Ron

I would just use the chart you will make with the last 10 block averages. And then use the deviation from your best and work on them...If they are slot switchers, or mirrors I would not worry about that...You have to train the slot switch anyway. I have attached a sample of the type of chart we used. At the top of the chart is the block number in bold. The next 10 lines are the times of the block from key to key (To include the hold times). When you get to the bottom, just start again at the top. The yellow is the best single rep you have ever done that block in....The goal can be your best times, or the times of the last team that won that class, or what ever you coach tells you. We had both our best time and deviation , and Airspeeds times and deviation from them. The deviation lets you see how you compare to your best, and the other group. So if you are really close to your best, but really far from the Goal that block still needs work. I didn't add the hill blocks on this, I had another 5 jump chart for that, and exit to break times for all the randoms. But for most teams this is too much. Like I said before you have 3 types of blocks: 1. Soup 2. You have the idea, but are missing the catches, or just not getting the technique right. 3. Blocks you need to speed up. This is a good tool for 2 and a great tool for 3. But it does not do much for #1. Enjoy "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well if she needs someone to show her around...The line starts right behind me. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Very good advice. The only thing I would do different is to include the "Random Blocks" (7,9,14,15) in with the random training. Then for my block training, I would do two block dives and then on the repeat I would exit the other block, unless the first exit was soup. I had a XL spead sheet that tracked our block times, and gave me a deviation from goal.....I'll see if I can find it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Some of you may not need tents....I have a trailer there with a fold out couch bed. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Do you drink even though you KNOW it has a negative effect on your life? Have you ever thought you should quit, but could not? Do you need a drink to "calm down"? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I voted for you.....All I can say is Damn. Where do you live again? Any desire to move to FL and live on a DZ? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

How about when you date her for 10 mths....Then she tells you she loves you.....as a friend? That fucking sucks. Going through this right now....And the sex stops. Oh well. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If you need more just ask. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have around 600+ jumps out of that plane. Amazing. And I doubt anything really comes close. 7 min to 14, and most of my jumps from that plane are 14,500. He will not level off if he screwed his pattern. In most cases he will just keep climbing. I have done several 15+ loads. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

PM me yours and I will give it to him "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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

I wrote that. A team needs to spend its first jumps working out fallrates (which is much easier with randoms you can focus on this, and not turning your partner), building communication, getting comfertable with each other in freefall, and learning the randoms. My first real team "Frost 98" we did 50 random and random block jumps before we did any piece work. We only did 120 total jumps. My second team "Frost 02" we did only 70 block only jumps and never jumped a single random except competitions...However we did about 10 hrs of tunnel which was all random and random blocks. Which dive do you think is harder to remember: 1. A 5 point random dive 2. A 3 point block dive The randoms are harder to remeber, there are more points, and it is faster. Yes, the second dive has 6 points, but not really. Its 3 points. Walk up to any 4 way person and say "Zig-Zag", and they will think "Marque". In fact I just use numbers and letters. The whole block is one move from build to break for me. For your exit question... You will not do all the exits 6 times. Some of them you will not need to do that many, and some you will exit for other formations. (EX. Meeker is a meeker, donut, Snow-offset, Buddies and can be Zig-zag- Marque.) Jump all the exits and time the exit to break times. You will have: 1. Exits that funnel. 2. Exits that take a long time. 3. Passable exits. Just like I wrote about the blocks the same thing applies here. Start working on the funnels till they work. Then spend your time working on the long exit to break blocks. Still jump your good exits so you don't loose them, but you may only do them a few times. In 2002 Frost only launched Open accordian twice. Hope this helps. Randoms win meets. Edit to add: Majic is putting out a DVD. As I type this it is on the way to be burned. It was made by Brian Johnson and made with Majic. It has every exit and block move and is very well laid out. Majics continuity is simpler to copy than Airspeeds (Airspeed at times switches piece partners ect). I am waiting my copy to review, but I have seen the test versions and it looks like it will be a great training aid. It also has the Nationals rounds, and a bunch of training jumps on it. Ron Hill Frost 98- 12.6 Frost 02- 14.9 ZHills 03- 16.6 "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So all you have ever done is land a ST135 once? Maybe you really don't understand how important it is to be able to know how far/fast you are going to swoop? But Im done here "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

He was a CH-47 Chinook pilot in Vietnam. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Then it should not be hard for you to get right? And those skills could save you life. Wrong...To be able to land where you want you have to be able to build a stack so that you don't have everyone landing at the same time. You have to be able to judge winds, and be able to determine where you have to set up to stop in the target area. Trust me it is a good test. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Over 300 a year since I started 10 years ago. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

They would have to take the test on their OLD canopy...not the new one. If they can land their old canopy 10 times standing on target, then they have shown mastery of it. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I can and have done the PRO test on a ST107, and a V96. To land standing up in the peas you have to be able to spot, avoid traffic, control the canopy, determine when the canopy will stop, and be able to stand it up. I never said you had to do an accuracy approach...I hooked all but one of mine. It is a simple to give and understand test with very easy to judge pass/fail. I know several people with a PRO rating. Some of them got them when they had 250 jumps. So it CAN be done. Just like when the USPA put in Minumum Pull altitudes? Yeah guys quit all the time over those. Then they should have no problem passing a test to PROVE it right? (For the record it does not have to be the PRO test, but I think it is a good one.) Like I said it does not HAVE to be the PRO test....But I can't think of a better test to show you can handle your canopy. People will still slydive...This same thing was said about MPA's and DZ's that require AAD's...But I have not seen the sport go away, and those DZ's are still open....So someone is still jumping. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yes Mike was charged...But he was also acquitted just like you said. This guy comes on here and the way his post read it sounded like he had a beef with Mike. I know all about his trial.....I lived in Memphis when all this happened, have about 600 jumps from his plane, traveled with him, and work for the same company. One. But he could have just asked for the story, not "The dirtiest secret" The way he asked makes me think he was trying to start something "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well I know people that will not jump out of his KA. I also know people who will used to be his friends that don't talk to him anymore. But I alos know people that will not jump from Rogers aircraft. And I bet all of us can find someone with a beef with someone else. But the simple fact is that he WAS charged...But he was also found NOT GUILTY. So if he could not be convicted....Then in my eyes he didn't do it. And in all my dealings with Mike he has been very good. I have spent a good deal of time with him, and I consider him a friend. As for those that will not deal with Mike....It's their loss. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I know people that will not jump his plane.....In fact a large number of the "old school" Memphis jumpers stopped jumping or went to small cessna DZ's. It has never been brought up around him anytime I was with him. I used to travel with the KA and spent a fair amount of time with the guy. Fact is he didn't get convicted. So in my eyes he didn't do it. Fishy evidence or not. As for other Dirty little secrets....Think Roger Nelson. But as with both of these guys, most of what you hear is just flat out wrong and slander. Makes me wonder why you posted this? Got a beef with Mike? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I agree with everything but Instructors are signing of people now to progress in levels, and to jump by themselves....Same amount of risk (some would say more). Its a matter of the way people think about it. He could jump whatever he wanted as long as he can PROVE he can handle it. And the same type of people said they would quit skydiving when USPA put in Minumum pull altitudes. I bet very few did, and they are free to quit if they want. But if they can PROVE they can handle the higher WL's then they would be allowed to jump them...There is no test to waive the Pull Altitude. I think its just a case of some folks know damn good and well that they could not pass the performance tests and want to jump small canopies even if they can't handle it. And then there are the others that think it is below them to have to prove they can handle it since they are "gifted" (Just like everyone else). "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well how about this... I have a real job FedEx for 12 years. I live on the DZ. ZHills. I am going back to school start Spring. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

They do it now with graduating students. No real difference. And the test I have pitched could be held by a whoffo that knows nothing about the sport. Its the PRO test. 10 standing landings in a 30 foot circle declared in a row....With you spotting the plane. Get 9 and miss the 10th? Start over at #1. Simple to give test that if you can pass shows you know how to fly a canopy. Really simple. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yep, but a large number of people are not seeking education thinking they are more gifted than the others out there. I disagree. The simple fact is under any plan that I would suggest there would be a way for the people who really are capable to be able to fly high WL early. They would have to PROVE they can handle it, not just take a class, or as it is now just have the cash to buy the canopy. If you can past the "test" then you can do what you want. If you can't pass the "test" then you have no buisness under a smaller canopy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334