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A safer canopy for smaller people. Currently people that weigh around 100# have to stay under a boat sized canopy until they have the skill to handle a smaller canopy. Even if they weigh 100# and are on a 97square foot canopy, that's barley a wing load, but given the canopy specifically it's much more dangerous than a larger person on a larger canopy loaded @ 1.03. But if this 100# person stays on a 150+ sized canopy (still not the best bet) they end up grounded due to wind/turbulance a lot or just floating down with the tandems. 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 afford to lose my rig either, that's why I have an insurance rider for sporting goods added to my homeowner's insurance (also had it with renter's insurance). That rider covers your specific items at 100% coverage in the event of loss/destruction caused by anyone, even by the people at the airport. I just called my insurance company (Allstate) to confirm this yesterday. For my s/o & I we have a $25,000 sporting equipment rider, it costs an additional $120/year, well worth it! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Depending on the dropzone, they will probably have you go out solo with a coach or two. Just one english hint - we use the letter V instead of your W. So the word you used, "wery much" is actually very much. My boyfriend is polish & he makes that mistake a lot. no worries, you'll do fine. 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 to be a downer, but I believe you have to use clear goggles until you're off student status, or at least for a while. But that could've been just a dz policy, not a USPA one. Something to look into, you may end up having to wear the giant plastic goggles over your regular glasses for a while. 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 called mine & straight out asked if they covered accidents from such things as surfing, motorcross, hang-gliding, bungie jumping, boating, water skiing, skydiving, mountain climbing. Blue Cross Blue Shield didn't have any issue, but that may be policy specific, insurance is a mystery to me. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Another reason is people's sense of color. A friend of mine bought a new canopy, for her first jump on it, I wanted to watch for her on the ground (different plane form & size, not a safe way to downsize if you ask me) - so I ask for it's colors. She tells me blue & black alternating stripes. I see no canopy like that at all in the air! She gets down & the canopy (to me) is clearly jade & black alternating stripes. One persons aqua is another persons blue, one persons blue is another persons purple, on & on. Now, given that different monitors show colors diffently, it's not perfect, but a good hint. Plus while I love most blues & purples, I hate other shades of the same - best way to tell is via picture. I guess though if you don't actully let color influence the canopy purchased - not much other than the warning lable is really desired. Though that is a good way to get a great canopy, though ugly at a discount. 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've never licked a man's asshole either - still got a few fire balls & low numbers. It's gotta be something else. It also asked me that question on all 3 rounds. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Just reading some of those questions makes me want to... um, go home ! It's so funny reading some people's answeres, I was expecting to get about a 20, then in 3 tries I got 2 scores of 8 w/ 3 fire balls & one score of 12 w/ 2 fire balls. Dang - and I haven't tried nearly half of what I want

Aaah - hadn't even thought of that! Thank you for the info! I don't try to actually push the pin, the goal is to just feel it - but now it's even more important! I guess I count on the tight bridal protection of my rig - but that's not a smart thing either. 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 don't think it'd work for belly, but when freeflying & I see this situation I put out one hand to say "stop", then I point to whatever part of the gear is messed up. Most times I turn & point to the open main flap, I've reached over my shoulder to point at reserve & I've pointed to the MLW for either handle loose. Once my main flap came open, my buddy did the same for me. So I reached around & felt for the pin to still be in place (hand coming up from below the pin so I would be pushing it up if anywhere). Another time a friend couldn't tell what I was saying, I told him to turn around (back to me) & I flew up putting my feet on his hips so I could visually see the pin. One thing in all this is that I make sure to never by any measure to be above the questionable rig. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

My b/f is selling his FX, he got an offer from someone from London currently in West Africa willing to pay upfront. Kinda sounds like yours. So, a fake cashier's check. If the bank accepts it & gives you the $$, can they then take the $$ back? There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Thank you Andy for giving a second opinion! My mirage fits great all the time execpt when I transition to HD from sit (ie. cartwheel). I thought my rig fit perfectly until I started this (regularly used) maneuver. Justin actually physically measured me, it was a complete sizing. I've had my dzo take pics fully suited up & when standing the rig fits correctly. It's just that the shoulder straps can be pulled off to the side - or pushed off by the air. Mirage's further explanation is that when using a 135 main & a 143 reserve, that much fabric has to fit somewhere & so the yolk must be wider. Like Andy said, I'm not a small person by any standard. To losen the chest strap I do use the squeeze the laterals together method, however, when they're already with in inches of eachother & I'm literally hanging off the back of them it can be difficult at times. And if I've had some bizarre opening or something & now I'm low & needing to get into the landing pattern, I don't really have time to be screwing around trying to loosen it. Riggermick - I have seen you a lot on here & know the great input you have. I am interested in doing whatever I can to make this (quite expensive) custom rig as safe as possible. I purchased it because my old rig was not freefly friendly & now that say 15 out of my 230 annual jumps are freefly & more than half of those are HD - it really chaps my hide that this happens. I've only seen a normal belly band that sits about bellybutton level - I just can't picture how that's going to keep me in my rig. I could get a band that goes from shoulder to shoulder - but that would probably decapitate me on opening. 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 do love my mirage - I got it last year. The only problem I have is that when transitioning to HD, one shoulder slips off. then I'm flying with a crooked rig. The yolk can be tight enough to not let this happen if I have the chest strap tightened so the laterals are with in 3 inches of eachother. Then the laterals & chest rings are right on top of )& very painfully so) my breasts. Mirages response. If you're jumping something as big as a 135 (my M1 container meant to fit a 120 - 135, though I squish a 150 in), our design assumes you are a bigger person w/ broader shoulders. When discussing this with them I brought up how I have a tiny 100# 5ft tall friend that just started jumping. She's on a 150 & would literally fall out of the rig, if she stood on her head you could pull it right over her shoulders no matter how tight the chest strap was pulled. They said, yup, that could happen. But we can't tell people to jump smaller rigs. Also, another issue is that when I do decide to chinch the chest strap down that tightly, it is VERY difficult to loosen under canopy. my last jump of the season, my fingers were so cold I couldn't do it I even tried after taking my gloves off. Lets just say it was a very uncomfortable ride down!! Having your risers literally infront of your face is no fun at all!! Apparently all the webbing fits fine, just the yoke is too wide. And since I didn't start HD till about 8 months after getting the rig, I didn't notice the issue - and so it can not be fixed with out buying a whole new rig (which would probably need to fit an even smaller main/reserve combo - which I am not ready for). Sorry for the rant, it's something I've needed to get off my chest () for a while now. edited to add: That Justin (the Mirage rep at the time) measured me. And I have had extensive conversations w/ Ward - nothing. Oh, forgot to say that I'm glad you like yours!! Enjoy, it really is so comfortable any other 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)

Thank you so much for both your help/input!! I will e-mail Jason. It's great to hear that there are less expensive rooms around. If we were acutally going for the hotel (& not to jump all day) I could see spending the $. Prob will pay more for the insurance so mine isn't bothered. I tried driving on the left side in Australia, didn't go so well. I'm trying to stick to right sided countries for a while (hehehe). Have a blast over there Jeff. A few of us are following Matty Wright to PR for the freefly organizing. It sounds like a supurb boogie!! There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

We're planning on going to the boogie in February. I couldn't find online any advice as to which PR airport to fly into, are there shuttles of any kind & does anyone know of hotels in the area? I'm guessing flying into San Juan is better - it looks like some larger roads than cutting north through the entire country. My s/o found a hotel for over $120US/night. I was wondering if there's anything else near if not even on the dz? Is there camping? Are there showers? I really have no idea & am looking for any information. I've never rented a car out of the country either, are there any hints anyone has or is it not really that different? In Jamaica I know they drive on the left side of the road. Being as PR is a US territory, I'm guessing you drive on the right side? Please forgive my ignorance! Any answers are great, just seeking info. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Once, visiting a different dz last winter, we arrived at jump run and the door wouldn't open more than a few inches. A TM climbed to the rear & tried to jigger the door open, it wouldn't budge. The tandems had lots of fun landing but (@ this dz you sit on the otter's floor) the fun jumpers esp me, were white knuckled holding onto the windows. Everyone stayed in the plane, same TM went out side door fixed the door we climbed back, got to jump run, door got stuck! Same TM came to the back but was able to open it this time w/ some tools brought along just in case. By the time it was our turn to climb out I was 50/50, wow - i'm really not suppose to do this jump or get me the heck out of this plane!! The jump went fine & I've since written off winter jumping up north. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Gotcha - sorry, was thinking of a larger dive than 2 people. I guess w/ 3 or more you'd actually have to take cross hand grips in your round (pretty difficult) so everyone could cartwheel. Or you could do it to end up in a crosshad HD round. No matter, skills are needed. I can just do a 4 ppl HD round, 2 cross handed to trans into a sit. it's fun 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)

That does sound fun! So, when you trans from belly to HD, you end up in a round w/ everyone facing out, by diving forward while linked? Or is it more of a break belly round, trans to HD & then form a round? It'd be fun & a great pic for outside vid if everyone's facing out. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Yea! Thank you! "Who is the party for?" is just plain bad english grammar. Never end a sentence in a proposition. I believe some of the other rules work, it was just too hard for me to determine to which part of the sentence I was referring. 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 don't know if it's 100% correct all the time; but I use this: if you'd say he in the sentence you'd use who if you'd say him, you'd use whom. Obviously using he or him will sound funny since the sentence is a about an unknown person, but it's easier (for native type english speakers) to sound out. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

If you have a 401K plan, or some other type of retirement plan, you can probably take a loan out on it. That's what I did. I paid 3.0% interest (the actual $ that went to interest also went to my account, not the administrators, per the law). It's a note off your 401K paid back over a set time period (typically 3, 5 or 10 years) & at a set interest rate. The $ was withdrawn directly from my paycheck, so I didn't have to deal with it. 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 worries - I'm happy to see that you are learning just how much more dangerous HD can be. Skydiving is a fun relief of daily stress. To me, it's great cause I can not necessarily stress but really focus intently on something that in the end will hopefully have a beautiful outcome (meaning a great smooth jump/opening/landing). Good luck to you & your endevors into the dark side. One more word if I may, don't permanently turn your back on RW - there are many skills to be learned there. Hope to catch up to you one time at a dz somewhere, we'll fall out of the sky at the same 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)

I'm not trying to hold them back. I'm trying to make sure no one messes up & screws w/ someone else's life. I will never get over trying to teach safety to people - even if I have to keep repeating myself. You shouldn't either. It's people with lots of experience that don't care enough to point out potential hazards that should be... sorry, can't finish that. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

My friend has 2 compressed vertabrae & a buldging disc from a hard opening on a cobalt. She's been in PT for over 2 months & has another one or 2 to go! Her helmet flew off her head on opening. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Hopefully he has wide shoulders. My d-bag is built to fit a 120 - 135, the shoulder straps slide off my shoulders all the time. I was told by Mirage that "since I have such a large canopy they have to build the yoke wider". so I just have to be fine w/ the slippage (I have the chest strap tightened to about 4" apart & leg straps almost cutting off circulation) there's nothing that can be done about it. Other than that I love my G4!! Pretty much everything is standard on it (unisyss & stainless are pretty much the only options). It is super comfy & you learn to pack w/ the split bag. I can easily fit my spectre 150 in it w/o the split I think that would be rather more difficult. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show)