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diverdriver

10-way Speed Thread

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Oh why am I doing this to myself? Ok, I just read Skydiving's article or "review" from Bryan Burke on Nationals 2001. I participated in 10-way on STL-TFX (Team Funnel). I was disheartened by the comments (similar to comments made by many others) that 10-way should go away from Nationals because there is always a protest and it "always" seems to come from the same person. 10-way was described as a "relic" event from the seventies.
I enjoy 10-way very much. We describe it as the "Gladiator" event of skydiving. It had more participants (110) involved than all the "Free" events combined. So how can it be suggested that it be dropped from competition at U.S. Nationals? It's a "relic"? Well, I believe classic accuracy is older than 10-way and it's still around with many fewer total participants. (I'm not suggesting we get rid of classic accuracy before you jump on me). I really feel that the judges and others that have suggested that it be dropped only want to avoid the perceived inevitable confrontation with one participant. Is that fair to the rest of us that enjoy that type of competition? Did they drop Tennis from the Olympics just because they didn't want to deal with John MacEnroe? Of course not.
If anyone of importance or decision making power reads this, please don't take this event away. It's fun. It gave me a chance to experience the U.S. Nationals. I have no plans to enter any other event. But I got to go to Eloy and have a great time and see a lot of friends from across the country and make new friends. And what other event could allow me and my friends (the first three out the door had a combined age of 172 and the average number of jumps per jumper was 1,000 which is low compared to other teams) a chance to go up against the top names in skydiving and be competitive? We're a bunch of weekend warriors and we were 8 seconds total after six rounds behind the third place team. We were totally happy to take 5th. Does that sound weird? Please, don't take my event away. I am USPA, right? My voice counts, right? My dues matter, right? My entry fee of over 100 bucks plus jumps matters, right?
Chris Schindler
D-19012
ATP/CFII
http://www.DiverDriver.com

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It's hard to see any skydiving event being so big that they NEED to trim any excess. I would think that organizers would be trying to dream up new events to get more participants.....IE more money....more media coverage....etc etc.......
"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

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I was a judge there and on a 10 way team (no, not judgeing 10 way this time) as well.
These certain few seem to come to this event ready and willing to push (their) idea of how it should be done and judged and I for one am sick of it.
All it does is inconvienance the other jumpers and create hate and discontent between folks.
I personally love 10 way and I do agree that the rules need to be spelled out better or have all jumps out of a DC 3 like before. The width of the otter door seems to beg, for some, to fudge on the interpretation of the rules. So maybe if we redraw the line to make the door smaller with a so many second penalty if the camera doesn't show the inside of the plane, it might help. We are always looking for fixes to these kind of things.
Lets throw it out there, if anyone has a better idea to stop this interpritation problem, submit it, better yet, submit it to the uspa judgeing committee.
SKYDIVING GAVE ME A REASON TO LIVE....

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What would you say to this idea? Keep the start line the same. Get rid of the single file rule. When there were DC-3s flying it I imagine it was pretty hard to exit any other way than single file. The fact there are benches will cause most of the team to come out of the otter single file anyway. The first person across the line starts the time. Let's take into consideration that we use otters now and the door is wider and that can add some unique exiting styles. I think the trouble with the rules is that we're trying to make an otter into a DC-3. But if we view the event as otters flying and go from there this could be an exciting and totally fun event again. Kind of "View the glass as half full rather than half empty" thing. It's a matter of perspective I guess.
I liked what Tim Wagner had to say about 10-way.
Chris

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I've only competed in 10 way once - not at Nationals - but I flat LOVE 10way speed and the single file exit. 10 way speed is the 100 yard dash of skydiving, and it's also a big part of our history, just like S&A.
imho allowing more than one person through the door at a time will do the same thing to the event that happened back when they allowed linked exits - it will lower the overall times and take away the challenge. You can easily line up 10 people in two to three rows in an Otter; how much of a challenge is that?
I agree with Linda - do 10 way out of DC3's or clearly mark the "door" in an Otter and keep the single file no contact exit. Another option could be to use Otters and allow more than one jumper through the door, but up the team size to 20 to keep it challenging.
pull and flare,
lisa

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Heard a story that the year they went to a no show exit, one team decided their first five guys to "show" would be the floaters and the team gave up a second and a half while they climbed out to launch a chunk.
No matter what rules you come up with, someone will pervert them. That team ended up in the zone and finished third, I think.
flyhiB|

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