
JohnnyBoulder
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Everything posted by JohnnyBoulder
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AAD use - let's hear it!
JohnnyBoulder replied to chuckakers's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Yes, ad nauseam, but as we see more and more fatalities that likely could have been prevented with an AAD I think it is worth revisiting. Thanks for starting a new thread. Those of us who track the incidents reports are waiting to hear more details about incidents and these types of debates in that forums makes it hard to find the details. -
Skydiving with tinnitus?
JohnnyBoulder replied to pleasedtomeet's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
I have moderate tinnitus and moderate to severe hearing loss in the upper frequencies. I do not wear earplugs because people do talk in the plane. I tend to avoid social conversations, but often there is some communication about the dive plan, notes on jump run speed, etc. etc. I have enough trouble hearing in general and with a full face helmet. That said, I see folks wearing foam ear plugs and they do not seem to have any issues hearing such chatter. I also have two audible altimeters in my helmet with the exact same altitude warning settings, both on the highest volume. Again, I am concerned ear plugs would muffle those sounds, but those that wear ear plugs say they have no issues. My case may be different due to the hearing loss. It would be interesting to stick a sound meter inside a G3, but not sure how that is going to happen. I find outside the aircraft boarding to be the loudest, followed by take off. Wind tunnels are loud and I always wear earplugs there. Perhaps I need to revisit the subject with my audiologist. I look around and see many jumper who have been jumping for years and they don't appear to be hard of hearing. So I have just done without them during skydiving. -
I am guessing this feature is right under my nose, but how do you search the forums and profiles for a specific user name? Thanks.
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Flying with your rig as a "tote"
JohnnyBoulder replied to bbrodes's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
I have now flown twice with gear. I put one of my rigs in a typical rollie type bag, nothing else per TSA requirements, and put it in the overhead bin. I also had another small bag with my laptop, etc. As for my other rig, same thing, in it's own rollie and I checked it. The rest of my gear, clothing, etc. was in a second checked bag. -
Looking for a detailed packing video
JohnnyBoulder replied to Safelandings's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Get "Packing Made Simple". Also Brian Germain has a packing video product as well. Take another packing class and bring a video camera and film the packer packing your rig. -
I will throw out a big core dump being a newer jumper having started last September (well, second time). For starters, I would definitely analyze the cost of skydiving. It is very expensive as you know. If in the long run you can't afford it, why put yourself through the hassle. Just do a tandem jump now and then. Ok, assuming you can afford some reasonable level of jumping ... I did some wind tunnel time before my AFF1. I was doing stuff way beyond what would be required in AFF1: turns, grips, side slides, burble hopping, practice pulls, COA's, having the coach wrestle me like an unbalanced AFF instructor, etc. When I did my AFF1, I had confidence that I could arch and be stable. That really helped. Regarding fear, it varies a lot by individual, but I think the vast majority have a lot of fear up front - you are not alone. I have close to 400 jumps now and I still feel it on the drive to the DZ, on the plane, etc. But the more jumps I make, the more it goes down and I can deal with it. Especially with multiple jumps on the same day. That said, and you probably experienced this one with tandem, the fear is about the event that hasn't happened. The event itself is a blast. It is like a big amusement park thrill ride you have never ridden. You are nervous in line, but the ride is a blast, and you run as fast as you can to get back in line. Only to experience fear again, albeit a little less each time. I would not let it hold you back. There is nothing like skydiving. You are jumping out of an airplane - there are some self-preservation instincts involved of course! I did not do a tandem jump, but I don't think that is such a bad idea. True eventually you have to do it on your own and face the music, but one warm-up tandem jump say the day before your AFF class seems like a reasonable idea to me. Although if it is one or the other, no brainer - invest in the AFF jump. Side note: I made 112 skydives a little over thirty years ago, so I had some prior experience. Otherwise I would have done a tandem methinks.
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Are you referring to the front of the shoulders? I noticed the same thing when mine was new. It has softened up considerably over time. Let it break in and if you still have concerns, contact Sunpath. Their customer support is stellar.
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I am going with everything the same: two custom fit Javelin Odyssey's, Optimum reserve, Vigil, and Spectre 170 mains. The only difference is one of my Spectre's has 120 jumps and the other is brand new. Regarding packing, some of us out there older with worn out skeletons, neck and back problems, tennis elbow, etc. We pack, but being hunched over, etc. hurts, so when a good packer is a available we take some bodily stress out of the equation. Not to mention more time to plan a dive, stretch, get a drink of water, etc. It's all time vs. money isn't it ...
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I am doing the same thing for the same reasons. "Two rigs and a packer!"
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Rounds - what were they like to land ?
JohnnyBoulder replied to RMK's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
I jumped a round 110 times back in 82-83 when I was in high school. I was working as a bus boy so bought a dirt cheap rig with round parachutes, shot and a half cutaway system. I had a Sparrow 24' canopy. Yes, you could turn it and it had a bit of forward speed, but mostly you were at the mercy of light winds and a good spot. I was 17-18 so landings were just a tumble like you might do today when you PLF and did not hurt me being so young. Although rounds come down, not so much forward. I stood mine up all the time. You had to time it just right, but you could wrench down on the rear risers and cup the air for a split second just before your feet touched down. If I did that now it would really hurt the back. -
Rich Winstock Swoop Incident Cover-Up
JohnnyBoulder replied to skydived19006's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
+1 -
I think Councilman24 might be referring to this discussion. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4615860;page=unread#unread
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New gear costs a premium, but then you get something for that premium. Each individual must determine whether the additional cost yields a greater trade-off in value for themselves. I identify with with the Katzas and Kat4821 ... I have a lot of bio-mechanical problems, so maximizing fit is of key importance for comfort and less pain. I have a beefier upper body compared to most of my height and lower chest circumference. I have lots of problems finding shirts, pants, etc. that fit right. Those same points apply to car purchases as well. I am guessing some folks who espouse used gear have purchased a new car. Again, it comes down to what is important to an individual. I have a bicycle that would cost $11K to build. I remember a guy freaking out about how much my bicycle cost as we talked in a parking lot. He had a newer decked out SUV while I was driving a 1995 Honda Accord with 170k miles. Side note: I skydived 30+ years ago in high school before I went off to college. I started off with borrowed military gear, remember the old belly reserves and T-10 rounds? I worked as a bus boy and my cash was tight. Then I bought a very used rig with a 24' Sparrow (round) canopy. The rig didn't even have a 3-ring release system. Now that I'm older I look back and shiver. When I got back into the sport it just seemed that buying the best gear available was the right choice for me. And I'm lucky to have an occupation, well at least most of the time (100% commission), that allows me to cough up the cash for brand new gear. PS That said, if anyone has a C17 J3K Javelin with an articulated harness, Phat reserve handle, SLS, and Skyhook built for someone just under 5'8 with a short torso relative to that height, 32" inseam, 30" waist, let me know!
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So used or rental gear means safety? I agree that downsizing is a consideration. If someone plans to keep going down and fly small, high performance canopies, an all new rig up front would be costly. I did what you suggest here - rented while my new gear was on order. I have no plans to fly anything smaller than a 150. My container is built around a 170. I currently have a Pulse 190 (same pack volume as a 170). I should not need to buy a new container. Well, as a matter of fact, I am an oil prince. Ok, not ... Seriously though, I could cough up $6K every year for gear, but would not want to do so. I probably have around $10.5K invested right now with new container, reserve, AAD, reserve, and two mains. When the time comes, I will sell my 190. I will eat one to two hundred dollars more than if I had the bought canopy used. Although one very experienced canopy guru mentioned I may want to fly the larger canopy during winter when making fewer jumps. Anyway, my point is that container, reserve, AAD will not change. So I don't know why I would need to be spending $6K per year on gear.
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I recently went through the same dilemma. Ultimately I arrived at a cost doesn't matter conclusion. - Canopy. I do not like having a different canopy every jump. Granted often I could get the same canopy, but I found myself going from seven to nine cells, different sizes, and so on. I think flying the same canopy has tremendous safety benefits and is more enjoyable. - Comfort. I'm beat up biomechanically. Comfort is a big one for me. I will throw fit in here too. Some rigs, not that they hurt more than another, just feel awkward on me. - Safety. Not saying rental gear is unsafe, but knowing I bought it new, take care of it, etc. gives me piece of mind. Plus, I'm a huge fan of the skyhook and very few of the rental rigs at my DZ have skyhooks. Call me paranoid, but I also like having a new AAD. - Availability. Yep, I've had times when there wasn't a rig available, or I had to choose a huge parachute. Plenty of time standing over the packer waiting to pounce. - Cosmetic. Ok, maybe silly, but I will admit I like having my own rig on my back, the way it looks, etc. I also have bicycles with custom painted frames too. Anyway, those are the main reasons off the top of my head. Once I thought about it, I didn't care whether renting made more sense financially. But I think if you do the math you come out ahead if you jump a lot. Btw, I went with all new gear. Built for me, my colors, exactly what I want. Even ended up with two new mains. I don't regret my purchases at all. Life is short, pick your financial battles somewhere else in my book.
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I went for more of the simple / enjoyment route. First I watched the plane for a eight or ten seconds as I fell away. Usually when we jump out we have to get busy right away with whatever we are planning. Then I looked out at the majestic Rocky Mountains up and down the range, around the airport, etc. Afterwards I just did some 360's, a backloop, etc. ... simple stuff I had already done on AFF jumps.
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Who writes the code for this place?
JohnnyBoulder replied to lyosha's topic in Suggestions and Feedback
While you are fixing things ... how about the ability to sort columns like date after doing a search in the Classifieds. -
Returning to sport after 20 years
JohnnyBoulder replied to mifisher67's topic in Introductions and Greets
I recently returned to the sport after 30 years off, 112 jumps way back when. The advice above is spot on what I ended up doing. Consider just a little bit of tunnel time for confidence sake on falling stable as suggested. Plus your back is probably stiffer than two decades prior. Then start over with AFF. Your DZ might let you progress a little faster depending on how you do. Keep going, you will love it once you get back into it. Bittersweet for me, all those wasted years! -
I just emailed L&B and asked them to respond here.
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how many active skydivers are there world wide??
JohnnyBoulder replied to gstutt's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Spark: I asked for the source of the 20,000 active USPA vs. 33,000 data. I use that number for some statistical analysis of fatalities, so a side bar question. -
how many active skydivers are there world wide??
JohnnyBoulder replied to gstutt's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Was that 20,000 / 33,000 active number from the USPA, another data source, or a guess? Side note, but I like to view risk of fatality on an aggregate annual per participant basis (fatalities / active jumpers). That would throw my numbers way off. Thanks -
Second audible altimeter freefall warning altitudes ...
JohnnyBoulder replied to JohnnyBoulder's topic in Safety and Training
I am curious to hear how those of you who have two audible altimeters use them. I have an L&B Optima II and am considering adding a second audible. The subject of why someone might want two has been discussed in a number of posts on the forums. Below is a link to a recent discussion on warning altitude settings, which is related to this topic. Currently I have my audible warning altitudes set to 500' before break-off, 500' before pull altitude when I should be flaring and waving, and a hard deck of 2500. Assuming I stick with this setup, one thought I had would be to set the second unit's altitudes the same so I would hear the warnings in stereo and also provide a backup to normal use. I am curious if those who have taken this route notice differences in when the warnings sound, particularly if different models. Another thought I had would be to overlap the warning altitudes - for example set the second audible first warning altitude at the hard deck, then the other two 500' lower, respectively. This might get confusing though. Another thought would be to set the second model at 500' below the hard deck and so on - the point being if I ever hear the second audible warnings things have gone bad. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4589736;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread -
Audible altimeter freefall warning altitudes ...
JohnnyBoulder replied to JohnnyBoulder's topic in Safety and Training
Deimian: our DZ has a defined jump run east to west and I always track perpendicular to the jump run. There is no rush on my virtual break off since I'm solo, so I am very careful about getting my heading proper before starting. Also when solo I pull out after a short period of time, usually above 4500, then watch my altimeter until 4000, wave off, and pull. I am very careful to give the group or individual ahead of me plenty of time, although I realize those behind me may not do the same. And we always discuss opening altitudes on the load in addition to what different groups/individuals are doing. That said, good feedback here. I think I will forgo tracking on solo jumps. Initially it seemed like a reasonable idea, but I see it is actually not. I was on the fence as it is over wasting freefall time, so glad I asked!