EricaH

I have a question about predictability of pattern. SDAZ has the rule that the first one down sets the landing direction. Now that swooping is out of the equation it will be MUCH easier to figure out which way the first person down will be chosing to land - but not necessarly. When I'm under canopy, my focus is on finding all the canopies in the sky trying to see if they're going to try to kill me & making sure I'm not targeting anyone too. When at SDAZ I have to focus on finding the lowest man & try to figure out what the heck way he's going to land. Till that person's made a base leg - it can be a toss up to decide. To me that makes a landing pattern unpredictable. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I am NOT a swooper - probably the opposite. when I pull down on a riser & my leg strap goes lose it freaks me out. I still do it (up high to play) cause I need to learn all about my canopy. As a student I was on a 0.65 wing loading, shortly off student status I went to a 1.0 wing load & loved it. Landing was much more easy & fun what the wanna be or true swoopers say is true - to a point. A few hundred (250) jumps later I went to a 1.3 & love it even more - plus I can jump when the winds are over 10 mph. Now many more hundred later (450) I'm going to just over 1.45 and while nervous am very excited!! You will progress. Most likely with in 200 jumps you will want to be loaded at least a 1.0 or slightly more. If you don't need the $ from a sale now - why not keep the canopy. Plus, canopies lose value through use, so don't use it. Put it in a lose fitting breathable bag in dark dry place. that way if in a few years you decide you never will get to the point you want to jump a 132 - you can sell it then. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I can't give you any personal advice other than the fact that a lot of your flying techniques will change & hopefully greatly advance in the next 100 jumps, so be prepared for change. I jumped a 190 for almost 300 jumps then went to a 150 for more than 400 jumps & now am looking at buying a pilot 132. I will be jumping a friend's pilot 150 for a few months (at least 50 jumps if not more) before going to the 132 since I'm also moving from a 7 cell to a 9 cell. Only advice I can give you after being in the market for a 135/135 is that they are difficult to find - at least one in good condition for a good price. So, if you sell it online, it'll probably go fast. I know there's a guy on a team training in Perris, California right now from Norway that really wants a pilot 132. The other side is that if you end up wanting one in a year you'll be kicking yourself for not keeping the one you had since you'll end up probably losing money. Personal decision any way you look at it. Good job staying safe. But at really light wing loads I'd imagine you'll progress more rapidly. Good luck. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Not much advice to give you, I just did an hour in the tunnel last weekend - it kicked my ass!!! I was sit/back & a bit of HD flying - everything is sore even my ankle muscles. I can barely reach around to my back my pecks are so tight. but it was great & I learned a ton!! I have never back flown - now I can move up, down, turn, sideslide and dock. But I've never been more aware of my neck muscles

Not directed specifically at you, but there are a lot of people saying there's just not enough room. I am very libritarian & definitely want big brother out of my house. However, this is getting crazy. When I'm away from my home dz; I am scared on every single load that some hot shot I don't know or don't recognize his canopy hundreds of feet above me as being a pocket rocket is going to slam into my backside sending me spiraling to the ground. I'm not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of being a parapalegic. I know this is a risk every time I jump & that it comes from every aspect attacking me from every angle not just swoopers & even from myself. But if there is one way to greatly decrease the chances of that specific incident happening - then why not put it in the BSRs? Make the dzo's consciously decide against following the rules. As to the small landing area, I jump at Hinckley we have a pretty small area. It's about 2.5 times bigger than a football field and we manage to give the swoopers plenty of room. With a designated marked area they swoop through. Anyone setting up for landing doesn't cross the runway below 1000' and the swoop lane runs along & parallel to the runway, so anyone in a standard pattern doesn't cross that below 1000' either. Though I do know that since corn is our biggest obstacle we are blessed with plenty of outs. I still stand by the fact that almost every dz that has a landing area big enough for an otter load to land has a big enough area to give the swoopers a designated lane. I of course am WAY less qualified than pretty much everyone else in this discussion, so I'm out now. I just had to put in my $0.02. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I love my Mirage. I had the harness made smaller (by Mirage) & there's nothing getting the yoke off my shoulders now. I've done over 215 HD, transitioning between HD & a sit (avg speed 215 on pro track). When the harness was too big one shoulder would slip off to the side; now no movement at all. It won't budge even when I try to push it to one side. I LOVE my Mirage!!!! And the riser covers have never come open unlike many other rigs I've seen. Sometimes the pin cover doesn't even come un-tucked after pulling - YEA! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

A few years ago when I was just sit flying I went out with 3 other friends that thought they were doing great head down all of them had well over 500 jumps. I exited from the camera step and rode the hill down on my back watching them exit from inside. I saw them come from my right side steaking accross the sky way to my left side, practically tracking in a 3-way high-low exit (very solid) position. They eventally broke apart so we could turn some sit points as a 4 way. On the ground they were all high fiving eachother with the great exit. I told them what I saw. The biggest head in the group didn't believe me till we watched my video - it was crazy. Because of that jump when I started HD (with over 500 jumps almost 400 of them sitflying) I paid for real coaching. Why waste time training the wrong position in your muscle memory? Do a few coach jumps, get a good position, do lots of solos. Then when you're not a missile in the sky, pay an experienced friend's slot (or just ask them to go with you). They can act as your ball in the sky almost a teather. If you're far away from them, you're messing up. Get back to your "ball". And always, if you don't know if you're going up or down the line of flight - get into your stable position (ball, sit or back). edited to add: thank you for being safety consious!!! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I think that's excellent!! Definately a company to support. Does Emerica Skate have a web-site you'd post? Otherwise I know google works well too. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

To further BillVon's post. Death isn't always the worst that can happen. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I think the new freeflyers (corking a lot, on their backs...) should go inbetween the belly & the sit fliers. basically the faster your airspeed, less time you spend in free fall the less time you have to be drifting down jump run. Since a new freeflier can be going really slow - they're almost a belly speeds. When I was learning to sit I got in an argument with a very experienced freeflier on just this topic. I figured I should be out last, he explained that whole drift thing isn't just to divide simply between belly & freefliers, but between types of freeflying as well. He taught me a really stupid saying, but like I said I respect him... "fastest goes last". It'd be a minuscule difference but you could even divide 2 2-way belly groups, the heavier the pair the faster their air speed, the less drift; therefore they should go before the lighter pair. But that'd get really silly real fast. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I love the way my Mirage G4.1 fits & functions! I've never had my riser covers come open. My boyfriend's javelin's however come untucked all the time! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Herehere!! Three cheers to Jeff!! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

no comment... also no worries, everything is happy now! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yes, I'm replying to myself - oh, well. I just need to get it out there that my Mirage has been fixed!! Yea! now it is perfect!! When tightened to jump run ready I can barely even pull the shoulders off my shoulders. The "big guy" took a full inch out of the harness under each mud flap & all the stagger out the leg strap attachment (the webbing between the leg straps & the hip rings). Now it is the most comfortable rig ever!! And it don't move an inch. Anyway, I complain when stuff is wrong & I give praise when things go well. Now things are great & I am giving praise to Mirage! Too bad I complained all over the place - I have lotsa bad advertising to correct. But I'm perfectly happy to do so!! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yes, I'm replying to myself - oh, well. I just need to get it out there that my Mirage has been fixed!! Yea! now it is perfect!! When tightened to jump run ready I can barely even pull the shoulders off my shoulders. The "big guy" took a full inch out of the harness under each mud flap & all the stagger out the leg strap attachment (the webbing between the leg straps & the hip rings). Now it is the most comfortable rig ever!! There are no con's to a Mirage. Also, I believe that the person at the company that gave me cr*p for my complaint was actually full of cr*p - I've been basically promised that Mirage does not agree with what was said in the first place. Anyway, I complain when stuff is wrong & I give praise when things go well. Now things are great & I am giving praise to Mirage! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yes, I'm replying to myself - oh, well. I just need to get it out there that my Mirage has been fixed!! Yea! now it is perfect!! When tightened to jump run ready I can barely even pull the shoulders off my shoulders. The "big guy" took a full inch out of the harness under each mud flap & all the stagger out the leg strap attachment (the webbing between the leg straps & the hip rings). Now it is the most comfortable rig ever!! There are no con's to a Mirage. Also, I believe that the person at the company that gave me cr*p for my complaint was actually full of cr*p - I've been basically promised that Mirage does not agree with what was said in the first place. Anyway, I complain when stuff is wrong & I give praise when things go well. Now things are great & I am giving praise to Mirage! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yes, I'm bringing up an old thread, sorry. However, my Mirage has been fixed!! Yea! now it is perfect!! When tightened to jump run ready I can barely even pull the shoulders off my shoulders. The big guy there took a full inch out of the harness under the mud flaps & all the stagger out the leg strap attachment (the webbing between the leg straps & the hip rings). Now it is the most comfortable rig ever!! There are no con's to a Mirage. Also, I believe that the person at the company that gave me cr*p for my complaint was actually full of cr*p - I've been basically promised that Mirage does not agree with what was said in the first place. Anyway, I complain when stuff is wrong & I give praise when things go well. Now things are great & I am giving praise to Mirage! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I bought life insurance on my fiance through them. Even though he's a skydiver & a smoker he got coverage @ a really decent price. Heven't had anyother dealings with them though. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I live close to CSC, but if you ask here http://www.skydivecsc.com/zone/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=e32f13821fb9c497d52588aa512d7bee There are a few people that live in the city. Your only problem this weekend might be that it's suppose to start raining tomorrow afternoon & not stop till Sunday afternoon. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

In the Chicago western suburbs the cheapest is $2.94 & most are right over $3.00 still... however, if I drive 30 miles west, closer to the dz (ie. BFE) it's down around $2.50!! Yipee! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I really do understand (well, not actually since I'm no rigger but I can grasp the concept) how difficult it would be to have varying yoke sizes. I can also actually see how Mirage would have to build me a new rig & can't just replace the yoke. It's so aggrivating after all the testing I did to end up loving basically the most expensive new rig on the market, deal with one of the longest delivery times on the market. jump the rig & love it sit flying. Then when I work on learing Head Down have the dang thing slide off one shoulder every jump. On top of basically having a rig that has a very important safty feature (holding the rig on your shoulders) not fit, I was told by this mfg... who based on price & delivery time should be some of the best, that there's nothing they can do about it. When I pointed out that some very small girls (I'm not one) jump 150's & would actually fall out of my rig, the response was "well, I can't tell them they should be jumping a smaller canopy, but basically ya, they would fall out." Come on!! Especially after being fitted by the Mirage rep, who measured my shoulders & neck & asked if I wanted my rig to fit lose, snug or tight - to which I responded tight... just aggrivating. but now I've totally hijacked this tread & really truly didn't want to. I've also been over this problem with so many people here & in person that I'm tired of hearing myself complain.. And, finally someone at Mirage, from reading this thread has contacted me & asked me to contact him directly.... now I just have to wait for them to come back to work from being sick. So, we'll have to see, perhaps this man has my perfect answer. I can only hope. If he does come back with something that fixes my problem (and dosn't cost tremendously), I will go back and happly respond to all my negative posts (there has to be over 10) with glorious praise. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yup & nope.... but it works. Because of the chest rings, the chest strap pulls the laterals out of straight lines, but they're not bent, pressure is still applied evenly through out the webbing. It works till I can save up enough $ to get a new container. And I can post all over the internet about how a company has bad yoke design - yea! At this point i've been over it dozens of times w/ dozens of people in the know about gear, ie. multiple (at least 6) riggers, dzos & Mirage themselves, reps & company contact. It comes down to the fact that the everything but the yoke fits perfectly & Mirage can't fix that (I don't know if it's actually a won't, but to me it's the same as can't). There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

I would get chest rings whatever that means. Here's why... sorry for the long response. I have an M1 on a G4.1... and when freeflying specifically after transitioning to head down from a sit, one of my shoulder straps slips off to the side. My boyfriend's MX (I think or an M0) does the same thing. However, having the Unisys harness allows us to really tighten the chest strap down (my laterals end up only 5 inches to reduce the slipping). Note that both containers were custom... I've complained to Mirage & they're response "if you jump a canopy as big as a 135 we expect you to be a larger person & so the yoke is wider".. I have complaint threads all over dz.com, yes they really did respond that way. I stick with it since the harness is SO comfortable otherwise. However, when I'm ready for a new container, it won't be Mirage. Sorry, I don't know answers to your other questions. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Ok, I LOVE the baseball slide! Though I call it the soccer tackle slide cause that's where my muscle memory comes in. Only problem is that I can't do anyother kind of slide. I'm currently healing from a 3 inch diameter piece of skin being ripped off the top of my foot from sliding in on gravel it hurts!! Anyway, I am being warned off it since a friend of mine did this & shattered his heel bone - a combination of an unexpected ledge in the landing area & his body coming down on his heel a lot harder & centered than he'd expected, basically hip bone shattered heel bone - bizarre! Just thought I'd throw my $0.02 in. BTW, I love cross & down wind landings, they are something that every landing is an opportunity to work on. Good for anyone that works on it - could save your life one day. ps... I'm wearing tennis shoes from now on There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Obviously you know I'm no PRO however I have landed on asphalt a few times (better choice over a powerline or deep ditch).... just stand it up. As you have so often pointed out, on a 7 cell landing is more down than forward - so a long surf w/ sticky shoes isn't a problem. Once I was watching this guy trying to get his PRO rating... he fell tumbled at least 3 landing trying to get within the required accuracy circle.... I think he got his rating (don't know his name) but he probably should not be landing on asphalt even if he as the card. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)