Ron

If you can't pack you are not experinced, and if you trust your CYPRES to save you, you are dangerous. Not bad, but you are acting like YOU know better than them. Thats pretty bad. Yep, I am not them, but you are not many other people as well. I am with Wendy....I hope you look back on this later and understand why people are giving you grief. Your tone does not sound like you know your place. Thats just an observation and maybe the reason you are getting flack. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Deland Gang. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Anyone remember the original Airspeed? Everyone thought they were the best team ever, and they were. One time in Zhills, I think it was Tony Hathaway's 10,000 jump but Im not sure, Jack Jefferies turned to Tony and asked, "What did Majic do in Russia?" Tony replied, "A 23 Average!" Jack replied with, "Thats it, I am offically a 'has been'!" One of the funniest things I have heard in skydiving. It is amazing how quickly the sport forgets the leaders if they are not still in the spotlight.....For example can anyone name me the US 4way team before the original Airspeed? I love the "legacy" teams, but as my stock analyst always says, "Past performance is not always indicative of future returns". Reference Fire. But my bookie always says, "The race is not always to the swift or the strong....But it is a good way to bet." So, I just normally flip a coin, or vote for the team with the cool name. The exception to that rule is Fire...No only does Natasha have a drive like I have never seen AND the resources to make it happen...But hey, shes hot and that didn't hurt. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

True and maybe I worded it wrong. It should have read, "the numbers of members of the USPA keep dropping every year. People get a new job, find a partner, go back to school, find another hobby. And people who die don't think they will bounce either. At some point most skydivers seem to think they will do this forever...However, that is rare. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I call BS on that one. You are into martial arts, travel...ect. You have more in your life than just jumping. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Some refuse to look past their wishes to see the truth. You may think someone who points that out is a dick...fine. I have nothing to prove to you, and I am not out looking for your acceptance. Not living your life seeking approval from others is another sign of being experienced. Being secure in who you are. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nice personal attack Look, if you cannot accept the fact that most skydivers think they will be jumping forever, yet the numbers show otherwise...Thats your problem, not mine. Pretty simple. If you can't look off the Dropzone and see that life is all around...Then you are not experienced. You are still "in love" with jumping and do not have enough experience to know that skydiving is not life. Thats how it applies. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bingo. Well said. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Its not. When you realize that you don't know anything, and ACT like you may never know enough....Then you are close to being expereinced. Its not a number of jump, or points turned in time. I had a good friend that could skydive circles around me bounce from a simple mal. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Thats rich...We ALL think we will be around, but the numbers of members of the USPA keep dropping every year. People who die don't think they they will not bounce. I always find it funny when some guy with a few years says he will be around in "X" years....The simple fact is you have no idea. Don't feel bad, I said the same thing back then. I think one measure of "experienced" is when you realize that skydiving is not life. That the whole world does not revolve around jumping and when the giddyness has worn off. Until then you run around on a high thinking you will always jump and life only begins at 12 grand..... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So you weaken, and then try and strengthen the coach rating? The coach rating was nothing other than a bandaid to pick up the slack where AFF and the 7 jump program abandonded jumpers. I am glad a "D" licensed jumper can jump with the new guys....But a good number of them have no business. And a good number of coaches have no business in the later steps of IAD/SL. Why not allow Coaches to do the later AFF levels as well then? A first freefaller has ONE good deployment, while an AFF level 4 grad has 4. I think the USPA is giving WAY to much power to coaches, but only when it comes to SL and IAD...And I wonder why? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Please go thourgh the FJC again. Also...Please don't second guess your instuctors about what they tell you. Finally, there is a ton of information on here...some of it is CRAP. You don't have filters yet to be able to tell crap from good advice. Some of the people GIVING advice don't know they are giving you crap. Case in point..."That's what we did but I'v read about pulling the reserve with both hands..." Please, talk to your instructor. Don't go thinking about changing things. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

They did well, but lets not forget who the two new members were...I mean both 20+ average jumpers before they stepped into slot. Well, I don't hear that much at all. Their focus has been 8way and the 4way did suffer. Also worth mentioning is that Fire didn't show. Fire will be focusing on 4way (once Natasha is back) and they will be coming from a World Meet in 4way while AS will have a focus on 8way. The GK's have two very new members. But with the resources of the Army, and Matt and KB I would not count them any where near out. However, this is the first time I can remember that they skipped Vmeet. FT has two World Champions and will only be doing 4way as well this year. I am really impressed with Fury. Starting out at a 16+ pace. They will only go faster. Thunder Looks good with what looks as a 14 pace at the start of the year. Its too early to make quesses, but Airspeed has to focus on 8way at least until the WM. The do have the tunnel thay can play in...So its a tough call. I'd never say they are "the past" that just makes no sense. But they do have cards stacked against them. No team has brought back both 4 and 8way and that just goes to show how hard it is to split the focus and do well in both events. The tunnel being the first easy access tunnel big enough for 4way at a major DZ...Will make this an interesting year. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

A bunch of folks. Like me for one. And how do you think you fiqure out what works for you? You look at others, talk to others, try both and make a choice. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Don't waste time turning or tracking...Deploy. Think about it this way... Turn (1-2 seconds) thats 176-352 feet wasted. Your buddies are not going to know what the hell you are doing. Deploy...You are already starting to stop..And your buddies know something bad this way comes. THEY can decide to turn, track, or pull in place. But you just saved them 176-352 feet to decide...And more importantly..YOU deployed. Don't play the hero, when low get a canopy out and let them know something is up. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Funny thing is, if the DZ does well, I bet they will not be so small minded as you and will even let you jump there. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Moes...They make the hot sauce out of crack. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Keep learning to stay alive. A Bad spot is often the event that starts an accident. The first event is often canopy selection, or training....But I know folks that do fine for 100 jumps when the spot is good, and then they think they "Got it". Once the spot is bad things happen quickly and sometimes with tragic results. I wish they would: 1. Select better equipment for their experience level 2. Train with the equipment. 3. Learn to spot and what do do if the spot is bad. While all three contribute the the accident, preventing ANY of the three can prevent an accident from happining, and preventing ALL three is the safest bet. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It is something I am working on....Its hard since I still want to pass the knowledge on. I should realize that I can only do half, and that is present the information. And they have to do half...And that is learn the information. If they don't want to learn...For example they think they already know, then there is nothing more I can do. True. I find that the only folks that don't like me...Are the ones that argue. I am not always right, but I try to listen when someone with more experience talks. Even if I disagree...They differince is I don't argue with them. I may ask questions, but I don't assume I am right. I am willing to learn, and I find that folks that are willing to learn also like me. It's only they ones trying to prove themselves and that argue don't. Still, I am sitting here in Orlando at an instuctor seminar working on better ways to teach....One of the concepts was ot not bother with an argumentative student....And that only happens on here like you say. So I am going totry, but its hard since I still care. I will just do my half and make them do theirs "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Maybe, but the more experienced are much more qualified to teach than the lesser experienced. And I very much doubt you can debate that the best teacher can't teach someone who would rather talk than listen. Now to bring this back to this disscusion. You may not like the way a person presents knowledge, and thats fine. But no matter what you think about the method..The knowledge does not change. Correct is still correct even if you don't like the delivery. Also, it is much easier to teach when the student listens. When a "student" ignores, acts abusive, refuses to listen and only talks...Well in my "real" job as an Instructor for a 200000+ employee company, they would get pulled aside, and warned. If the behavior continued, they would be bounced from the class. This also applies to my "weekend" job as a skydiving Instructor and coach. The problem on here is most times the people who need to listen...won't and no matter how much you try to convience them......Well they just refuse to listen to anyone but themselves. An Instructor I worked with told me once something like this, "A person believes themself to be true". Which is to say that even if the person is wrong they can't see it. Or maybe their ego will not let them see it. In the real world you can Test for Understanding (TFU) or just the fact the person can do, or not do the task, Compatancy Based Training (CBT), would settle pissing contests real quick. So in the real world we both could jump on a plane without GPS and we could show what we have.... The person with the most skill will easily rise to the top AND EVEN THEN the person who should then sit down and listen would just make an excuse and still refuse to listen. However, they might talk less and disrupt the class less. I wonder why bother to to try and share knowledge...From my time as an Instructor I have learned that those that think they are correct, nothing will change them.. That goes from the guy that thinks his canopy choice is fine even those with more experience know otherwise...Even sometimes after the kid hooks in and is in the hospital.....To the guy that thinks he knows best how to turn a block. But in the end, the guy with the most experience...Even if you don't like him, knows more. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You tend to not advertise the negative. In the case of the the Synchronicity folks. Well they have made a tough choice. But they felt they didn't have enough time to get ready for the World Meet. One member is starting a new company, another is focusing on her job as a lawyer, one pretty much lost her home in New Orleans. They felt that they didn't want to do it half way. As for the womens teams...I think women have show they can do anything a man can in this sport...So yes some of the draw might be dying. Also the USPA does not support the womens project. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Even the best teacher can not teach someone when they will not listen. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nah, just pointing out how some have no idea what they are talking about. I know about a jump run from both the jumpers and pilots perspective.....Not something many can claim. You can try and say that its cause I am out of arguments...Well I am tired of arguing with people who claim to know it all.....So maybe your right. But I tend to think that people with more experience...read more jumps, more ratings, more time, more sides to the same situation...Know more. But that is not something those with less experience will admit. Funny thing is that the more I know the less I think I know, and the more I listen to those with more experience than me...When I had a few hundred jumps...Well I knew it all...Boy was I stupid. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Good keep it up. Good idea, people who pack know more about their gear than others who don't. They also can spot problems sooner. Thanks for asking a good question and following through on the advice given. Learn to spot and you will be a better jumper than the "green light go" crowd. BTW sorrry about the BS here...I don't know why some just have to argue, and I don't know why I bother trying to debate those folks. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I had to come back for this. For the record, not only do I have a PRO rating and 100 "no shit" live demos....But I ALSO have a pilots license. Add that to 2000 more jumps than you, several instructor ratings, AND 8 years more in the sport than you...I guess you are right...I know nothing about the sport, spotting, or anything to do with aircraft compared to you..... Yep altemeters fail. But I guess if yours does break you will bounce since your love of instruments will not let you pull when your eyes tell you that you are low *I* would rather a person know that if it looks like he is gonna bounce to do something about it, and not to just blindly trust a device is always correct and wait till his goggles fill with blood. Your willingness to trust everything but you is AMAZING! A real testament to device dependancy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334