riddler

I agree 100%. A situation that happened at the Christmas boogie in Eloy: Skydivers were told that to make the midnight jump on New Year's, one must have a D license and made at least 2 night jumps that year. I had my C license, but had made 6 night jumps that year. Now, only having only had 125 jumps at the time, it might not have been the best idea to make a night jump there anyway, but ... Take two skydivers. The first one has 125 jumps and six night jumps in the last 12 months. The second skydiver has 200 jumps total and two night jumps in the last 12 months. Who is more qualified? They are both pretty new, but is the second jumper that much more qualified for a night jump just because he/she has a D license? Now I'm in a position where I'm going to have my D license before September (barring some major unforeseen incident) and I will be more qualified to do things based on a D license than someone with 400 jumps that has no D license. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Since I'm getting close to getting my coach rating, I always have to wonder about these words. Does a coach fall into the category of USPA instructor? I believe so, but wanted to make sure. There seems to be differing opinions out there on whether a coach is considered an instructor. In this case, when I'm a coach, I could sign off requirements for B & C, even though I might barely have a C license myself. Seems odd to me. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I think that this problem is sport-wide. Have you ever tried to sell a rig with a main that's bigger than 190? It can be challenging. I think a lot of newer skydivers feel pressured to start with a 190, even though their rental rigs are often 210 or larger. It could explain why there seem to be a lot of injuries for skydivers at this level. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Tosca - what kind and age of container were you jumping? The harness is more important than the container, but older-style containers (or harnesses) were never really made for free-flying. I have that problem free-flying my 15 year-old Vector 2 (bad Riddler, bad!) - but I have a newer free-fly rig on the way. I did have one jump that the leg straps loosened and I gut strangled by the chest-strap on opening (looser chest strap would have been less painful). I've also had it too loose, and my shoulder-strap come down over my shoulder while climbing out of the plane for a formation jump. My point is that it can be too tight, as well as too loose. It's good to adjust a little at a time in both directions to see how that changes things. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

This is generally true, but only because we don't get as much snow as everyone seems to think. People don't realize that Colorado is a semi-arid desert, and precipitation is relatively low, but they think of skiing, so comparisons to Canada or even Montana are pretty absurd. Here is a list that show annual snowfall by City - Denver isn't even close to the top: http://www.weathertoday.net/weatherfacts/snowfall.php And that list is only US cities - Canada would probably blow us away in that department. Although Colorado is a great state for skydiving! 69% Sunny days in Denver: http://www.weathertoday.net/weatherfacts/percentsunny_city.php Although state-wide, we have over 300 sunny days: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/denverboulderandcoloradosprings/1608020006.html Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I've never chucked cats out into snow - they never seem to appreciate it. Now dogs - I've thrown quite a few dogs into big snow. I only do that because they like it

Couple of pics from the recent blizzard. We got over 2 1/2 feet - closer to three feet downtown. I had to shovel twice - once yesterday when it was a mere 18 inches, and again today. These pics were several hours after it stopped - it's been melting down quite a bit. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Just more proof of my theory that you are the coolest.

Not a chance - I've jumped with the penguins a few times. They are cool. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

1:3:0 1 Coach class 3 jumps (two 6:30 am cessna loads) 0 - well, I guess I'll buy beer when I finish the coach thing - still have to do the evaluation jumps next weekend. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I've never experienced motion sickness - not even on roller-coasters or doing zero-g dives. Of course, I haven't done any aerial acrobatics, either I've heard that make pretty much every sick the first few times. Anyway, I wonder if given the problem exists between what you see and feel, if it's possible to prevent motion sickness by keeping your eyes shut. Now, I'm not suggesting that you keep your eyes shut for every plane ride, but when I'm packed in on a King Air, I have to admit I don't feel like I use them that much. Check my alti on the way up, look out for where the runway is, check my gear. I put on my seatbelt before the plane starts moving, remove it when I hear my (or other's audibles), I'm usually not the spotter. My guess is that if I did my usual gear check on the ground, and was willing to live with not checking altimeter on the way to altitude, I could probably do the entire plane ride with my eyes shut, except the very last part when I have to get off the bench and jump out. Obviously, this does not include plane emergencies and such, but I think it could be done for the "typical" plane ride. Sounds crazy, of course, but I think it might work Hold on - OK I have the flame-proof underwear on now, so feel free to respond. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I figured this is probably what teams do. Is the IRM implying that coaches should wear a chest-mount upside-down for students?

Okay - I have heard of 4-way and other belly-teams wearing chest-mount or leg-strap mounts so that teammates could see each other's alitimeters, but how practical is this for a student? As a coach, you probably have a new jumper (less than 20 jumps) that is starting to get used to looking at their own altimeter and read it correctly. How feasible is it to expect them to be able to look across your two-way (this is assuming that you spend even that much time that close to each other and stable) and look at your chest-mount. Also, the alti will read upside-down for them - again, something that experienced teams can do, but not something I would think a low-timer would be good at. Maybe some of them, but my guess is most wouldn't even be stable and close enough for a few seconds to read the thing, then translate it upside down. Not at that level anyway. Anyone disagree/agree?

How 'bout - "she docked headdown on me while I was standing" Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I'm secretly a female posing as a male skydiver on these forums. I've been in love with you since I first saw your avatar (I love Jedis). Oh yeah, and the other guy is gay. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

3:3:0 - It finally decided to warm up a bit this weekend in CO, but winds were pretty high. Almost hit the new antennae that they put up for radio forecasts Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

In light of the fact that I have recently become an dz.com "addict", I was wondering if there was a 12-step program for ending this fanatical behavior of mine. After a quick (read "non-existent") search, I found that there was not, so I decided to create one to help all of you that are riding with me in this flaming handbasket-to-hell known as dropzone.com. We will be dropzone.com anonymous. Here are your steps to recovery: Step 1. Admit you have a problem. Do you constantly refer to your skydiving mates by their screen-names, even at the dropzone? Is there a question about the validity of the real person, because they do not look like their avatar? Do you wish you could just delete the stupid things you say when jumping, the way you can delete after you sober up from your drunken posts? It might be time to confront your issue. Step 2. Admit that only a greater power can save you. What could be greater than post-whoring on dropzone.com? Judging by the posts, we can conclude that only skydiving, beer and boobies are better. So go out and jump, get drunk and get laid. That pretty much sums up my typical weekend. I hope it was good for you too. Step 3. Surrender ourselves to a greater power. No problem for me. I have my paycheck direct deposited to the dropzone. Step 4. Make a moral inventory of ourselves. What do we value most? If it isn't skydiving, beer and boobies (or equivalent male counterpart), you probably aren't really meant to be a skydiver. Give me your jump tickets and get back in your old bowling league, or whatever else it was you did before you became a skydiver. Step 5. Admit to everyone the exact nature of your wrongs. You are probably driven to dz.com because you can't jump 24/7. If anyone invents a 24/7 dropzone, let me know and I'll be moving there shortly. Step 6. Make yourself ready to be healed. Take off all your clothes ... Do everything I say ... Step 7. Ask for help to remove your shortcomings. OK, fuck this step. I'm a skydiver. I have no shortcomings. Step 8. Make a list of all the dz.com members you have flamed and apologize to them. PMs only please. Apologies in talk-back make me get all teary-eyed. Step 9. Make direct amends to those people. Case o' beer works pretty well here. Buying a jump or two will also suffice. Sex is not out of the question if you are within the boundaries of sexual preference and good taste. Step 10. Continue to take personal inventory and admit it when we make mistakes. More skydiving, beer and boobies. Hey, I think I like this program. Step 11. Something about spirituality, contact with God, something, something. Hey if skydivers are so religious, how come Sunday is such a big jump day? Step 12. Carry your message to others that are suffering. You read this far. That's all I can do for you. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

I think you still get credit. Your profile shows you have 27 posts, and I counted 26 posts that you made. You are one of the lucky few to have a "missing post". Kinda like when the aliens kidnap you, and there's missing time. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Wow - Freebird's thread is just plain GONE. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

4 weeks and counting .... Does anyone know what the price will be? Also, I assume the "audible" alarm is really only going to be practical if you have it mounted on your helmet (next to your ear).

Great job! Welcome to your new life. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Don't buy this one. If I can get spun up on my tri 190, you can get it on your 160. Granted, it's much less likely than a tiny elliptical, but it can happen. I have standard three-rings, which scale the force much better and don't present quite as many problems in the scenario. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

err - OK - I searched through this thread quickly, so I hope I'm not repeating what might be an obvious question. If you look at the bulls-eye chart, the required canopy size for class 1 and 2 are both 170. It kinda looks like the canopy size for class 1 should be a 190, rather than 170. Anybody else agree? I'm guessing this is just a misprint.

Yes! It was good (I thought). We had two cut-aways, one injury that required 911 and an ambulance. The funniest part was when one of our tandem instructors got in the hanging harness and cutaway, and pulled the "fake" reserve. Only because of the spinning, his real reserve soft pillow came down and he pulled that one Got to see a reserve deployment on the ground. They had Booth's new skyhook system there and we got to take a look up close. It looks like a good system. Oh - also got to see a preview of the WFFC video. You guys will *not* be disappointed. It rocks. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

Gee - I wish I had a job that paid me to skydive. Especially a tandem! That's not a cheap jump. Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD