Using a car takes all the skill out of storm chasing.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Even from the script's standpoint, there's a problem with the whole idea. Maybe it starts with the public's (mis)understanding of the word "storm chasing". We really don't "chase" storms any more than a wildlife photographer gives a foot chase to a black bear in the woods.

We don't really chase? I'd say it's a great description. If one goes to a spot and just waits for them, shoots them and goes home(like say local lightning events) then yeah no real chasing. Most days though, I'd consider it actually chasing things around. I think there's a small difference in chasing a black bear on foot with a camera and chasing a thunderstorm in a car. I think we're all a bit more willing to actually do the latter.

I'm sure any producer can easily realize there's a lack of activity before there are storms. I don't think it is too confusing of a subject for them to grasp.

 

[Stan Rose]

Ho hum. I predicted this five years ago when I proposed my "World Championship of Storm Chasing" with a prize of $10K. Course, show hasn't come out yet, so my prediction hasn't verified, yet.
I came out with that competition idea to see what reaction i'd get, and not surprisingly it was overwhelmingly negative on this site, but i still got people who supported the idea in private emails. My point back then is the same as it is now: the show inevitably will be made, so we (the storm chasing community) can either ignore it, and let the craziness begin, or be an active participant to ensure that it's done with a minimum of damage.

 

[Shane Adams]

With regard to whether storm chasing is actually "chasing" or not, if you've ever had a breakdown at initiation, then watched as your storm moves away....you know it's not a metaphor.

 

[Terrence Cook]

"respectable" documentaries

That must truly suck Shane, testament to the importance of vehicle maintenance.

Recently the Science channel had a great show that featured an eccentric but highly motivated narrator (some British guy) the title of the show was 'Light Fantastic'. My point is that if a production crew or network was willing to follow an expert forecaster or severe storms specialist for an in-depth explanation (and longer than just one chase day) then that show would be excellent. Roger Hill would be our eccentric on-screen narrator and it would be awesome!

I have no desire to see competition on any scale as the subject or purpose of the show/series. It is my hope that channels such as Science, and Discovery can give a respected storm chaser a chance to show the true up's, down's and the constant search for better DATA and/or target.

The difference in this show idea and the existent brief documentaries out there is the explanation of the atmosphere and the storm-scale environment, something I can admit wouldn't attract a large crowd... but would be fantastic on an HD channel.

I avoided this thread as long as I could, there's my 2 cents.

 

[Susan Strom]

We don't really chase? I'd say it's a great description. If one goes to a spot and just waits for them, shoots them and goes home(like say local lightning events) then yeah no real chasing. Most days though, I'd consider it actually chasing things around.

Let me see if I can clarify better...probably say it better.

There is a perception out there sometimes that what we do is hear of a tornado or lightning storm (already going on) and drive to it. Chase forecasting, planning, the long state-to-state drives, target areas...those parts get edited out for TV. The destination, the exciting part, is shown because it makes better TV.

Of course you and I know what goes on in the preparations, and I agree, we'll chase, but after we get nearer to our target area which we worked hard for. We'll chase between Johnson & Ulysses KS let's say, or around a certain county.

A lot of people sometimes don't realize the life cycle too...an event that lasts 20 minutes. They don't know that we have to be there ahead of time, selecting a target from thousands of square miles. They sometimes think the whole expedition is a hot pursuit...dawn til dusk from OKC to Kearney NE with full afterburners because something is already happening somewhere. That sounds silly I know, but I've had people ask me that, I'm sure a lot of us have.

Half the miracle for me is the satisfaction of correct forecast. There's nothing like the feeling. Considering all the things that have to come together, I enjoy that part a lot. But I'm not sure that part makes exciting (general) TV so it would probably be clipped.

For lightning, I'm still trying to find the right word to describe it. The chases go a really long time, about 9 hours from 6pm til about 3am or later or I might do an overnight somewhere. The way I do mine, I move around constantly, shooting, packing up, moving on, shooting some more all night and a million places (no chase partner, so I can do this without driving someone insane). Pretty soon 500 miles have ticked by and I'm miles from anywhere. Is it "chasing" the storms though? Feels more like aerobics, or maybe insomnia. I'll think of the right word one of these days.

Chasing. I do remember one time, trying to catch one going 50mph toward Kansas City. That was chasing, literally, although it was leaving me in its dust while thumbing its nose at the same time

 

[Tom Stefanac]

Let me see if I can clarify better...probably say it better.

There is a perception out there sometimes that what we do is hear of a tornado or lightning storm (already going on) and drive to it. Chase forecasting, planning, the long state-to-state drives, target areas...those parts get edited out for TV. The destination, the exciting part, is shown because it makes better TV.

Of course you and I know what goes on in the preparations, and I agree, we'll chase, but after we get nearer to our target area which we worked hard for. We'll chase between Johnson & Ulysses KS let's say, or around a certain county.

A lot of people sometimes don't realize the life cycle too...an event that lasts 20 minutes. They don't know that we have to be there ahead of time, selecting a target from thousands of square miles. They sometimes think the whole expedition is a hot pursuit...dawn til dusk from OKC to Kearney NE with full afterburners because something is already happening somewhere. That sounds silly I know, but I've had people ask me that, I'm sure a lot of us have.

Half the miracle for me is the satisfaction of correct forecast. There's nothing like the feeling. Considering all the things that have to come together, I enjoy that part a lot. But I'm not sure that part makes exciting (general) TV so it would probably be clipped.

For lightning, I'm still trying to find the right word to describe it. The chases go a really long time, about 9 hours from 6pm til about 3am or later or I might do an overnight somewhere. The way I do mine, I move around constantly, shooting, packing up, moving on, shooting some more all night and a million places (no chase partner, so I can do this without driving someone insane). Pretty soon 500 miles have ticked by and I'm miles from anywhere. Is it "chasing" the storms though? Feels more like aerobics, or maybe insomnia. I'll think of the right word one of these days.

Chasing. I do remember one time, trying to catch one going 50mph toward Kansas City. That was chasing, literally, although it was leaving me in its dust while thumbing its nose at the same time

So everything they did in twister was a lie!!!

I can't go on living!!!

j/k

 

[Allan Detrich]

Storm Chasing competition

There is several things wrong with this from the get-go, and in the end we loose in all instances. A show like this would present everyone in the light that most people already look at "Storm Chasers" like, as crazies, driving like a bat out of hell running people off the road, like in "Twister." Secondly, all the good that chasers do for the public safety would be negated, and Congress or other governing bodies would probably try to outlaw what we do if things are presented in this kind of light. Steer clear of this one...

Allan Detrich

PictureThis Blog

PodShow.com

 

[Jesse Risley]

There is several things wrong with this from the get-go, and in the end we loose in all instances. A show like this would present everyone in the light that most people already look at "Storm Chasers" like, as crazies, driving like a bat out of hell running people off the road, like in "Twister." Secondly, all the good that chasers do for the public safety would be negated, and Congress or other governing bodies would probably try to outlaw what we do if things are presented in this kind of light. Steer clear of this one...

Sadly, I would have scoffed at this notion five or six years ago. However, given the litiguous nature of our society and the desire to protect everyone from harm via legislative sanctioning, I can see something like this happening. I can't see much good coming from this either.