DrSher

That's nice. I really have never been very keen on fast chutes or much with it. Neither do I care too much for weird winds and stalling at odd moments. Yes, after touring a few DZ's around, I have the impression that canopy control is still the place to worry. I have never liked slow openings, especially not with more people in the sky. Thank You to the Dane higher up and the description of modern 9 vs. 7-cell. I have to research some more. The thing with trying chutes sounds great. So far I am actually strongly contemplating that Triathlon some people spoke about. Two people I know got one after they got off student gears and like it. There is still lots of time to learn it..

I don't like slow opening canopies. Make me edgy and paranoid, so reasonably up to speed is a must. So are the 7-cellars now closer to 9-cellars than before? There is still lots of time to learn it..

Hi Joannie. I am a physician in Spokane, WA, that had Mitch as AFF instructor some 30 years ago. (originally Norwegian) I can move around pretty well and would LOVE to meet great Mitch again. Any assistance would be appreciated. Regards, Arild There is still lots of time to learn it..

I assume AFF is same as back in the days? 1st: no release from any of the JM's. 2nd: secondary releases 3rd: Both release.. Is that so?? When I did lvl one and two in Spain, Mitch was stressing for me to "relax" AND arch well. Then you avoided being so "buffety" in the air. This really prepared me for lvl 3 and I am convinced this made it easy. So if you are too tense, it is hard to get a good arch as well, but you also want a strong arch. I don't know how that combination is. I am only speaking from personal reflections and memories as AFF student. Another thing with AFF is the incredibly steep learning curve. Is there anything else in the world where you acquire a new skill set so rapidly? Any other thing you learn that is so exciting?? Also, when you arch to get out, is different in the way you arch when terminal. Most of us are tighter in the body upon exit and more relaxed when reaching terminal speed. LVL5 was my SOB. I went with Mitch doing turns when my second turn started spinning so far to the right that he had to level me off. Probably due to poor arching and arms. Then when I was supposed to move forward, I dipped down and went over my head, which was still tough to deal with. The rest of jump was on/off with staying steady. I remember hanging in the canopy and yelling "Sorry Mitch". When I came down he gave me a HUGE thumbs down. At that time, Maria was also having challenges with other student struggling with lvl 6. We could watch every AFF from ground camera and learned a lot from that. It was an exciting time. AFF is such an intense experience in introspection, at least it was for me. My long-term memory is perfect (about certain things) and things are more and more coming back. No drugs, Rorshach test or psychoanalysis, just great memories. In AFF what you are imperfect in will carry over to the next jump and when enough bad habits accumulate, you are likely to fail next level, IMHO. There is a lot to learn from every jump. Finally, try to keep a good insight into your heading right before release. It is easier to stay steady if you have something on ground to focus upon. There is still lots of time to learn it..

Thanks for all advice, I appreciate it. First, Triathlon is my number one at the moment. I used to fly cruislite in the old days. The 7-cell vs 9-cell is an old perception I guess, but still applicable as far as race cars go? I DID try a PD back in the days and it didn't treat me too nice. If there is anything I hate it is landings that are not feather-light. Back in Spain, I actually had Jeff Barbani take me aside and teach me how to land like a feather. He told me to look at how the pigeons landed among other things. I want something where that is easy and I can get close to disc with. The BASE aspect is non-existent. I am soo far removed from getting there that I am strictly concerned about a skydiving device. Won't touch that stuff with a 15' pole for at least 3 years, or so. Otherwise, I would prefer a new canopy I could get at least 300 jumps with before switching. Finally, it is any difference with canopies for wing suits? There is still lots of time to learn it..

Sorry for an old thread resurrection, but I was also looking for anyone who remembered Mitch. Would love to hook up with him again if he is in USA now. Just bot going to Europe any more. I did AFF with him and Roland (Hilfinger) back around that time. And who can forget Maria, LOL. Jeff Barbani, Mike "Michigan" Sandberg and all the other real skygods (no disrespect) from the states that were there at that time, was something else. "From Wings came flight", I still get goose bumps watching that CRW downplane. Every second down there was awesome, even the packing. Tom Piras was also there, right after the Wally II came out. (From the 100-way attempts): "If you're down there before the person you are docking on, you are not doing your job right. If you're down there AFTER the person you are docking on, you are not doing your job right. All we are asking for is perfection".. My life was arrested at this stage. Any later maturity is all osmotic immersion. If I could go back to that time and work for jumps and food up to now, I would. Where is Mitch now? I don't do the FB thing. Would LOVE to see him again. There is still lots of time to learn it..

Hi guys! I am looking for a new main canopy. I have decided for a Vector rig with a Swift as reserve. My preference is a 7-celler that doesn't have forward speed of a NASCAR (no PD, Mini-Surfair or other super-fast stuff) and doesn't give you hell if you push it a tad too much. At the same time, I am not looking for a Para-foil either, but it would be good to have something you could steer away from rivers and stuff. Throughout the years, there was way too many DZ's close to water. Final criteria is something with quick and reliable openings that doesn't hurt too much. Prefer to pull at 2000-2500. What is best option at this time? There is still lots of time to learn it..

What would he do about cancer? What would he do about the weather? What would he do about the stock market? What would be do about ALS? What would be do about people getting unfairly grounded? Why did he not help me more to get into first team when I was the young and promising soccer star? It definitely made me sad, miserable and regretful for years. Is Aleppo now, some kind of special misery that warrants divine intervention ahead of the above mentioned? Render to Caesar what belongs to him. The rest is God's. You go and take care of Aleppo and God will take care of me.. Finally, what would he do about the place I was at three days ago, where there was a car accident two hours after I left. Looks like we have a closet Calvinist among the rejecters here ;) There is still lots of time to learn it..

Why would people who are believing Christians need divine intervention. The last time he was here his goal was to help the non-believers. ****You are starting to get a hang of it. Now you sound like one of the condemned who mocked Jesus at the cross. And condemn on Earth those who won't convert? ****You have condemned yourself. God has given us all a freewill. The rest belongs to mankind. You sound quite bitter about this. There is no point mocking a brick. There is still lots of time to learn it..

This is said by someone willing to face challenges. Strong words. Good attitude. The human mind evolves every second. . I cannot stand Lidocaine (Hurricaine) spray. Pretty bad for someone working in ER's. A friend of mine cannot stand seeing blood.I couldn'tcare less. I remember we ate lunch in anatomy room while studying bodies. We all have our tests&trials. I have a friend that is struggling a lot with rock climbing these days. He is struggling to scale a certain grade that I cannot cope with. He does not understand why I skydive. I took care of a famous soccer player who had a problem with his leg and a mental blockage to do a slide tackle (and was a wingback). The human mind is amazing, strong and powerful and we don't even know 1% (of %) of what we don't know yet. Clinical practice and CBT is still based off old models. Human nature and explorations are very diverse and very unknown. Everyone reacts differently and previous acts does not guarantee same repeat again. Having said the latter, this individual (once fears are mastered) has the potential to be a very popular instructor and JM when that time comes. Getting people to jump and do it right is a coaching skill.

Thanks for all great advice. I will check out the Kapowsin and probably end up doing AFF there. On a side note.. I initially did SL and the "classic" way, because AFF barely existed. I knew instantly I wanted to do it and booked a plane for next vacation. I recall After AFF, we had to have 10 jumps and one had to be low. That was my first exit below 14000 feet after intensive AFF and felt scarier than anything before.. Once you go from SL to AFF and then return for first low exit, it feels weird, IMHO. There is still lots of time to learn it..

I am entering a new field where I will be studying philosophy and find nobody more naturally talented in this as fellow skydivers. With regards to God, clearly it doesn't matter where you go, if that's all you need. Ultimately, even skydiving is deviation from the stray and narrow path, so I cast no judgments towards anyone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM0I5k50XsY There is still lots of time to learn it..

Kapowsin is my home DZ. It's very kid and dog friendly, but no climbing walls or regularly scheduled barbecues. There is a fenced dog run and a play ground for the kids. We also have a Super Otter, Super Caravan, and Porter at your beck and call for making all the jumps you want. There's a bunkhouse minutes from the DZ. Also a Super 8 motel and shopping just down the road. John Dear.... face it.... the beer at Kapow is a huge fail.... Busch Light is only appropriate for SCR ceremonies for pouring over the honoree. This DZ sounds like it got much of what we may want, but the beer issue matters. How is the crowd at that place? It's quite big then. I also am thinking of buying one of those cars with living in them to have on the DZ. Most important is the kids and the beer I guess. There is still lots of time to learn it..

And those foundations are often disgustingly amoral. *With 20/20 hindsight and the correct climate, yes. AS entity it is always true. immoral is not "a tad" worse than moral, it's the opposite. That's not an example, that's a hypothesis. A poorly stated one. It is an example of how laws are created. Yesterday, today or tomorrow. Those in power writes laws and often in accordance with their backers (today called lobbyists). If it is poorly stated (to you) maybe you were looking for something else. There is no doubt that laws are shaped by norms, morality and influences, to say such. There is still lots of time to learn it..

I'm transplanted from Europe. In my "formative years" of skydiving I used to go to Centro De Paracaidisimo Costa Brava (Skydive Spain) and had AFF with Mitch Decautau among others. Those days were awesome. However, I had several Real life challenges that impaired my skydiving (and soccer) career. I was on/off for a while, but could not maintain the # of jumps and it all died away. Now I have the time and only needs my wife to endorse it to avoid family issues. I am a very determined SOB, so I believe it will happen WITH her permission and not against. I'm willing to trade stuff like, the new car brand and new paint on house. With regards to the beer. Some of the fun thing with that is the "justification and burden" of providing free to others and the vigilance to enforce these rules for the betterment of the collective. There is still lots of time to learn it..

The only thing that should matter for the next president is not to pick someone who will take us into WW3. Hillary lives in the utopian world of "containing Russia"; "containing ISIS" and "no fly zones", while the world has caught fire everywhere she goes. I agree that Trump has little foreign experience in politics (yet), but how much that has been helping politicians to begin with is a question. There is still lots of time to learn it..

People who live in this country, draw huge benefits of all our wealth and then sit and whine about the flag suffers from mental illnesses if you ask me. Most of them would never have the opportunities here than anywhere else. Maybe I am not spoiled enough; maybe I have lived in real shitty places in the rest of the world; maybe I just am sick and tired of phonies looking for their 15 seconds of fame. If you are an American skydiver and one of those flag-burning spoiled kids, you should be banned from all DZ's, IMHO. Go anywhere else in the world and you will see hundredfold of whatever you are complaining about. Finally, not standing for your national anthem to make a point?!?! Why not streak across the football field in the break instead? There is still lots of time to learn it..

This is kind of my life already. At the age of 41, I'm at peace with it - what should I care what those people think about how I go about my journey? Those who laugh here are weaklings indeed. Skydiving is about control and fun. Once you got the control, it's all fun. One may also wonder if the DZO's let this go on, what kind of professionalism exists. Fears are something to overcome and once you do, you come stronger back. Finally, if you are not scared at times, you are either a huge liar or a Gurkah. There is still lots of time to learn it..

Yes, I guess you are correct in the absolute term of nihilism. However, in a post-modern spiritual description it pertains mostly to the void when you reject a God. Morality without foundations is worthless. Foundations are often inherited, acquired or conformed to. As an example, consensus morality leverages many unjust laws, who are taken advantage of by those who know the best. Who is to say that something is more "moral" than anything else? We reach a certain moral foundation based upon time and when we try to whittle this away ASAP, we crack. The longer I live; the more lives I deal with; the more things I see happening, the more I think there is nothing BUT divinity around us. Morals have nothing to do with this; mysticism has nothing to do with it and certainly no energy field. There is still lots of time to learn it..

Yes, had to list something. My location is very much in flux as both me and wifey travel a lot with jobs. I will study both these locations you mention. Thanks. Ideally, I am looking for something in PNW. Not looking for daycare, but just a place where all the bored skydiver kiddos can hang out. In DZ's in old days, kids used to get bored so fast. I could bring a soccer ball and organize a kiddo league, have someone get a climbing wall going and then ask my wife to organize the neglected spouse (as long as you stay out) thing. A place with good beer and multi tap is a must and an extra bonus if you got Guiness and Vegan Pizza at all times. Cannot think about anything else.. Yes, a hall for XBOX tournament on days with so and so weather, or so and so planes. A volley ball net maybe? There is still lots of time to learn it..

I see.. So essentially it is an intellectual weakness to believe in any higher power. We could use the same argument about any generalized issue that is reductionist in nature. Assuming every scientist on the planet have no deeper spiritual paths is too easy, IMHO. There is still lots of time to learn it..

A "recent phenomena"? Maybe the exact legal term of "Prostitution" is, which I also doubt. Even a free exchange of sex between two consenting adults who are not in a love situation could qualify as "prostitution". This entire agenda rides a fine line between morality, feminism, world history and powerful forces of attraction. There is still lots of time to learn it..

It is actually irrelevant for the debate of gun control whether or not the SH happened. It is just as unserious to drag this into the gun debate as a hammer to use. This is not UK, where one incident can fuel the legislations of the populist monarchy. Without seriousness in gun control debate, this will always a be a us vs. them thing. Personally, I spent too much energy to get into this country to just roll over. Not that it matters, I couldn't hit anything unless I had a shot gun, but my wife would never give her guns up, so that issue is settled then. There is still lots of time to learn it..

"Prostitution" is ultimately another war that is doomed to failure and always have been. The concerns for safety and such have nothing to do with the act itself, but have everything to do with laws in the books. As long as two mutually consenting adults ultimately are able to exchange money, this is something that has little ethics behind the laws themselves. While many people "disapprove" of it, I see it as the same as people who want a limitless war on drugs. You may be able to get the majority to comply, but at some stage, the oppression is not able to maintain control over everybody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xYO-VMZUGo There is still lots of time to learn it..

You can point at political influences and all you can say is that it applies to both points of view, ** I am not POINTING at it, but merely confirming the driving dynamics behind it. The European left hatched the climate change idea and later on sold out to corporate and crony influences. This is way beyond politics and purely about power control over the world. unfortunately one point of view is backed by a scientific method of proof and prediction. ***Your assertion insinuates that the majority of people in the world are either dumb or ignorant. I find such a view to be not only haughty, but also condescending as He11. The opposing point for view fails at every attempt to debunk this scientific evidence and even when they come close only help to refine this evidence, not disprove it. ***You are wrong!! Political hacks have hijacked an entire field of science and it has evolved to the point where the entire ordeal is fuelled by secrecy and crony-capitalism. To say that it is without "scientific" evidence, is nothing but a continuation of the same dogmatic doctrine people were burned at the stake for 400 years ago. Now we are more humane. We merely destroy their career and freeze them out of the scientific society. As far as some comparison to skydiving...whatever, we're not talking about lifestyle choices. **The comparison is REAL because it will AFFECT our ability to skydive. It will shrink the sport into a narrower field of elitist who can afford it. What you call a "lifestyle choice" is the whole problem. Wait until healthcare gets involved in this.. If 9 out of 10 doctors told me I had a medical issue and needed to take some action to address it then I would take that action to address it. **How do you know if it is "9 out of 10" or not?? Are you going to poll every doctor you see? Or are you going to let FB decide the best doctor for you? So if you are an athlete that see 10 physicians and one warns you, would you then feel comfortable going with the advice of the former 9 to just ignore it? When you cannot rationally think without using metrics in every sentence; when you confuse cause and effect with a rational INDIVIDUAL choice and how YOU would get affected; when you dismiss any "doubters" as obsessively doctrinal while preaching more synchronously focused than a laser beam, THEN you are not being serious either.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dNbWGaaxWM There is still lots of time to learn it..