CanuckInUSA

My condolences go to Craig's family and friends. I get the impression that his death was either an illness or some other non-skydiving accident? Blue skies to your lost brother ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

My altitudes on my ProTrack used to be set lower, but based on some recent events, I have moved them up. My break off warning is typically set to 4500, but I will adjust that higher if I go on a tracking dive or something like that requiring a higher break off altitude. My pull warning was set to 3000, but now it's set to 3200. It's not a hug difference, but it's an added second to handle things. My final warning has been set to 1800 and as low as 1500, but I've since upped it to 2000. So 4500, 3200, 2000 are my current settings. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

That's a real bummer sunny ... I hope you can find a roomie because I know your plans of getting another hundred in before October. Better apply for your "C" now so that you'll have that out of the way (in case you ever want to become a coach). I would if I could, but I don't think I could find the sort of work I do there. Believe it or not, there's only a handful of places in the country where I could work. But I was impressed watching some video of a friend's FL jumps the other day. Man your freefalls are way longer than mine. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I was aware of this, but I guess I was guilty of neglecting to say it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Unless I'm mistaken, dbags are sized for the container not the canopy size. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I sent a reply to Jim Rome telling him we didn't appreciate the crap he said about one of our sports pioneers. Especially since he (Rome) knows squat about the sport. But I'm sure I was just wasting my breathe. Besides, who cares what Jim Rome thinks. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Andy I choose not to use an RSL because I've heard enough negative things about them and I hope/believe I will have the witts to properly cutaway and go for silver should the need arise (which it has yet to happen in my short skydiving career). But I do choose to use a cypres because I will be a dead man if I collide with someone in freefall and am unable to deploy my main or my reserve. Of course with an AAD, I really need to be careful with my main deployment altitudes. As far as canopies are concerned, seek out as much information as you can from the experienced people you jump with and get some extra training when available. As a 260+ jump skydiver, I know a lot more about the sport than you do. But I know squat compared to guys like Ron, Billvon, Quade, SkymonkeyOne, Hooknswoop etc, etc, etc and the only way we'll get to their levels of experience is to survive and not make the same mistakes than many others are making. Freedom is a good thing, but it does come at a price. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

What's this mirror and coach trick you talk of? Hey the next time I'm on a solo I will definitely try this. My head down is better that what it was when I first started trying it. But it's far from proficient and it's likely because I haven't tuned in the tube that you speak of. So thanks for the info. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I voted for the "Education without Regulation" choice. I've had several conversations with DJan Stewart concerning this whole topic and we both agree that the:

I'm sorry about your injury and I'm not advocating that the skydiver in question who wishes to improve their accuracy make the same sort of breaked approach that an accuracy jumper would use. But I did want to inform them of the methods which do work so that when they are ready they have the knowledge to practice (and yes practice up high before you do things near the ground). The best method for this jumper to get better in their accuracy is to refine the base to final turn time and using the accuracy trick is the way to do this. But once they're on final and they notice they are too high or too low, they need to try and take corrective measures (keeping safety as their #1 priority). PS: Now how's that for a politically safe statement. Awe heck, just have'm hook low and flare late. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Are you aware of the accuracy trick? Basically while you're in the air and looking forward you will notice points on the ground that will be rising on the horizon. You will not make it to any of these points. Next you will notice points on the ground which will be going under your field of reference. If you do nothing and the winds don't change, you will fly over these points. Finally you should notice a point on the ground that doesn't move. If nothing changes (canopy control inputs and winds), this is where you will land. Now ideally you want to be on your intended target glideslope. But it's better to be a little high as altitude is your friend and it's much easier to lose altitude than to try and preserve it. There are at least three different methods you can use to lose a little altitude to get on you intended glideslope. One method is to make gradual small s-turns. This method works if your airspace is not crowded, but be careful as there could be someone behind you who doesn't really know what you're doing. Another method to lose altitude on final (my favorite) is to use your front risers. But be careful here as you'll be adding to your ground speed and you may end up going faster than you're comfortable with (and based on your experience level you should probably hold off on front riser usage until you've played with them up high). Finally the preferred way by many to lose a small amount of altitude is to sink into your target using your breaks. Using your breaks to sink in can be a little deceiving until you understand the canopy flight path on this approach type. When you first start your 1/2 breaked toggle approach, it will appear that you're decreasing your vertical decent rate (which you are) and that you'll over fly your intended target. But at some point, your vertical decent rate will increase and you'll sink into your intended landing area (using the accuracy trick). But don't forget to raise your toggles to full flight as you approach the ground as you'll need to gain some canopy speed in order to convert this speed into lift come flare time. There is another thing to be aware of when trying to land accurately and that is what speed are the surface winds doing? In light winds, you will want to extend your downwind leg before turning base and final. In moderate winds, your downwind base and final turns are nothing different than what your instructors may have had you do. But in high winds you need to shorten you downwind leg as you'll have a harder time penetrating into the winds once you're on final. It's a little tricky at first, but do use the accuracy trick when you're on base turning final. PS: When/if you start playing with your front risers, always keep your toggles in your hands. Never drop the toggle to reach for the front risers. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

First off this post wasn't long at all, secondly I think you'll get nothing but support and thumbs up from us here on DZ.COM as we all love this sport and want to share it with others. Good luck on your jump when you do do it, and keep us informed about how it went. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

It doesn't get any better (hockey wise) than a seventh game in the Stanley Cup finals. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Look for the horizon, spread your legs (hey get your mind out of the gutter) and relax. Your torso needs to be vertical. Otherwise you will catch air and be all over the sky. Freeflying is not easy. But any problems you (and I) may currently have with it can easily be overcome with a few thousand jumps. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

0:15:2 Another weekend gone by with no humps. Fifteen very fun jumps made out of a CASA. One case of beer bought for my first birdman jump and one case of beer owed for the first time jumping a CASA (what a fun airplane). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Byron told me that I could get a copy from him next weekend (he went to Brush today). So if I do, I'll come visit you and Hook one day and you can firewire it from me. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Nope ... but I've been lucky with the weather ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I got to do 15 jumps out of a CASA this weekend. Man what a fun airplane to jump out of. I like the skyvans, but the CASAs are even better. To date I have jumped out of: several King Airs several Otters this CASA a Skyvan a Porter a Caravan a DC-3 a Helicopter and several Cessna 206s. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Congrats Kelli I hope to see Byron next weekend (the video dude on the jumps) and firewire the footage. And if I get my hands on it, I'll try and post it here. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

My mother and father divorced many years ago, so I'll answer for them seperately. My dad is a retired air force jet fighter pilot and a retired airline pilot and the only way he would jump out of an airplane was if it was shot down or something like that. So he thinks I'm crazy. But surprisingly my mom seems okay about my jumping (you'd think mom wouldn't want me to do it). Most of my family is pretty conservative (you know being married or divorced, living in the suburbs with 2.4 kids and all). So having a son who skydives probably gives her something to brag about with her friends (she took one of my early jumping videos to show people). Just wait until I make a freefly movie with some of my camera footage I've been gathering these last few months. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Send me your snail mail address in a PM. I'll put it in the mail and then you can send me whatever the postage is. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Well those are details that weren't made available to us. I of course was assuming he exited from the rear side door and walked around to the front of an airplane (doing this how could you not know that the engines were running what with the prop blast and all). But exiting from the front passenger door adds a spin on his case. Still though, anytime you're around an airplane you need to watch out for this sort of stuff. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Lost Prairie is also a ten day boogie. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Hey Jeff From what I've heard Lost Prairie is a kick ass boogie (lot's of partying plus good jumping opportunities) and never having experienced either Lost Prairie or WFFC I'm in the same boat as to not knowing which one to attend. I chose WFFC because more DZ.COMers will be there and I wanted to experience the biggest boogie available. But to address the Montana late evenings. I'm not sure if Kalispell MT (the closest reasonably big town) is in the mountain time zone or in the Pacific time zone (In think it's mountain). Either way the sun will be setting there late, but especially if it's in the mountain time zone. Calgary (where I'm kind of from) is more north but not as far west as Kalispell. So in mid to late July the sun is probably setting in the 10:00-10:30 pm time frame and rising sometime around 5ish. It's definitely a long day. Plus MT won't have the humidity that Illinois will have. Hey Peter will probably be at Lost Prairie (the boy is a maniac for that sort of thing being the professional student and all), but he's told me that he'll be at Rantoul for sure (assuming him and Ryan come back from down under later this month). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Thanks for the info and based on my Eloy holiday boogie experience last year, it is a point well taken. If I do demo, I should plan to land off. I was only thinking about Rantoul as a good demo time since all the manufactorers will be there. I will be coming down in altitude though, so as long as I don't downsize with the demo, I should be fine. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over