would you fly video in CO just for a cool pond to train at?

[pope 0]

based on the ad at: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=30801&d=1

For you video flyers/Swoopers out there:
would you relocate to a nice DZ with a killer pond to work/train at if it was at 5100' MSL? Or would you rather train somewhere closer to sea level? What would your deciding factors be?

let's hear it!
pope

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I voted "Hell Yes" except that I'm not allowed to work in the USA as a skydiving bum.

The altitude should be the least of people's worries if they are a decent canopy pilot. The cost of living in CO? Well that's a different story.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[ntacfreefly 0]

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would you relocate to a nice DZ with a killer pond to work/train at if it was at 5100' MSL? Or would you rather train somewhere closer to sea level? What would your deciding factors be?

After CO I seriously thought about it. I decided I'd rather train near sea level. I felt I'd become a 'lazy swooper' if I always swooped up there. It's relatively easy to go far and fast even with a mediocre swoop. I'd rather spend my time in an environment that's less forgiving and shows my mistakes more.

I think being an environment where it's harder to swoop further (and note I mean purely distance as 'air time' seems to be the same at sea level and high altitudes) will help me focus on technique.

Of course there was also that fact that I found it relatively easy to adjust to the altitude (going up) but think it'd be much harder for someone to come down to sea level - they psych factor is huge.

Finally most competions aren't held at that altitude (although those that are, are fun as hell). So it seems like less time in the competition altitude, or close to it, wouldn't be beneficial.

Of course these are just my opinions and I loved being at Mile Hi so they are purely based on my training ideas.

Blues,
Ian

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu

It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

[frost 1]

no. Then again i wouldnt relocate period. :)

isnt swooping that high ASL like an engine with nitrous oxide? Once you off the juice - you're on your own power.

SoFPiDaRF - School of Fast Progress in Downsizing and Radical Flying. Because nobody knows your skills better than you.

[superstu 0]

i'm pretty much on the same boat as ian. it seems you've got to be nearly perfect to have a nice swoop when you're at or close to sea level. but yes, going from a 500' MSL to a 5000' MSL was a "little" different and very fun. gotta love mile-hi!

on a side note, how's the CPC Championships and GO FAST video coming along? any release dates?

Slip Stream Air Sports
Do not go softly, do not go quietly, never back down

[Spizzzarko 0]

Yo, check it:

I think Ian hinted on something about coming back down to sea level. I have been jumping up here for over 5 years now, and when ever I go back to sea level, I have a hard time adjusting, to how low I have todo my turn, and how slow everything is. Conversely, I feel that when I do jump at sea level, I can get away with some really shit technique that would otherwise hurt you at altitude. In my experience canopies shut down much easier at sea level, but it is a little harder to bring the amount of power out of a turn into a swoop than I can bring up here. I enjoy jumping up here to tell you the truth, but I guess it's because I'm used to it. I just don't care for the onset of hypoxia from time to time on jump run as we are at 17500 msl. That is all.

Grant

PS How are you doing Chris? I havn't seen you for awhile. PM me. Late!

[Cacophony 0]

I don't understand the question. Are you still going to be training with a team at your home dropzone? If you are shooting video for a team then you shouldn't be swooping the pond anyway..... so do you just want to move somewhere with a big pond period? If you have the opportunity to swoop your ass off and not pay for it then 5000' or not, you can't pass that opportunity up. Its all technique anyway. Sure you will go farther up higher, but the practice will be much more worth it than not practicing as much just to stay at a lower elevation!

[marks 0]

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based on the ad at: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=30801&d=1

For you video flyers/Swoopers out there:
would you relocate to a nice DZ with a killer pond to work/train at if it was at 5100' MSL? Or would you rather train somewhere closer to sea level? What would your deciding factors be?

let's hear it!
pope

I would consider it if I didn't own a house, but not just for swooping. I had a blast there, and I love the view. I also love to snowboard.

I think that if your "training to swoop" for comps, then it doesn't really matter, where, just do it. If your not comfortable outside of your normal area, your not going to do too well anyway. once you have enough experience, making the adjustments for altitude changes comes very very easy, you just have to understand the perception of things. and if you can perceive the changes and understand them, you should do very well.

If you like the mountains, and the outdoors, do it. that is a bad ass place to be.

• Quote

[CanuckInUSA 0]

The bottom line is that there appears to be several job openings for videographers at Mile-Hi in CO and Chris is just asking if the existence of the new swoop pond might help lure people to the DZ. But yes, if you are working as a videographer, you shouldn't be swooping the pond on those work jumps since the pond is not at all close to where the tandems land. But that doesn't mean that people can't swoop the pond on their other "fun" jumps.

In terms of what's better or what's worse when it comes to altitude, I tend to agree with Grant that people will just choose what they are used to. The vast majority of my swoops were made at Mile-Hi's 5k MSL altitude. But now that I am living at sea level, I must adjust to my new environment. But I don't necessarily think that either one is easier or harder. They both have their challenges. Plus while swooping at sea level, I don't think it's a case of having to setup lower. I think it's more a case of having to get that canopy diving longer. Sure in some respects (for the experienced canopy pilot) swooping at altitude is easier. But you sure wouldn't want a novice swooper just ripping one at altitude before they got used to how much the canopy will dive. For me the real challenge of swooping (not talking about making entry gates) isn't at what altitude do you start your turn. For me the real challenge is when does one get off of the risers and getting off the risers seems to differ (nothing radical of course) depending on if you're swooping at altitude or at sea level.

But to get back onto the topic, I really enjoyed my years in Colorado. IMHO, it's one of the best places in the USA. The weather is awesome, the scenery is beautiful and there are a lot of other activities people can do like play in the mountains if they need to take a break from jumping. The new Mile-Hi should not be confused with the old Mile-Hi. This DZ has the potential to be a bad ass DZ and don't forget that there is also a new wind tunnel in the state to go along with this new "bad ass" swoop pond. I wish I was still there. But what can you do when you're not born in the US and the INS has pretty much told you ... thanks but no thanks. I guess I shall just be contempt with having to visit the state instead of calling it home like I did for 8 years.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[bob.dino 1]

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...Chris is just asking if the existence of the new swoop pond might help lure people to the DZ. But yes, if you are working as a videographer, you shouldn't be swooping the pond on those work jumps since the pond is not at all close to where the tandems land.

Not to mind the several thousand dollars worth of expensive non-waterproof camera-gear on your head.

[skinnyshrek 0]

Hell no, why move from the best pond in the east to goto colorado...lol Also, why would you want to swoop any pond with all your camera gear on?

http://www.skydivethefarm.com

do you realize that when you critisize people you dont know over the internet, you become part of a growing society of twats? ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

[polarbear 1]

You bet your ass I would, especially since I already fly at 5K. If I could find a good job in the Denver area I'd be there. Not just becasue of the pond, but I liked the area, I liked the people...

On a side note, I do find it quite a challenge to go down to sea level, but I find it a challenge to come back, too. It depends on what you are used to. I do think it's true that you go faster and further at 5K but I don't think that masks bad technique. In the end run it comes down to one thing: Did I do better than I did on the last swoop, or not? That applies at all flying conditions. You just have to keep in mind that a swoop of a given distance at high altitude doesn't mean as much as that same distance at sea level.

"Holy s*** that was f***in' cold!"

[diablopilot 2]

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based on the ad at: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=30801&d=1

For you video flyers/Swoopers out there:
would you relocate to a nice DZ with a killer pond to work/train at if it was at 5100' MSL? Or would you rather train somewhere closer to sea level? What would your deciding factors be?

Already did.



let's hear it!
pope

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[pope 0]

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Also, why would you want to swoop any pond with all your camera gear on?

Let me restate:

Would you come to a CO dz to work as a video flyer at said dz in order to TRAIN (on your non-work/slow days or not)? Swooping the pond with a camera on has nothing to do with it.

but, as a seperate, direct answer to your question, "To get the shot."
cheers
pope