Bigway camp wrapup

[billvon 3,116]

Last weekend, Kate and Tony held their pseudo-annual big way camp at Perris Valley. The weather didn't quite cooperate, but a lot of people had a great time - and I think learned a lot about bigways.

Thursday started off gray and dreary. Everyone registered and dealt with gear checks, USPA currency etc in the morning. After it became clear that we weren't going to jump right away, the seminars started. Each was about 90 minutes and covered topics from gear selection to bigway planning to aircraft safety. Most seminars were given by a tag-team of Tony, Kate, Larry Henderson and Dan BC.

We ended up making only one series of jumps on Thursday through a break in the clouds. We did a handful of 20 and 30 ways to prepare for the larger dives later. Thursday night a bunch of us went out to sushi, and emerged from the restaraunt to discover it was raining. We tried to look on the bright side on the way back to the DZ - Remi kept saying "but I can see stars!"

Friday was both cloudy _and_ muddy, and the seminars started again in the morning. By noon they had run out of things to talk about. By 3pm the sky was just beginning to clear, and we quickly threw up two or three rounds of 40-ways. Most came near completion, with some wrong-slot and fallrate problems.

On Saturday the clouds conspired again to hold us to one jump. People got pretty dejected from wandering around aimlessly all day, and that night a lot of people went big in the bar. Frenchy was there, as was Remi, but apparently Frenchy wimped out on his threat. Perhaps it was all the alcohol.

Since so many people got drunk Saturday night, it was of course clear on Sunday morning. We started out with a few 40-ways to work on basic skills. There was a lot of moving around of people so that heavy guys, usually in the base, could try docking in the outer ring, and a few very light women put on lead and spent some time in the base. We went to 16K on these loads (17.5K MSL) so oxygen was used for all loads. The first few 40-ways were done out of _four_ aircraft so people would get experience with lead aircraft, easy trail (right) and blind trail (left.) I think we got two completions on the 40-ways in our group (Dan BC's.)

Once we had the basics down we broke into two 60-ways and went up to try out people's new skills. I ended up as a room person, a very fun slot where you never dock, you just hover in the center of an open loop and try to avoid getting in people's ways. We only had time for one, and it didn't complete before we ran out of time, but everyone managed to get there and paint the right approach picture before we broke off.

All in all I think people learned a lot, and I heard a lot of positive comments about the camp. Some jumpers got evaluated for possible slots on future record attempts, although that was a little tough due to the limited number of jumps made. I felt a little bad for the Polish guys who had come from Poland to make only 10 jumps, but no one can control the weather.

Quotes from the camp:

"This one time, in Russia . . . ."
"You know, we could make a lot of money off Molly."
"That was you, there? You were like 90 degrees off on your radial. Next time move over a little."
"Take a skydiver and just add air."
"So, what could you do better next time?" "Well, I could dock in the right place."
"Hi everyone, I have 600 jumps, and I'm here just because I want to score with Kate."
"No, no, I'll be fine, just let me lie here on the ground for a few hours."
"Your wife is an evil, evil woman."
"In my defense, he did change his booties."
"Isn't block 5 the stardians? I'm sure it was the stardians."

[cpoxon 0]

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The weather didn't quite cooperate, but a lot of people had a great time - and I think learned a lot about bigways.

Here, here. I had an awesome time too and learnt lots. Just a shame about the weather! Even though I only did 8 jumps, I was challenged in each one, from the base, to the middle, to the edge of the formation.

The dropzone were outstanding, doing everything they could to get everyone in the air when the weather co-operated; big thanks to them. Also, thanks to the organisers - I learnt loads and highly recommend attending. Thanks also to the other participants for a great vibe and great jumps.

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I think we got two completions on the 40-ways in our group (Dan BC's.)

So did Larry's group! :-P

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Quotes from the camp:

"I'm here because I want to get on Jump For The Cause!" (said by someone with a Y chromosome)

Very cool to finally meet you Bill!

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[mjosparky 4]

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Quotes from the camp:

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"I'm here because I want to get on Jump For The Cause!" (said by someone with a Y chromosome)

And what is wrong with having goals in skydiving. If they don't want me to jump with them, I can always be used as a boy toy to relieve the tension of chasing a world record.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[gemini 0]

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So did Larry's group! :-P

Yes we did! You were there? Damn I missed meeting a lot of .commers...

Blue skies,

Jim

[wmw999 2,588]

Lots of people there, and lots of fun.
But you did meet me, Jim

We got either one or two completions in Kate's group on Sunday (I don't remember). But the last jump before the 60+ way was really sweet.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[AggieDave 6]

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Yes we did! You were there? Damn I missed meeting a lot of .commers...

Well, hopefully you bumped into Angelee (QTPi) from Aggieland, since yall should know her from Skyfest.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[BikerBabe 0]

I gave Angelee and DebbieG a ride back to the airport on Monday.

Everyone had a good time despite the weather, I think. I know I learned a lot, and I'm so glad I did it.

The best part was seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[dstevensak 0]

kate and tony group completed a 46 way and held it for fifteen seconds. All groups on sunday had a very succussful day

[gemini 0]

Angelee?

Yep bumped into her once or twice...actually she was a lot of fun. We went out to eat with a group from the camp and got to talk. I don't remember her from Skyfest, but for some reason that particular weekend has been erased from memory!

Blue skies,

Jim

[QTPi 0]

Yep! We did have some fun!
Jim I really hope you have better weather this weekend for those 100 ways than we did last weekend.

And Andi, thanks a million for the ride to the airport!

--
A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. -Oliver Wendel Holmes

[cpoxon 0]

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I gave Angelee and DebbieG a ride back to the airport on Monday.

They were my roomies along with Val in the iHop. It's just Val and I now!

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[Remster 30]

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Quotes from the camp:

"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

Remster

[ltdiver 3]

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Quotes from the camp:

"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

-That- quote will live on for a -very- long time! LMAO

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Kwoo 0]

Quotes from the camp:


"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

Even funier was Kate's response of "That was the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Just DON'T let it happen agian"

[ltdiver 3]

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Quotes from the camp:

"I'm not from Canada, but I've been there!"

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[quade 4]

I was going to write something witty, but I can't type with these gloves on.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[cpoxon 0]

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I was going to write something witty, but I can't type with these gloves on.

But can you upload some of your pictures to Shutterfly? :-P

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[quade 4]

http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/FutureCam/Skydive/050512

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[cpoxon 0]

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http://www.shutterfly.com/...reCam/Skydive/050512

Thanks Paul! The formation is so huge, I can barely make myself out! I guess I'll just have to order a larger print :-D

By the way, it was a pleasure to finally meet you!

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

[billvon 3,116]

>but I can't type with these gloves on.

As I recall, Amy got the manager of Perris to cuss her out for that little practical joke . . . although I think he thought it was more funny than annoying.

[ltdiver 3]

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"Hi, my name is ________________, and my goal is to go to Thailand....I've been to Canada, Jumped in England, but my goal is to be invited to Thailand....The people are nice here, and so are the planes....but my goal is to jump in T-H-A-I-L-A-N-D......etc, etc, etc !"

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Vallerina 2]

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"No, no, I'll be fine, just let me lie here on the ground for a few hours."

The highlight of that for me was first trying to drink Corona with a straw, but then deciding it would be better to drink it out of a water bottle.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Halsky 0]

Hi there All of you People!

Thank you very much for great fun which we had together and for safe jumping! Thanks a lot for the 46-way! Be sure, that we will meet again next year at the next Big Way Camp. Maybe the weather will be just a little bit better for us and we will have a chance to make the 100-WAY!
Polish Guys nr 1 and 2 ;) Darek and Radek

[foxyroxtail 0]

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Hi there All of you People!

Thank you very much for great fun which we had together and for safe jumping! Thanks a lot for the 46-way! Be sure, that we will meet again next year at the next Big Way Camp. Maybe the weather will be just a little bit better for us and we will have a chance to make the 100-WAY!
Polish Guys nr 1 and 2 ;) Darek and Radek

KWOO - where are you - it's your favorite two guys!!

You two docked on my friend in the first groups, and she hasn't stopped talking about "nice docks" ever since!

________________________________________

[wmw999 2,588]

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You two docked on my friend in the first groups, and she hasn't stopped talking about "nice docks" ever since!

I heard her, so it must be true...

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)