Ron

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

First main I owned was a Raven II (220 square foot 7cell) Had that from jump 13 to 300 300-380 jumps did a bunch of jumps on a Esprit 120, and Stiletto 97. Then I bought a Stiletto 120. Did about 400 on the ST120 and bought a ST107. I have about 2,000 jumps on an ST107. Got a bunch of jumps on other stuff from X-braced 69 and 88, to airlocked 93-105, and 260 sized accuracy canopies. If buying new, I get a Sabre 2, or Spectre. Used I would get a Sabre or Spectre . "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It does not hurt...but it does feel wierd. You feel presure, but not any pain. It is wierd to see your eye being cut. But like I said no pain, just wierd, and its only for a few seconds. Then no contacts or glasses.... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Do it. I had 20/400 in both eyes. Uncle Sam put me into the Army's Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program. Thats the nice way of saying all you taxpayers paid for my new eyes.... I went from 20/400 to 20/25 and 20/30. The only problem with the Army paying for it was 20/40 was considered a success and you could not get it retouched. But I am SO happy with it. I'd do it again in a heart beat. Next time you are in Zhills ask me and I can show you the video from the surgery. Go with what the Docs tell you to do...PRK most likey is not an option for you since you have a strong RX...They advised me against it. And PRK takes longer to heal. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

~200 mostly 4way. About 30 hrs of tunnel. Around 20 Tandems. 5 video jumps. 6 2way coach jumps. 10 freefly jumps. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't really fit in this thread, but I can offer some insite. People quit/slow down due to: 1. Money. This is expensive. More expensive at the begining with paying instructors, gear rental...ect. 2. Family. Some folks have these things called kids. These "Kids" take a lot of time and money to raise. 3. A Significant other that does not jump. When dating a person that does not jump they don't want you to be gone every weekend. Right now I seeing a Whuffo. She has no plans to jump, and I have no plans to try and get her to jump. 4. Injury. For very clear reasons an injury can ground you for a little while, or forever. 5. Tired of it. From spending all day at the DZ, to doing the same old stuff over and over. Skydiving does get old. It can be you are tired of working with students, tired of the discipline you are doing, tired of the attitudes at the DZ, or you get tired of watching people get hurt. At this point almost anything else is more fun that going to the DZ...This is where I am. I spend more time flying Radio Controled airplanes than skydiving....I still do 200-300 jumps a year, but I could do more. I used to fly R/C planes, then I quit for 10 years. I did martial arts...Then I quit. I used to fly real airplanes, then I started skydiving. I took a break from jumping (after a very close call that almost killed me) and started SCUBA diving. Skydiving has staying power with me...I have been averaging 300 jumps a year for 10 years now. But I don't feel the need to live at the DZ anymore. 6. Fear. You can die doing this. Some people don't really grasp that. Yeah, the SAY they know that they can die doing this, but it sometimes never strikes home until someone dies infront of them, or they almost die. It would be interesting to note that most people stay in the sport for only 3 years. And the Average jump numbers in the US is around 300 jumps. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You didn't die. So you didn't fail. You however did not meet the Targeted Learning Objectives. Don't do that again. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Totally agree. The trick is to NOT be noticed on the dirtdive, dive, debrief. But to BE noticed while hanging out afterwards. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well sometimes you can be sensible But I was not refering to you...I know several folks on it that had around 500 jumps and had never been on anything bigger than 40way. But they did well at the camps and drank with the right folks. Others with more experience, and had done the same camps didn't get an invite. Skydiving is a social sport...Many times you will get selected for things not based on skill. Its the "Kiss the right ass" metality that makes me stay away from big ways. I have seen way to many folks on a big way JUST because they knew people. That and the simple fact I don't think they have a big enough cost and risk to reward factor for me. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

PM'd Im done getting into pissing contests here. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

And we have a winner....Its who you know, not what you can do most times that gets the invite. I know plenty of folks with marginal experience (Read: experience, not skills) And some with marginal skills that were on the 120 ways in Zhills. But they did the camps and did well, and drank with the right people and got on. Its how it works. You have to spend your time and prove yourself. If I would not do a skydive without a CYPRES, I don't do it with one. And I would not do a 100+ way without a CYPRES. But then again I have already done them. For me you guys can have the big ways..give me 4way any day. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If he has a tursh reserve not a bad idea. If not then he is illegal, and I'd ground him. I think you should have to have a cutaway for the "D". Real or intentional. So you know you are going to be one of the what 100 ever? How pray tell do you know this? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well the report made it sound that.. At least I know the 82nd isn't special forces....So much for your expert opinon on that huh? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Ive wondered that myself Well if I do 4way with you and the video guy gets hurt, we can throw the Alternate into slot and put you on video.....Your worth as a 4way guy just went up "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I thought this was going to be a post about fast women "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Tinted and mirror are not that good for RW. Its hard to see the guys eyes if you have tinted/mirrored lenses. Seeing the guys eyes is very important for keys, and communication. Tinting can be dangerous in dusk conditions if you can't flip it up, or don't flip it up (I have a Oxygen that I only flip up if it gets fogged). Mirrors can be anoying as hell to those that dont have them reflecting the sun into others eyes. But what do I know? I select gear for saftey, not cool factor. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What was happening is teams like Airspeed but their guys into the pool then drew them out....This allowed them to have their video guy, and also get a rejump for an NJ....It was the major reason that the video guy was put onto the team. If you pick them they should be on your team... The only fair way to have a video pool is to have the sponsor put together a group of good video folks and they are the "offical" video folks....You bring your own then you have to put them into the pool, and you can't get them. You get assigned one for every jump. An NJ would not be counted or it would be grounds for a rejump. That is the only fair way to do it if there is a pool. How would you like to be Airspeed, be assigned a video guy and have round 5 happen to you? If you can't rejump, then some guy the meet director gave you just cost you the meet. There really is just two ways for this to be fair. 1. Bring your own video guy, or pick him there...Either way he is on your team...And its all counted. NJ's cost you points. 2. A video pool where the camera guys are rotated and NJ's don't count. 1998 it was #2....a lot of rejumps were granted..It was a waste of time. 2002 it was #1, and I don't think we had one rejump. You told me along time ago that a video guy can't add points....But they sure can take them away. I had a meet where I was winning with a 15.4 avg, and got a Zero in the last round do to a camera issue. We got 2nd, and ended with a 12.8 avg. It was our camera guy so while I was pissed...It was our team that screwed up, just like if I had busted us (A lot). But if it was a guy that was given to me I would have wanted a rejump. If we picked him, he becomes a part of the team. If you give him to me, then I am not responsable for his errors. I understand what you position is...But if there is a pool NJ's will have to be taken out. Rejumps will have to be allowed for camera issues. I also think that you should be allowed to hire a guy if you have an injury....It would suck to have a video guy get hurt and it end your meet. So I would like to see a replacement camera guy allowed in case of accident/emergency. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The first 100,000.00 gets it "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Agreed. However the old rules of allowing a pool resulted in some sticky situations about rejumps due to NJ's. And most teams used their own camera guys anyway. Putting the camera guy as a part of the team allowed the judges to use NJ's.....And it is the responsability of the team to show it to the judges. The biggest reason is cost savings. I don't have to get sponsored gear for 5 people, I don't have to pay to fly a 5th guy over to the World Meet, I don't have to get him a Hotel. However, with the current rules you have to have a guy from the same country, and if he gets hurt you have to have your alternate jump the camera. I agree with bringing a camera guy, most top teams do anyway....And I agree with NJ's. So I agree that the Camera person is part of the team. However, I would like to see a way to replace him in the case of an emergency. Since the camera guy has no effect on the team performance, only on showing it to the judges. This same argument could be asked about if the Camera guy should get a medal. He didn't add to the performance, and the old ground camera crew guys didn't get medals. If they wanted to go to a pool again, that would be fine with me...Its cheaper to just buy a camera guy there...But then I want a rejump, or I want the points for the NJ's. And this is the issue that made them go to the Camera guy is a part of the team. It would be unfair to make me use a pool camera guy, but I could lose points because of him. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

That is damn well said "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Fear is a good thing. It keeps you sharp. As long as you are afraid you will error on the side of saftey. When you stop doing that...you are inviting injury. You can do almost anything with a focus on saftey. We sent people to the moon thinking about saftey. If we didn't focus on saftey, I doubt the missons would have worked. One of the Major reason you said you didn't think of the dangers of firefighting is...you were helping people. Firefighting is a needed duty. Skydiving is not needed. You do it for fun. You don't fight fires for fun, you do it to protect. Driving...Man I hate it when people use driving a car as an example...Most people today need cars...you don't need to skydive. So you ask why you put yourself in great danger just for fun....and its a good question. Im not going to answer it for you....I never answer questions like this for people. You can die, you can get hurt. You WILL see people get hurt, and you might see someone die. When you are trying to save a guys life, and he dies while you are standing there with his blood on your hands. Then you talk to his family and feel just the smallest hint of the pain that they are feeling.....It makes you wonder. Why risk this for fun? Only you can answer that. For me, so far its worth it. You can PM me if you like "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Bad move.... Try: Read them all. Fiqure out what they did to get themselves hurt or killed and take steps to not let it happen to you. Fact is you can't hide for the Incident reports. Sooner or later you will be on a DZ when someone hits....I hope its not someone close to you. You can't hide when you lose a close friend. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I was there for like 6mths and you never even knew. Plus don't worry I could never afford your neihborhood. I cant get much for my current place...A trailer on the DZ. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It has some points. I think that the video person should be part of the team....However I would like to see a "reserve" rule where you could use another video person in case the video guy gets hurt. It would be way to expensive to have the alternate trained in both at a WC level. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Cool. The first thing I would do is find a job...then look for a place. I personally am looking for my first house. All I can really tell you is don't work in Tampa, and live accross the Bay in ST Pete, CLW....Or vice versa. Try to avoid living where you will have to travel through the I4 & I275 vunction from I4...The I275 section is not bad....I do it from I4, but I do it at 6AM..30 min later and it really sucks. New Tampa like Arlo said is nice..Im looking there. But your job should dictate your home location. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334