CanuckInUSA

Assuming they actually build it, I will also have one right across the street from where I play hockey (15 minute drive from where I live). Of course I doubt that it'll be powerful enough for me to use to help my freeflying skills. But I guess I could always use a little more belly practice. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Or if you're lucky enough to jump near a desert, drag it through the dirt a few times. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'll likely never know exactly why I was slammed so hard, but I do know that I'd like to never be slammed this hard again. And to try and ensure that history doesn't repeat itself, I will be doing two things. 1) Even though historically I've been pretty good at making sure the slider is all that way up against the slider stops while packing, I need to be more aware of the slider location at all stages of my packing. 2) I will use small rubberbands for the top locking stows on my dbag instead of the large ones which are there right now. I'm guessing my slammer was because of the slider coming down too soon, but why not protect against a possible line dump while I'm at it. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I've made about 90 jumps on a Sabre2 190 (loaded @1.2:1) and another 50+ jumps on a Sabre2 170 (loaded @1.4:1). I have experienced some turbulance (usually fairly high up) but am not too worried about a low altitude canopy collapse (possibly because of my wing loading and also because my dropzone tends to ground the entire load once the winds get squirrelly). Of course, if I bounce due to some turbulance low to the ground, then I guess I'll become yet another statistic. Is there truly a safe canopy out there? I'm not experienced enough to say so, but my guess would be no. My home DZ has it's share of air locked canopies and I'm looking forward to demoing one later this year. But even those aren't fool proof, are they? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

There's no proficiency card like the "A" license, but there are requirements which need to be verified by your friendly neighborhood S&TA. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I like the thought of being able to fly a fully elliptical canopy such as a Crossfire2 and/or a Samurai (and I'm sure one day I will fly an elliptical). But I have yet to learn everything I need to learn on my Sabre2. I've stood up 51 of 52 Sabre2 landings loaded @1.4:1 here in CO and the devil inside of me says that I'm ready for a smaller canopy. But as I said, I've yet to learn everything there is to know about my Sabre2 and it is the best canopy I've yet to fly (keeping in mind I'm still a youngster in the sport). I'm sure there are plenty of other good canopies out there for you as well, but don't listen to others who say you'll get bored with a Sabre2. Just my 2 cents from a not-so-hard-core-experienced skydiver. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I think you need to change your DropZone moniker to "The Deer Hunter". But you're not alone. I killed a deer with an old car of mine back in the winter of '89. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I've been busy putting out a fire or two at work this morning, but I've found a moment to post a little more about my slammer yesterday afternoon. So here's what I know and what I don't know: What I know - My Sabre2 normally gives me reasonably nice openings. - The slider was not collapsed. - The brakes were set and taunt before the jump. - I was on my belly for at least 3-4 seconds before deploying. - The canopy and lines appear to be ok (my rigger should verify this later this week). - Things happened so fast and so hard. - My camera footage caused the video to temporarily stop for a split second during the slammer. - The opening caused the stitching between both risers and the cutaway cable keepers to separate. - None of my dbag rubberbands were broken. What I don't know - Exactly why I got slammed. - Was the slider all the way up against the slider stops? - Did I experience a line dump? Things happened so fast and hard. But despite the fact that my neck is a tender this morning, I am happy to report that I will be ok (I've been hurt worse standing in front of the net in hockey and taking a cross-check to the back). Man I love this sport, but it can be a killer. I only wonder what would have happened if this slammer disabled me or knocked me out? You could have been reading about me in an incident report this morning. Blue Skies y'all ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

As far as US fatalities are concerned, they're probably at an average level right now. But there have been at least one every weekend for the last month which likely gives the appearance that they're up. But there were few between January and March (obviously a good thing). Of course now that the jumping season is kicking into gear in the northern climates, we could see more and more. I think each jumper needs to take responsibility for their own safety as well as the safety of those jumping around them and we need to take as much human error out of the sport as possible. Lets have fun out there, but remember that none of us are invincible. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

1:7:0 No jumps on Saturday due to some ugly weather and seven jumps on Sunday (yes I called mom before I jumped) on Sunday. One absolutely nasty opening (numerous experienced base jumpers said it sounded like a base opening ... only terminal). But I'm alive and well ... I think ... I hope ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Was it a landing accident or something else? Either way I know it doesn't matter ... I just got one of my bigger scares today while jumping (an extremely bad opening that could had disabled me) that makes me ask. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Holy shit I got slammed today. Like nothing that's ever slammed me before. There was at least a dozen jumpers who saw or heard my opening. It was nasty!!! I'm surprised I'm not more hurt than what I am. I'm pretty confident that body position wasn't an issue and despite the fact that initially I thought I might have been going too fast (I have video of myself headdown, but I did spend several seconds on my belly slowing down), I figure it was either a bad pack job (only one persone to blame, me) or my slider wasn't all the ways up. It was nasty I tell you. Numeous experienced base jumpers said my opening sounded like a base opening, only terminal!!! It was nasty!!! I never hope I experience a pre-mature opening while head down, because this was bad enough!!! he ... he ... he ... but I did get back on the horse and did another jump (and then had numerous margarittas afterwards) ... ... so I'm ok ... I think ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

High: The weather looks jumpable today, so off to the DZ I go. Low: My left knee is a tad sore from a hockey game I played in on Thursday. BS: Thanks to Becky, I remembered today is Mother's Day. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

If you pro-pack, it'll be so much easier to do your so called 2nd s-fold first, stuff that portion of the canopy into the dbag and then do the so called 1st s-fold second placing it into the dbag in between the existing fabric in the bag. It's essentially the same pack job as the traditional pro-pack and a lot easier to manage. Also, unless you're flying a high performance pocket rocket (which I doubt you are), don't be afraid to trash pack it a little. I'm on my 2nd brand spanking new Sabre2 canopy and this techique mentioned above allows me to pack in under 10 minutes (closer to five if I rush myself). Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

Casie looks like a very happy puty-tat!!! So of course this game would be harsh. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I guess we can play this game whenever we don't buy gear from SQ1? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

If God is on my side: Perris Valley, CA If the Devil is with me: Work By the way, I'm not really religious. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

My Eloy experience was awesome for getting in some cross-wind landing experience. And while I have landed downwind on a couple of occasions, I'd like to get to know my current canopies flare characteristics better (currently 44 of 45 stand up landings) before I intentionally start downwinding it on a regular basis. Our no wind landings here in CO are probably similar to your downwind landings in TX. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I sure hope this is a "for fun" thread. If not, maybe Casch should borrow Hooknswoops VX 60 for the weekend and initiate his front riser carves at 300-400 feet AGL. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

High: I've managed to jump every weekend since late January. Low: Mother Nature is messing with my weekend jump streak. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm hoping to take a week off of work sometime this summer and do nothing but skydive. My preferred week off will be the first week of August (WFFC in Rantoul). But working for a startup software company, I'm at the mercy of project schedules and the whime of a whuffo boss who would rather see me dedicate every second of my existence to the company rather than have fun (but we all know that's not going to happen, I'm a skydiver). Anyway, if Rantoul doesn't happen for this camper, I was wondering what some of the more experienced freefliers out there think about a newbie like myself taking a week off and doing a bunch of coached jumps with the Flyboyz in Perris or Mike Ortiz in San Diego? At the Eloy holiday boogie I managed to do one jump with Steve Curtis (courtesy of Betsy), but he was on back to back loads and not only did I not get a debrief but I only had about 100 jumps total at the time and I still struggled with my freeflying. Now I'm no freeflying rock star (yet ), but I've done another 100+ jumps since the Eloy boogie and am better now than I was then. So I'm beginning to think that I'm approaching the skill level where I could possibly benefit from some one-on-one training with a world class freeflier. So would my money be well spent taking one week off of work (it would be a very expensive week) and do 50 jumps with the Flyboyz (or Mike Ortiz) or would I do fine just doing the $3500 worth of jumps with friends. Opinions? PS: Doing some coach jumps in Eloy with Omar or Steve Curtis would also be good. But I don't think jumping in Arizona during August is the best time to be there. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

I'm hoping to take a week off of work sometime this summer and do nothing but skydive. My preferred week off will be the first week of August (WFFC in Rantoul). But working for a startup software company, I'm at the mercy of project schedules and the whime of a whuffo boss who would rather see me dedicate every second of my existence to the company rather than have fun (but we all know that's not going to happen, I'm a skydiver). Anyway, if Rantoul doesn't happen for this camper, I was wondering what some of the more experienced freefliers out there think about a newbie like myself taking a week off and doing a bunch of coached jumps with the Flyboyz in Perris or Mike Ortiz in San Diego? At the Eloy holiday boogie I managed to do one jump with Steve Curtis (courtesy of Betsy), but he was on back to back loads and not only did I not get a debrief but I only had about 100 jumps total at the time and I still struggled with my freeflying. Now I'm no freeflying rock star (yet ), but I've done another 100+ jumps since the Eloy boogie and am better now than I was then. So I'm beginning to think that I'm approaching the skill level where I could possibly benefit from some one-on-one training with a world class freeflier. So would my money be well spent taking one week off of work (it would be a very expensive week) and do 50 jumps with the Flyboyz (or Mike Ortiz) or would I do fine just doing the $3500 worth of jumps with friends? Opinions? PS: Doing some coach jumps in Eloy with Omar or Steve Curtis would also be good. But I don't think jumping in Arizona during August is the best time to be there. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

As a fellow pet owner I think I feel your pain. My critter is still with me, but she's not getting any younger and one day I will be in your shoes. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

High: I'm tempted to do another lunchtime hop n' pop tomorrow. Low: Mother Nature may have other plans for me. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

As someone who may not even be able to make it to the boogie, take what I have to say with a grain of salt. But it sounds like this thread is being hijacked by a bunch of people wanting to do hybrid dives and not freefly jumps. I personally don't care about a record but would rather have a gnarly kick ass time doing freefly jumps with other dark siders. If a record is set, that's a bonus, but as a low timer I'm more interested in developing my skill set. Also, has anyone noticed that Perris Valley has changed the look and feel of their website? Try not to worry about the things you have no control over