sarge

Just coincidentally, my first 'high' wind experience occurred on my level 15 AFP jump, 14-15 gusting to 23-25 under my new Monarch 150. My AFFI says on the video, "Nice skydive Doug; if we make it back.... lol!!!" (we didn't) Another time, I was between loads in Eloy when a dust storm erupted; I'd never seen anything before in my life like that, my first thought was, "they don't do nuclear testing out here anymore, do they?" my next thought was, "geez, I wonder if anybody was out yet?" -on that up-load. No as it turned out. Last time, two years ago, not only cloudy (atmoshpheric haze....) but 80kt uppers, I thought, "Shit, the greens still on, fuck it!" and I bailed. I knew ahead of time it would be a shit swoop jump so I went to my second beep before going flat. I opened just under the 'haze' and thought, "where the fuck am I!!!!!!!!! fuck!" for miles!!! ... there was nothing but fields and an occasional barn/what-not. The most notably fucked-up jump in my log books! The dz sent out search parties, and it fucking sucking-sucked!!! Now, in high winds, I will will not jump if I can't spot it! I will not go near trees, hangars or other vortice-creating structures in x-wind situations. I will not jump in high-variable gusting conditions and most of all, if I do decide to go, its only because I trust my group and those ahead/behind me! . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

lol!! very sweet scoot! I'm now trying to close a deal on a '02 R1 (under 500 mi) w/graves titanium, Penske rear up-grade, 208's and a few other tweeks... get to the dz even quicker On the skydiving -side, if you're looking for cheap; skydiving aint the place bro. Fact is, I wouldn't even have a bike if it cut too deep into my jump budget. . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Nathaniel No, sorry, I meant rig. Yup! but at 175+ I think the chance that I would suffer much is remote... UGH! but nobody is going to "walk away" from a situation like that anyway; helmet or not! . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

ROTFLMAO!!!! cool! Do you even have your own kit??? btw. I ride in non-helmet states, I can't bear the neck strain of the helmet, especially with that crap on my back. . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Hmmm. well, I do know that 50% of the activitivites listed in Katzs article begin with the letter, "S" . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I found this article written by Peter Katz, it is really interesting, "When Good Pilots Make Bad Decisions" Plane & Pilot, July 2002: p42. : "How Leisure Activities Compare" Activity Fatalities per mil. hours -Skydiving 128.71 -General Aviation 10.11 -Motorcycling 8.80 -Scuba Diving 1.98 -Swimming 1.07 -Snowmobile 0.88 -water skiing 0.28 -bicycling 0.26 Well heck, I don't know? But then who can really calculate life expectancy anyway... I guess I could get my calculator out and bleed down the numbers... but I don't see the need.... . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Yup ! ... Down-side is I can only take one rig at a time. But I have done so several times. I pull my leg straps up and put my arms through them then fasten my chest strap. Stuff my hackey inside my boc. I stow my helmet, pants, camera, whatever in the smallest bag I can and use a web bungee to keep it tight on the back seat of my 900RR. I'm exactly 55.6 miles from the farthest dz I jump locally. It takes me roughly 1/2 the time by bike than by car... gas is cheaper for the 900 too. -- but after a long day, the return ride sucks! I have had occasion to leave the rig at the dz. I hate doing that cause I miss it too much! Are you saying you never brought your rig on your bike? -or- that, you, "never rode a motorcycle?" . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Thanks... good idea! . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I was probably ADD before 'they' figured out what to call it when I was a kid. I hated school, but kept my grades up through HS to stay in sports, kept my parents, teachers and other kids off my ass! Wierder things have happened, but to the amazement of many (except my mom) I scored pretty well on the SAT's. Later, finished DePaul (pre-law/bus. m)with a 3.9, decided to go to Law School... then quit! I know too many poor lawyers (with big bills!) The few I know that are making it are work-aholics or have suffered long-n-hard! I didn''t have a hook-up in the good ol boy network and the open market is about as cut-throat and blood-thirsty as any I have ever experienced!! To make it worse... in school one hundredth of a point can seperate you from top 10% of class by several people in a class of 3-400!! What that means is the major firms get thousands of free-market resumes... most go in the garbage if you're not at least top 10% or related to somebody!! Now I'm just getting around to finishing an MBA, I think an Ph Ed degree would be a super investment... but yet for another rambling... sorry . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Tossing the cat out into the snow seems like it could be a cat-astrophic event? ... how inconsiderate!!! I recommend taking the FEMA advice of sealing it in plastic and wrapping its paws with duct tape first before you expose it to those dangerous elements! . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

I'm sorry, but somebody could spend thousands of dollars on rentals before they are personally ready to downsize 35sq ft. ... Money well/poorly spent??? The container may be a super investment idea, (albeit price hasn't been mentioned) , (IMO) because you have a lot of latitude in stuffing possibilities. Why not pick up the rig (minus/main) and tie up a 150 to it??? Seems like a lot of $$$ to let sit on the shelf when it could be put to good use in skill development at other than rental expenses? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Q: > ... what are the different sets of risers used for when steering. When would it be appropriate to use the front and when the rear??? And how exactly do you steer rear risers, whats the grap point? 1.) CanuckInUSA> The dive loops on the front risers can be pulled down and the canopy will enter a steep diving turn building up ever increasing forward and vertical speed. 2.) Hooknswoop> Depending on the canopy and wing loading, landing a canopy on rear risers is not a big deal, especially if practiced before hand. 3.) BillV> That risk is very, very low under good conditions (.8 to 1 canopy, 10 kts wind.) It is much higher under a more heavily loaded canopy, so the time to practice is under the larger canopy, not after you go to a smaller one. 4.) Listo> If you have toggles for landing, why not use them? Isn't that why they are there. Q:> "...how exactly do you steer rear risers." 1.) Listo> Students can practice rear riser landings up high very easily. [...to add all dimesions including stall familiarization and toggle transition] ...Try to re-create. You may find how all mechanisms can work in unison, ie: leg-straps/harness, risers, toggles. Use/experiment with the general tips about what other people experienced in a particular configuration under their canopy...you'd be amazed how they will differ! (of course at altitude); knowledge is no substitute for experience. There is no substitute for direct observation. I strongly urge you to avoid all techniques in a riser configuration in actual landing practices until you can condense opinions of other skilled canopy pilots that meet your personal skill accomplishments/awareness! ... (Not to be repetitive but to surmize) . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Dear Sunshine, Yeah....??? Me too??? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Dear Dr. Sunshine, Since receiving your advice, I have joined with Nextel on a 5,000 min. plan with the, "Group Paging" feature!!!! Thanks again!! You are the best ! You have changed my whole outlook on life!!! I love you Sunshine!! . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Dear sunshine, (or mom) I've had this unresolved delemma. (thank god you guys can help with fart advice) If I'm alone in a car on the L, and I rip a really nice fart, but theres noone there to hear it, (and I didn't get video) ... does it really make a sound? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Can you see anything else...? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Welcome mate. Can I take you hat, hang up your jacket? Please, sit down, make yourself at home. . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Most obviously trolling... but, our sweet, skysurfing hummingbird... it's ok! ... just send the video . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Although I gotta side with Jeff on his suggestion about getting a full-frontal nekid, as well, I would like to add; a full backside (with a scale of reference) before it would be appropriate to pass judgement... . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Hey Lenny, while the chili is still simmering and the buzz is developing... whens the helmet, suit and dytter due to arrive? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Somebody once told me that bright colors like yellow.orange neon green etc. are nice if you ever have to go looking for your canopy after a cut-away. I'm not sure how much truth resides in that statement since they fall in the weirdest places anyway??? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Seriously, no prob!! I really am wondering though, since I like the low-profile design but I'm wondering about accessiblity (which has been heard to get dis-combubulated in a harness twist; and no personal experience); what about this 'soft' web style handle v pillow?... note: of course on the cut-away side in the pic, but how about both sides? btw, another thing I like about it is that it would seem easier to hold on to after cut-away.

Sorry nor to get off track, it all sounds fine. But about the loop handles, they seem nice in concept, I just don't know if the loops handle(s) make it easier to hold onto them after deployment, allowing digital dexterity or more clumsy in access in a wierd main web configuration? . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Life according to doug, I'll quote Forrest Gump again, "Life is a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." Personally, living in the 'shoulda-coulda-woulda' realm of expectation is destructive to character, inspiriration and integrity. Living for others is a false reality if it is not based in love. If love for myself is not centered on the truth that, 'all good things are in the process of happening,' then the promise of a brighter tommorrow is meaningless. The truth that consoles me is that I should live this day to its fullest, to willingly and openly accept its challenges; accept my strengths and shotcomings; constantly strive to improve... and maybe,,, just maybe,,, and not by my intention, but with the graces that I may be unworthy to be rewarded... that I enjoy life in a sense of peace that comforts my existence realizing it is simply a great and fragile gift. . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!

Hysterically! The 8 hr is the 'advanced' course for the slow-learners.... better luck next time! (no offense)! . -- I'm done with the personally meaningful and philosophical sigs!!