freakydiver

Man hookitt - THATS INSANE!!! -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

1750 -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

what ivan said - aff it and get straight into the good stuff... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

My personaly thought is - anyone can do whatever they want under canopy and unless i know them personally, I stay away from them. If you wanna S turn go right ahead as I'm watching my own rear-end... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

To be quite honest with you - I think the ability for someone to think plays a much larger role in survival than experience does. Sort of In my many years trudging around in the backcountry of the Rockies, I've met many a backcountry explorer that has decades of bc experience yet they still overlook some of the most basic points. I'd much rather be out there with someone that I know THINKS before they act regardless of the situaton and I know plenty of folks with a quarter of the experience of other people that I would gladly rope in with. When talking about canopy loading, I think that downsizing is looked at as "cool" and "one way to get cooler" and "the way to get longer swoops" - i.e. there is a bit of badassness to it. I still contend that I had 95 jumps when I got my Sabre 135 and have only hurt myself once on it because I didn't think before I acted. It had nothing to do with experience as I had no problems flying the canopy in any condition. I simply didn't think about the maneuver I was trying to execute before executing. Its the same way a gymnast can bust out a trick in competition without ever throwing it in practice - visualization is key. Like you said - "I know a guy with 1000 jumps that has 3 cypress fires." I don't think I'd want to be around that "experienced" jumper in the sky. But, I know plenty of 3-500 jump wonders that can tear the sky a new asshole with their skills AND they are alti aware ALL the time. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

It still is 200, even when it changes over to 500 you will still see a good number of D licensed jumpers pounding it in. IMHO of course. And - I've met plenty a jumper with 200ish jumps that are just as or more level headed than a few 1000+ers that I've met. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Not necessarily - it might mean you aren't looking in the right places. " horizontal separation is the key. " -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

My only thought is that quite a few injured canopy pilots are D licensed. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

"Further, I've always been amazed by the guys that climb mountains without O2. It's one thing to be off it for a few seconds in the door waiting for exit and another thing entirely climbing up the side of a mountain at 18,000 msl." But most of us work up tolerances to be able to climb mtns wo O2. I still feel it after going up and down in a plane out in Colorado all the time but never have any problems hiking to 14k (higher in Alaska). -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Timed seperation based on uppers as well as planned exit groupings is what you use to keep other jumpers in other groups far enough away from you so that you rarely see them. The 45 degree angle trick is a myth and has been shown to be as such by many a DZ.commer much smarter than I. If you don't understand how to adjust counting seperation read up on it as it could very well save your life. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

How big is this landing area? I have YET to see a DZ where the landing area is so small there aren't any outs. I've landed in many a backyard as well... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

No doubt - they really don't teach the newbies that one - just because you touched down safely doesn't mean your head should no longer be on the swivel like it should be under canopy. LOOK AROUND ALWAYS until you are packing. Just read Kris's post - sorry for the repeat. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

I may be snooty or whatever, but I'll just never get how people can be such idiots. Period. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

" I'm only 23 and doing surgery on something that I did to myself when I was 17 seems extreme. " Thats a terrible way to think about it. Period. I messed myself up bad when I was 17 and only when I was 21 did the problem resurface. It can get costly and the more you mess with your shoulder the worse it WILL get. Good luck and make all aware of your problem when getting on a load with you. I'd personally bow out from jumping with someone if they had the same problems I had. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

I'm habitually addicted to the high - what can I say -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Thanks for getting that I was being a tad bit fasicious(sp? even remotely close??). I hear yah and agree which cha... Faith will be kept. Blue ones! -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Prayer and beer work for my Sabre135... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

All I can say is whatever to the wingloading BSRs. Whatever to morons who downsize too fast. I'm looking out for my own ass on the DZ this weekend (I wish I could really incoporate that sentiment into my everyday thought processes). Like Ron said - "All I did was say: So here is one that might have been helped by the WL BSR." I just do not understand how that is bad in any way? Forget it. I don't care anymore. I figure if I keep telling myself that meself will eventually buy into not caring anymore about friends dying (I wish). -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Acid eating crack smokin whuffos. Whats next?!?@! -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

I'm very accurate, but I'm not comfortable with 180 hooks even though I know what I'm doing IMHO. Also - "I believe the responsibility the community has to its less experienced members is to make sure that they understand the risk and receive appropriate education and training." Oh so true, is it me or is this attitude dissappearing from the skydiving community. Are more and more hotshots getting under small ass canopies and getting their friends interested in them as well? All I hear now when I'm on different dzs is VX this or Crossbrace that. A medium loaded Stilletto will STILL hang with VX this and Crossbrace that. -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

My fioncee used to be able to top out at her gym's celing on the competition tramp they had. Amazing shit they used to do - like quad twisting quads. The ceiling was 45 feet. At 45 feet I WANT A CANOPY -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Exactly!!!!!!

"i dont see how dragging it into every incident report it may or may not apply to is helpful to anyone." If it raises awareness for just one more person that it sure as shit is helpful... -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Mine popped out in freefall - had to pull reserve it wasn't going back in... IMHO it isn't a good idea to jump with a shoulder that can pop out, get it fixed first. Looking for the thread right now. Found it... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=466154;search_string=shoulder;#466154 -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --

Does anyone here have the info one might need to send their vid cam into Sony for repair? I looked on their site breifly but didn't have much luck. Thanks in advance! -- (N.DG) "If all else fails – at least try and look under control." --