ManBird

Standing under intelligent trees? Selling umbrellas in Thailand? Steve understands Internet technology? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Just got my registration form for this year's Kapollapalooza. Looks like we've got ourselves a little swoop contest! Distance on Saturday and Accuracy on Sunday. Looks like they're also going for new hybrid and formation records for the NW! It should be an awesome weekend! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Acronym? What for? No clue. It's just what it says on the older ones (the ones with the sort of bat-looking logo) "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I'm not saying you shouldn't look, I'm just saying you shouldn't turn so your head so hard that your body follows. (Edited for typo) "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Then IMO they are NOT ready to jump the wingsuit! - I kind of have to go with Ed on this one. You look at your wristmount altimeter without turning. If you have issues with your body turning when you glance to the left or right, then you really aren't ready for something that's so demanding of a symmetrical body position. Besides, reading Ed's post, it doesn't sound like he's looking for a drastic movement -- just catch the PC in your peripheral vision. It's one of a few reasons why I have a hot pink PC. All that aside, the basic idea is to have a clean deployment. Stay symmetrical and make sure your PC clears your burble. There are different ways to accomplish this and different ways to check that everything went right. Once you're experienced with a wingsuit, you may find that you prefer a different method that works just as well. Until then, listen to your instructor! S/he has the experience to know what works. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I don't know man... Sport Knife Fucking is pretty dangerous. The KFAA (Knife Fucking Association of America) posts some pretty heinous numbers of injuries and fatalities each year. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

1998 was the first year of modern wingsuit production. Jari and Robi first put their S.U.I.T. (before it was called the Classic) prototypes together. A couple guys made their own suits in Hawaii, after seeing Patrick's, but they never produced their design. Loic built his first Crossbow that year. Christopher Aarns had a design that he played with in the eighties, I believe. Before that, you have to head back to the era of the original birdmen. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

It took about six hours to make it to Spokane, so maybe like eight or nine from NW Montana. Mapquest it and substract an hour. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I had a post but deleted it, because Glen and I wrote almost the same thing at the same time. Instead, I'll just second what he has to say. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Well, you can get pretty damn close by knowing the wind speed and direction at different altitudes, and there are services that provide this info. There's pretty much always some wind aloft. Rather than try to pinpoint what you can do without it, it's best to find ways to benefit from it. If you're fortunate enough to have 50+ knots behind you for most of yoru altitude, don't fight it -- fly a couple extra miles! Utilizing the wind to increase your distance is skill unto itself. Exiting 10° off of a perfect tailwind can take a huge chunk from your potential distance. Too true. With wingsuits, in addition pilot's skill, the pilot's physical attributes make some big contributions to their performance. As far as who's "getting left behind", no one should be getting left behind. In a flock, everyone should be flying as well as the lowest person (within reason)... just like a tracking dive. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I learned a lot from being in a competition environment. Winds, exit order, and gates combined to present a challenge with which I've never dealt. On any given day, I feel I can throw something decent and fun. Throwing in all the competition factors made me realize how much I have to learn, and how much more I can do on my canopy. I was feeling a little discouraged at first, as I had trouble making gates. I tried a little harder (changing our exit order helped a lot) and posted some points. I'm really inspired to work harder at it, though. Everyone flew with a lot of control and common sense, and it kept everyone safe in some sketchy conditions. There was the one little "facespring", but even that only resulted in a little scratch (BTW, this canopy pilot did very well across the competition, regardless of the faceplant). My three goals were to escape injury, learn, and have fun. If I didn't get dead last, it was a bonus. I'm uninjured, a lot wiser, I had a ton of fun, and I wasn't dead last (overall -- but was close to it). I must say that Stu was flying really damn well. His commitment to canopy flight was very evident. Major props to him for putting this together. This was the first competition he put together, and was the first one at Crestucky, yet it was done very, very well. Thanks a lot, man! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

This should make for some kickass competition and some kicker ass flocks. We're gonna be arm wrestling ballerinas left and right! Canadians probably should bring passports. You know how American officials feel about foreigners. Words of warning to travelers: Once you've sampled the local brew, you may never leave. You may want to prepare to purchase some real estate or the cash equivalent in Mirror Pond Pale Ale. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I do enjoy flying with others. It presents a challenge unto itself and allows me to develop a pretty big, fat skillset (especially taking up students). But I must say that I'm one of those freaks that gets off on the feeling of maxed out solo flight. When I see the ground moving from near full altitude and hear almost nothing at all, that's when I'm happiest in a wingsuit. When I look out the door and think, "this is really damn far out here," but then open past the DZ, it's a pretty big rush. When I lock onto the sweet spot and hold it without flinching for over three minutes, it's a pretty big rush. The gadgetry just comes along with being a geek. They are tools that allow for a different type of challenge. When I know exactly what kind of glide ratio I can get, it allows me to challenge myself with bigger distances. I am glad that this sport does have such a great social aspect. I've heard some people say that wingsuits will go the way of the boards because it's just as "different". I agree that disciplines like skysurfing, speed diving, etc are scarce now because people got sick of doing it alone. Any discipline that allows for group activity tends to remain and grow. I have no doubt that several years from now we'll be able to go back to those who thought this was a fad and say, "Where's my cabbage, bitch?!" "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I don't take up first jump students, but I've taken up many a first wingsuit flight student. Some people are just as nervous about this as their first jump. The "take-their-mind-off-it-approach" seems to work really well -- just engage them in conversation about anything but what they're about to do (assuming they've been trained up enough on the ground to not forget anything). The less they think about it, the less they stress in flight. One difference with wingsuit students is that showing them the drop zone and giving them a visual of the flight plan through the window or door will often times relieve a lot of stress, as the navigation part stresses out a lot people. My 2¢ from the wingsuit side of things. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Word. I'm pretty busy at work and can't leave early. I'll be in tonight and would love to do at least one hop and pop at dawn. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Just looking at it, it appears to have the same attribute most one-wing suits have: a lot of float and not a lot of fly. I just find it hard to believe that a suit that "thick", and with "angled" trailing edges on the arm wings could possibly get your forward speed into triple digits. The other thing I hear a lot about these is that the performance between when you first fly it and when you get really experienced is somewhat marginal. Any unbiased takes on this? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

It's on like Donkey Kong. I should be able to take off early and get some jumps in on Friday. I'm gonna kick so much ass. At Donkey Kong, that is. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

September 17 - 19 (Fri - Sun), Skydive Oregon in Molalla, OR will be hosting the Northwest's first wingsuit boogie and competiton! We'll have some friendly events in distance and freefall, as well as a foot race (yes, a foot race -- in your wingsuit). Demo suits, instructors, and load and rodeo organization will be available to get everyone flying. More details to come as we get closer to the event date. We are also assembling a BM-I course for experienced wingsuit pilots. Please PM me if you're interested. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

HAHAHAHAHAA!!!! Oh, man. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Search for the "Wolmari" packing method. I got slammed a bit at first on my Sabre 120, but learning to pack using the Wolmari method prevented slammers for my next 400 openings. I made no equipment mods, whatsoever. In essence, you're just putting the (unrolled) nose in about the center of the pack job, and then really cupping the slider to cover up the nose. But try to find a more detailed description with photos and/or illustrations. The Sabre is a great canopy with a lot of range. It can be really docile, or you can swoop the piss out of it. Recommended, especially if the price is right. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I don't know, man. That's what Rex got on his first GTi flight this last weekend. I'll have to try one next time I'm down there (or you're up here). "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yes. This is probably the easiest suit to learn on. It's also probably the most underrated suit. It has tons of range when flown properly. Edited to add: Definitely get instruction from a BM-I. You'll be glad you did, and at 200 skydives, you sort of need to. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I know at least two team guys are in Eloy. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Hey, BJ. Heard a lot about you whilst in Davenport. Kapollapalooza is July 24 - 26, 2004 in Molalla, OR. It's a joint boogie between Kapowsin and Skydive Oregon. The first one held last year was HUGE. Definitely the most activity I've seen at a NW DZ. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah. I drove the speed limit and the trip seemed to go by even faster than going up there. Only stopped once. You should all get suits. I'd love to see you guys try to get a five way out of that 207. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click