What makes a "veteran" chaser.

[dfruechte]

I am just interested in what in your opinion defines a "veteran" chaser. The number of tornadoes, number of miles, experience. I am not doing this to dis anyone, just interested in peoples thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I think webster.com explains it quite well:

2 : a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts)

Seems good to me.

 

[Greg McLaughlin]

Number of lightbars on your vehicle.

 

[dfruechte]

I guess I knew that, but at the same time, I hear people call themselves veteran chasers after seeing their first tornado, etc. I mean has it really ever been intensely discussed on what the personal feelings are and what makes a veteran chaser.

 

[Steve Miller]

I think for a first time poster, this is a very loaded question.
You will be a veteran chaser by around June of 2019 by my calculation.

 

[rdale]

has it really ever been intensely discussed on what the personal feelings are and what makes a veteran chaser.

Of course not... If you want to call yourself a veteran after one tornado, so be it. There's no law against it. I doubt others would consider you a veteran, but then again - who cares?

 

[dfruechte]

It isn't a loaded question, I've just been around enough chasers that call themselves veterans after their first tornado like already stated, or the I guess the more true veteran who has 20 years chasing and 200 plus tornadoes. I see the one as 200 plus tornadoes as the veteran chaser and not the one with a year of experience. Might be quite a post for it being my first post here, but I am very involved in a another chasing forum, I have had this account for a few months now and this site has way more members then the other, so I am interested in a larger interest group, that's it.

 

[Bob Hartig]

1. Really, really knowing what the heck you're doing.
2. Many years of experience doing it.
3. Plenty of successes and plenty of failures to show for it.

My opinion as a non-veteran chaser.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

It isn't a loaded question, I've just been around enough chasers that call themselves veterans after their first tornado like already stated, or the I guess the more true veteran who has 20 years chasing and 200 plus tornadoes. I see the one as 200 plus tornadoes as the veteran chaser and not the one with a year of experience. Might be quite a post for it being my first post here, but I am very involved in a another chasing forum, I have had this account for a few months now and this site has way more members then the other, so I am interested in a larger interest group, that's it.

Yes, it is a loaded question when asked on here. Your first post on here, why would it be to ask that? But as Rob said, why does it matter if someone is considered a veteran or not? Chase because you want to, not because you want to be considered a veteran.

 

[mikedeason]

If labels are important to you then call yourself whatever you want. I think "chaser" suffices for most of us though.

 

[dfruechte]

If labels are important to you then call yourself whatever you want. I think "chaser" suffices for most of us though.

labels aren't important to me, I am just interested mainly in why a select group call themselves "veterans" and yet everyone else is happy without calling themselve a veteran.

 

[Steve Miller]

Director, W.A.S.W.A.T.A.D.A.R.: 35 years chasing, 1.57 million miles driven, 7,857 tornadoes, and 2,172 tumbleweeds hit.

This qualifies Mike as a veteran...

 

[Steve Miller]

labels aren't important to me, I am just interested mainly in why a select group call themselves "veterans" and yet everyone else is happy without calling themselve a veteran.

Those who call THEMSELVES a "veteran chaser" probably are the ones who are the furthest from being so.
I think "veteran" a moniker that is issued by the populous once a certain level of accomplishment is attained. There is no set of criteria as every individual chases differently and is focused on different aspects of the hobby.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

labels aren't important to me, I am just interested mainly in why a select group call themselves "veterans" and yet everyone else is happy without calling themselve a veteran.

Who cares if someone wants to label themselves as a veteran? If they want to call themselves that than hooray for them. They can call themselves the "Goddess of Storm Chasing" for all I care. David Hoadley is a veteran chaser, you aren't. There you go, now you know.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

What about if you chased with a Veteran chaser? Does that make you a 1/2 Veteran Chaser?