Ron

I would want the one that does not rely on my AAD or RSL to possibly save me. I want both hands on my handles.... If you train the right left enough it will become the way you will pull. But if you miss the silver after you have cutaway...you are close to dead. But both do work. And you have to due what makes you happy. As I have said many times I don't care what people do as long as they have put thought into it. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Sure. 1. Stiletto 120, Javelin NJ, 600ish jumps, line twist. Reason: I pack like crap. Normal cutaway 2. Stiletto 107, Javelin NJ, 1100ish jumps, Line twist. Reason: I still pack like shit. Normal cutaway. 3. See above except on Javelin XRS. Reason: I continue to pack like shit. In no way normal...To read about it peep Here 4. I know I have 6, but don't remember this one....I don't have my logbook handy, but I bet it went just like #2...I still packed like shit. 5. St107, Jav XRS, 1800 or so jumps, line knot. Reason: Probley packing, but I did start to pack better. 6. Velocity 96, Vector Micron, 2,500 jumps Reason: I didn't pack it HAH!!!! Story follows: My last cut away was line twist under a Velocity 96. It was not spinning, and I was kicking out of the twists....But, I was at 1,200 feet, and over the industrial park at DeLand. My point here is, that I might have been able to kick out (Or it might have dove) But I didn't have a good place to land a 2 to 1 loaded Velocity. So I chopped it to land my PD113 in a TIGHT area. (Thanks PRO rating). So there ya go.... Most are normal, and most are my fault for packing like shit. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not really, you will have much more experience so it might be easier. At 100 jumps you still think about being stable when you pull, by the time you have 1,000 its pretty close to natural. And all of the above is a VERY healty way to look at it. You can always jump the cool pocket rocket if you live long enough to learn the skills to handle it on larger canopies. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Cool, just understand that ellipticals can also have some bad traits as well. You have to start flying the canopy before you throw the pilot chute. Have an Instructor talk to you about it...(Find an Instructor that jumps an elliptical to talk to, not the one that jumps the manta). Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Congradulations on not dying. I often tell people that I always wonder about them as skydivers until they have had a malfuction. I have seen a few people with many jumps freakout and bounce. I can guess you are not going to be one of those. I like the two handed method for just this reason. I was tought this way, but I do think it is best and its the way I teach. First you have to realize that it will be very hard to change the way you do cutaway...Not impossible, but hard. You have to have a reason (you do) for the change, and you have to drill the hell out of it. I have almost 3,000 jumps, and probley 10,000 practice malfunctions (6 real). I practice my reserve procedures at least once per jump, and often times many times per jump. The practice can be a full on "close your eyes and pretend you have a mal" to "handle touch and practice pull drill". 1. Right hand Main touch & pretend pull (I say shit! to myself here since I will when it happens right?) 2. LOOK! Right hand Cutaway grab 3. LOOK! Left hand Reserve grab and pretend right peel and pull/ left peel and pull. 4. Since your here, practice KEPPING your handles as well. I sometimes don't even pretend to pull anymore, it is just a touch drill. I do it on the way to the boarding area, on the way to the A/C and as I get ready to climb out. It also serves as a handle check for me. So thats at least 3 for every jump. Practice is the only way it will become natural. A session in a hanging harness will help as well. Everytime you get a reserve repack from now on pull your handles (in the presence of your rigger so he can watch). Just drill the hell out of it, and it will change...If not you will fall back to your old method which will work. Good Luck, and again congrats on not making an impact on your DZ. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

What WL's? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Yeah, it kills me when someone says "I jumped this before"...And they did like two jumps in perfect conditions. What Bytch said is great "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Read the Neptune thread in G&R.... Then do search on the Pro Track. Make your own mind up. The info is all here for you to make a choice. For me, I never try to be the first on the block to buy a new toy. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It all boils down to what you want. An elliptical will respond faster, but will not be as fast as a smaller square. If you want to go elliptical I would suggest that you try an elliptical at the same WL you fly now to see if you like the way it flies. Demo it for a while if you can (20-30 jumps). If you like it try the elliptical at the 1.33. Either way I would not downsize and change planeform at the same time. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

2 beers and Im yours Sorry I just get upset when people say things like that. I know I had nothing to do with Sally's skill...However, I did see skill in her and the desire in her. And I did have to fight to get the others to try her out. She had no 4way history at all. And there was some issues with her being female I had to fight. But I knew what she could do, and I love her like a sister. So I did keep throwing her name in the hat. I also asked her to join us in 2002 before and after Glenn died. I would jump with any of them on a team, not because they are female, but because they can perform. I think that in skydiving women are able to compete with men. Thats why I think this class is not needed. I know, and like I said sorry. It sounded to me like you were saying I "created" Sally....I didn't...She had it all along, I just had to fight a little to get her on the team. I just don't see how people can't understand how I don't like the class, but support them in it. I would support my friends in anything they do. When you were trying out I supported you. If Laura or Annie went for it I would be behind them as well. But I would support any of you on any team you are on. Not because you are female, but because I care about you all. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

how hard can it be???? I used to track like that when I was a student. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Can/are...who pissed in your corn flakes? You telling me that most women can bench press as much as most men? Women can be middle linebackers as well as a man? Get real....Listen Arlo, I am BACKING a womens right to be equal here...Now chill out. Little girl where the fuck did you read that? I DID argue like hell to get her on that team. But you don't care to check on things before you run off at the mouth do you? check your facts first...THEN open your mouth "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Sorry, that is funny! And in this case you have several sources, not a few. And a company that said they had problems. I don't doubt that the new PD will be nice. However I would not recomend it to anyone with out some prior experience.... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I don't know...I have been told I have a very good sit and stand, and I have very few FF jumps, but almost 3,000 total jumps. A Free Fly friend of mine told me that most people he knows that can belly fly well can sit pretty well. And this guy who is good on his head failed the AFF course the first time he went. I don't really think you can compare the two. I do think that being good at regular RW before going into FF will make you safer than just having FF jumps...But that I am sure is a result of having more jumps...not really the type of jumps. That being said I hear a lot of FF guys saying RW is easy....Most of these have never really done a lot of RW.. I will grant that FF basics are harder than belly basics. But I have seen very few FF that can do good 4way. It seems they do a big way or two a year and think all RW is like that. Not quite the same thing really. I have seen that it seems more FF don't respect RW than RW guys respect FF. But I bet I could get a group together that would make them look stupid...just as I would look stupid on a FF jump. I think its apples and oranges here. I don't think one helps the other more either way.. But for all you freaks...remember it all boils down to pull time, and ANYONE can track for a whole skydive "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

first I tell them they need a new rig. It needs to be able to fit a guy 5'6" and 155#. Black with blue pinstripes. and it needs a New Cypres 2 with a PD113 and Velocity 96. Then I watch him and get ready to run out and keep the EMT's from cutting my new gear! "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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

OK, so why am I a bad guy for saying its stupid? If its not needed, and no one really knows why it exists? OK fine by me. I don't think they are needed....Now they might have been needed 10 years ago when there were even less women competing at this high of level. Don't know, and I agree the USPA seems to have it out for the womens 4way team. But then again, I think the USPA is a stupid orginization that is more interested in building a museum to not forget the past than doing anything to ensure the future of the sport. No I think its a stupid class to have....however as long as the IPC does have it (Even though no one can give one good reason) we might as well send a team...And I am behind our girls...(They do look good from that angle ya know). I just think when you look at the fact that even without the womens teams: The US has a women on the 8way team The Italians have a female on the National 4way team. The Russians have a female on the National 4way team. The Norgies have a female on the National 4way team. The Swiss have a female on the National 4way team. Dawn English has won the World Cup. Stearns is the person that has won the most medals of ANYONE EVER. It seems to me that it is not needed. But since it is there I hope the US and my friends win. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Acually not yet. They did a 16.5...I did a 16.6. However I think they will kill that this next week. Who is begrudging them? Not me, I said that I think the class is stupid, but as long as the IPC has it I hope the US has the best team...And for that matter I am glad 3 of my friends are on it...One of which I put on her first 4way team. I just think it is not needed. Yep in fact if you look at the % of women at the nationals on the top ten teams there is a greater % of women than the USPA says the % of women that skydive, So add in that there is a larger % of women in the top ten than total women skydivers, plus the high caliber of so many women skydivers...And show me why there needs to be a womens class? I never said they were...In fact I think them having a womens class is stupid, since I think women can be as good as men...Just ask Sally how I fought to get here on her first team. I don't think women are weaker...so I think the class is stupid. You tell me why you need a womens class? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So you just took something you were told and had no knowledge of and reported it as fact? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

slower in the way it responds to input....But that was not good enough for you. And since you don't have the experience of a reserve ride you only know one answer. no I started by saying that a reserve is much safer to land than a Velocity 96....Or to be honest any size Velocity. Well there is a 90 that they don't sell and a 106 that they do sell. But I don't know of a comercial reserve smaller than a 96. And any reserve will fly less responsive than a Velocity or Stiletto. But you don't know that. And the Raven would still be easier to land for a guy with 40 jumps. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

John I expected you to not play these stupid games. Fine we will call better as in a larger chance of a safe landing under the same sized reserve for a person with little experience. John...Until you go put a jump on reserve Im done with this with you.. You don't know, so you have no basis to make such a claim. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have NEVER heard of ribs going through the pack tray...EVER. I have seen many bounce rigs. Most look like they could be jumped, but many have large blood stains on them. ..I jumped my old teammates Main and reserve at the Nationals in Chicago...The Rig had to many blood stains on it to be used again. He went in at terminal. Paramedics can in some cases say someone is dead....Other cases they can call in to a DR and he can make that call. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well you can show up with a great attitude and be nice as hell, but if people are training or don't know you, you may not get on any jumps. DeLand is a great place if you want to train. If you know people there is some good fun jumping there as well. But if you show up oout of the blue you might just find yourself alone. This is from experience....I used to go there with a girl I was dating and we would do 2 ways until we found other lost souls like us....Now we knew people there, but they were on teams or were coaches so they were not jumping. I have been on team there for two years, was married to a girl that was born there, and I can tell you that DeLightful, DeWonderful, DeLand is not a place to show up and hope to boogie. No I would not say that....But the focus on that DZ is teams. And when you are team training you do your 10-12 jumps and get off the DZ as fast as you can. John Hoover wrote an artical about DZ time. Get the training done, then get off the DZ. It is easy to understand why the teams, coaches and staff don't want to hang out after work. I don't hang around my office when I clock out. As it is DeLand has a very large number of people that are there for a reason...And they are working while they are there. Well anyone thats been to the DZ knows DeLand has everything you would need. But the fact is simple most people there are there for a reason. There are the fun jumpers, but they are greatly out numbered by the teams. And DeLand has a very rich history of skydiving....Its not always easy to break into that group. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So are you saying that women ARE weaker? That they can't hang with the guys? I don't agree with that, and I think its a shame that the IPC does. But as long as the IPC says there is a womens class I hope the US continues to win it. I still think it is stupid however. And I am gonna call USPA on this Bull Shit they are playing now. How can they say its only for women? Its a nice sexual discrimination case if ya aks me. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well the USPA combined them due to the fact that you and I could have entered Men's Open freestyle and gotten a silver with no training....But we had people in the lower classes getting a gold. There are not enough people doing freestyle to have 2 classes for exp, and 2 for sex. It was this way for several years where the Bronze was not being awarded. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334