mdrejhon 8 #1 December 8, 2005 Hi, After having participated in almost ten 20-ways, I'm looking to refine bigway skills for my country's national record next summer (Canada's 80way). I'm encouraged by the fact that none of my instructors have told me I can't do it, just need lots more of the right kinds of jumps first... Are there any smaller bigway camps during the winter or spring speciallizing in 8/10/20/40-ways? I'm trying to keep my next 100 jumps very high in RW content. If Skyventure NH opens before end of June, I'll probably get an hour there too. At least I'm going to try and get on the 80way -- despite my limited jump numbers, I did get to the 10-way to 20-way level and want to pratice more of that. I'll look into joining a 4-way camp during the start of a new Canadian skydive season, I'm looking for a trip to make in the winter... Any suggestions for a recommended event anywhere in North America during the Feb/Mar/April timeframe? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mirage62 0 #2 December 8, 2005 Go to one of Kate Coopers camps. Teach you everything you need to know about big ways.Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
el_chester 4 #3 December 8, 2005 Dude... first of all, I wish you luck and success in achieving your goal. Secondly, I would suggest you to consider the following (in no particular order): Perris Big Way Camps - Kate Cooper/Tony Domenico On previous years they have hosted 2 a year, one in May and one in November/December. This is a great place to get your feet wet. They do require a minimum of 250 jumps, but maybe if you have had some tunnel time and have a good recommendation from someone they trust they'll let you in with a bit less (???). I did the May 2004 camp when I had just over 250 jumps, and at the end of the weekend we safely tried for 66-ways, many of us for the first time. While you are there don't waste the opportunity to go into the tunnel with one of the Perris Performance Plus coaches. Skydive U/Rob Laidlaw Rob (also a Canuk) does some big way camps, and his coaching is amazing. He is a great person to learn from - his teaching technique will make you fly better. Among other things because he is great at minimizing distractions during the learning process and putting your mind and body in synch with each other. Spending time in the tunnel with him or one of the Skydive U instructors is one of best investments I've made so far. Both these camps will teach you all the basic flying skills (approaches, set-up, tracking, canopy traffic, diving, floating, docking). Size of the dives does not really matter when it comes to learning. 20-ways are great for learning! Tunnel training. Get some coached time in the tunnel and have the coach make you fly as slow as possible, then slower. Also have him mess with you (pull you, push you, take your air, ...) and see how much of it you can take. Ideally in a formation you should never have to use those skills, but reality is different, and often (even on 100-ways!) you have to be able to deal with tension on you, or someone hanging on to you because they can't fall as slow as the formation. Save money for this... If you end up liking big ways, you will want to do the more and more challenging events, and the only way to get invited on those is to attend many events in order to be current, have recommendations and earn the organizers' trust. Getting the experience costs a lot of money. I have been pursuing the biw-way skydives for about 2.5 years now - actually that's what skydiving has been about for me in this time. And it all started when I came back to the sport with about 160 jumps and the intention of participating in my country's national record (Mexico). Similar to where you are now. In my opinion the flying skills necessary to fly in a bigway are just as important as the discipline, patience and awareness both in the ground as in the dives. Learn to learn from everybody all the time. Listen don't talk. "Team Player" is the key term here. All the time, all day long. And if you can't get on the Canadian record in 2006, don't worry. A skydiver I admire a lot said to me while we were discussing my chances of getting on a bigger skydive than I (or anyone I know) has ever been on: "Destinations are over-rated. It's the journey that is important." And I happen to agree. So, welcome and enjoy the journey! PS Keep us posted. -- Be careful giving advice. Wise men don't need it, and fools won't heed it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #4 December 9, 2005 Hi, All your suggestions are excellent. I will be contacting these people sometime this month to evaluate my options... As a FYI... I've already aimed for an event earlier (Deaf World Record in October 2005 in Florida which I attended). So now the 80-way is my new goal. Although I was not on the jump that broke the record, it gave me a number of 10-way to 20-way jumps as practice. My 100th jump was a 9-way which was my first "bigway". So hoping I got a head start... But I worry about getting too uncurrent in the winter! Because of where I live, I won't be making much jumps (Mainly winter solo's with snow landings, just to stay current with landing skills and to have an occasional skydive fix between my skiing trips). I got over 130 jumps in less than 6 months because I was pursuing the Deaf World Record - I was still a student when I inquired back in May about the realisticness of jumping 100 times in 6 months without needing to go to the dropzone every weekend. I have so much to learn before I am ready for a 60-to-80-way jump. So I want to save money for a one-week trip where I can do 50+ jumps at some southern climate where I can pig out on jumps with more than half of them being RW related, preferably with several smallish big-ways. Perris: Already researched this one... A catch-22, since I won't be able to break 200 jumps without using up the vacation money before going on the trip. Plus I want to do the trip sooner than May. The other options are however, all feasible -- I will be researching my options during the course of this month... Once spring comes... Things will pick up awfully fast after, with a May Twin Otter boogie at my home dropzone and a June bigway camp that I probably would be able to attend (the camp before the 80-way). I can't wait for Skyventue NH to get built. They say May/June 2006. The Canadian 80-way is end of June. No room for much construction delay, it's the only windtunnel within driving distance. I could do Eloy, Perris, or Orlando but for a trip I'd rather pay for bigway camp and train at Skyventure NH on a separate trip after two months of replenishing my coffers... This is gonna be expensive $$ but at least I'm already all geared up with a B license, at least. So 2006 will still be cheaper... I'm going to contact Kate for ideas... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #5 December 9, 2005 Boxman does camps at Zhills in Dec. Boxorg@aol.com Starts with 20 ways and ends with 60 ways. http://www.skydivecity.com/html/calendar/"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #6 December 9, 2005 Sounds like fun! But that's kinda too soon for my budget, and I'm not sure I'm yet ready to progress to 60-ways in just 3 days of jumping unless I jumped my ass off during Canadian Daze. Also got a response from Kate Cooper referring me to Laidlaw, since there is no smaller bigway camp before May, but to check Perris schedules for other events that may include 20-ways. If I win the lottery, I will get 250 jumps before the Perris bigway camp and still have money left over to go to the bigway camp. So, I'll be waiting for a Feb/Mar/Apr event... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #7 December 9, 2005 QuoteSounds like fun! But that's kinda too soon for my budget, and I'm not sure I'm yet ready to progress to 60-ways in just 3 days of jumping unless I jumped my ass off during Canadian Daze. There was a person on the 300 way with 500-600 jumps. Its easier to go to a 60 way in a camp like this. It starts small and builds bigger. You get time to get used to a slot and you keep the same type of slot as it gets bigger. Before you know it you are doing 60 ways. At any rate good luck."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mirage62 0 #8 December 9, 2005 Okay, I'm going to get flamed big time for this but.... To be on the record do you have to be a for real Canadian? I've been on a couple state records and people were from all over the place. I've never heard of an "American record" So is it a record for the largest size jump in Canada, or the largest bunch of Canadian's? (I'd like to visit and I could sale my wife on the idea) Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #9 December 9, 2005 QuoteSo is it a record for the largest size jump in Canada, or the largest bunch of Canadian's? (I'd like to visit and I could sale my wife on the idea) Or a bunch of largish Canadian's ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #10 December 9, 2005 QuoteI've been on a couple state records and people were from all over the place. Both kind exists... Either in country records, or record of nationality.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdrejhon 8 #11 December 10, 2005 QuoteSo is it a record for the largest size jump in Canada, or the largest bunch of Canadian's?That's correct. Largest bunch of Canadians -- an 80-Way record. The website is www.skydiveburnaby.com. The thread is Canadian 80-Way: June 22-25, 2006 - Registration I don't know what the requirements are, to be Canadian or not. But that's FOUR Twin Otters at a Canadian dropzone -- a rare opportunity. Come anyway just for the fun of a crowded dropzone! I'm going anyway even if I do not jump in the official bigways (Murphy's Law still has plenty of time and opportunity here) - should be a lot of learning opportunity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
