Ron

I see...and understand. I think that since it is the last chance I have before splat...I'll take the risk of it getting pulled early. I do have a smaller metal handle than stock. to reduce the chance of an accidental pull. I think it is the best of both worlds. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

why would you say this? I see the metal handle as safer. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Is it bad example for me to whip a 540 degree turn while doing relative work? Is it a bad example for me to swoop right to my slot? Is it a bad example for freefliers to show their work at the bar? I think it looks cool, but I am not about to try it. I don't have the skill that they do. The biggest problem is that the new guys want to be like the guys that swoop the pond, but are unwilling to listen to how we got where we are...they want to take the mythical "short cut". They think that if they get the same or better canopy that I have they can do what I do or better. Because it has to be the canopy that lets guys get good swoops..It can't possibly be skill and experience. Why is it that the word experience is a bad word? Don't do the things you see guys doing if they have more experience than you. If they tell you not to do it...Listen to them and don't do it. There is the big problem...I see guys do stunts on motorcycles all the time...I don't do them because I don't have the skill or experience to do them. These new guys should not pick canopies based on ego. Thats the issue. There will always be guys with the skills and experience to do cool things...the trick is to realize that just because they can do it, does not mean that you can. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have kicked out of my Stiletto several times. I have also chopped it 5 times in 2,200 jumps. I have had to chop my Velocity once...I could have gotten out, but I would have been LOW and over trees. Leave 18" between the risers and the pack job...I also tie my risers together, and have found that helps. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I had a friend of mine...900 jumps and a GREAT flyer. He bounced with a perfectly good reserve sitting in his rig. He never managed to get his reserve out after his main was cut away. He said he did not need one either...His left hand worked just fine. This is why I tell people to use one till they have had their first cut away....You never know till you ahve had one, and pulled both handles. Think about it. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well how about this one... I screwed up this weekend. Not bad, but I did screw up. I was setting up for the pond, and got a little lift right when I started my hook. I did a little left, then a 180 right hook, and planned out a little low on the pond. While I was planning my "cool ass swoop" My right knee dug into the pond. No carnage, but lots of splash. I managed to stand the landing (running like hell mind you). Now I have 2,900 jumps. I was on my Stiletto 107 loaded at 1.68. I also have close to 1,700 jumps on a Stiletto 107. And several hundered on smaller canopies (69,88,96 Xbraced, 93,97 conventional) Yet I still managed to make a mistake...Cool huh? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well we are looking for an OC...And your name did come up. But we will not go Advanced. Shoot me an Email "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You need to figure out what YOUR team will cost. Take 5 X the cost at your DZ. Add in the cost of your camera guy (10-15 bucks) Divide by 4. Pack jobs are the individuals responsability. We don't get them, we pack for ourselves during training. We are on 20's all day Some DZ's give deals to any team....Some give just the top team a deal. For us we have a tunnel plan as well, so thats more money. We plan 40-50 jumps a mth, 2 hrs tunnel time. I budget around 800.00 a mth. Or 5,000.00 for this year, not including hotels, nationals fees, FSL's, ect. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I know exactly what I am talking about. Your team hired Niklas to coach. When your team fired a guy he moved into slot. Your team still does not belong (in my opinion) in Advanced with a world class jumper on it. You are running your mouth, and pissing off the comunity to sound like a big shot, on a big team. My opinion you are making your team look stupid. And if they don't do very well, you are going to look even more foolish. Have fun, this kind of talk from you goes against the "professional" image you are trying to have. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Who bad mouthed the team? Not me... I did say that it was poor sportsmanship to act like you did. YOU said they were going Intermediate...Jumpers like Niklas have no reason to be in Intermediate 4way. I also said that if they are so good don't take Niklas. My issues: 1. You are acting in a very poor fashion. Bragging, and acting cocky....Funny Airspeed, Knights, they don't act like this. THEY are professional...You want to be professional? Don't brag. 2. They were taking a world class jumper into the Intermediate division...Now they are going Advanced...Better, but I think all world class jumpers belong in open. I don't think you should be allowed to buy a PRO, and compete against people who are not PRO's. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well I was trying to be PC...not very good at it "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Don't have one, nor want one. But I have done 6 cutaways. I did lose a friend who would be alive today if he had one...but he also would be alive if he pulled his reserve. I think you should have one until you have a cutaway and pulled both handles. Unless you are doing CRW, or jumping with a camera Ron edit to clear something up....pull, not land with your handles. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

WOW!!! you have a lot of anger. And yes, I would like to know who you are, since you seem to know me...oh wait, you don't know me. I did think it was strange that I could have bought Joey Jones, Doug Park, and Gary Smith and go Advanced, but I could not take two guys that had won advanced before. We were not on a full time team, and our averages were the same as the other Advanced teams...seems like it was where we belonged. I doubt the Beez, or Nemesis thought we were better than them...So, I do think we belonged in Advanced...Oh well, I did try to right what I saw as a wrong...But the USPA didn't see it that way..Oh well. Then you don't know my team...We did go back, and did a 14.9 without a PRO..Then we tried to stay together, but one got a new job in another state, and one is going after his pilots license. Your not very smart are you? And you talk a lot of smack for someone that has no profile....Thats funny. Worried that you can't defend yourself when people know who you are? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

10 in a row, declared stand up landings in a 10 meter circle. If you get 9 then biff or miss...start over. There is also a written test,and a card to be filled out. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

To all you non-riggers: You can learn a lot by packing a reserve...Have you done it, or at least watched? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Get it.. I have mine, and have done several Demos. (82d Airborne Demo team 99-02) You will learn TONs of info about your canopy, and spotting. I keep mine just incase I need it. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Im not jealous of them getting a free ride. I'll still beat them, as will several others. My issue is with them/you being so cocky. (Yeah, thats me calling someone cocky...go figure). I still say, if they are so bad don't take Niklas. If you have to BUY a teammate, says something about the team to me. I am glad that you are going Advanced...I would have NO respect for any of them if they went Intermediate. Still in my opinion, they should go Open...they have a world class jumper on the team. Want to pay for the best, you should have to compete against them. To think they are gonna rob some hard working, non sponsord, didn't BUY a teammate, team of a place or two...but those teams will have the pride of not buying a place, and at least my respect. You are not helping them by being so cocky for them...They are already being called the Jugernuts of this years Nationals. I hope these guys get their asses kicked. No one likes a person who brags. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well, a large number of people do this, but there are not enough of us "old" guys to buddy up with every student. How whould this get funded? Charge the student more? Expect guys like me to not do Tandems or coach so we can be your buddy? I am one of the people that do spend time with new guys, but I am not a millionaire...so I can't jump with them all. If you can't see this, you really need to sit down and think some. BSR's were written in blood. They were put into place to prevent more people doing the same stupid things that the guy who's crater you are standing in did. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Really???? I don't think you get it. Yes, you can talk about gear, but the legs in freefall part is what I am talking about. Its almost impossible to teach over this group. If you can't understand that...you are the reason that I bring this up. Plus you don't know squat about the people on here....You can look at my profile, and read what I have written before, but I have seen MANY AFF students here that can talk a good game, but are only repeating what they were told like a parrot. This is not the place to try and learn how to DO anything. It can be used to learn more about gear...But not work on skills, life saving or otherwise. Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

True, but I find it funny that people think they can get skydiving instruction/coaching from here as well. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I came up with my numbers by: A. Looking at the fatalities...It seems to me that most of the dead had under 500 jumps. Only one had 1500, and he was stoned. So it seems to me that 500 jumps is the largest group. And this seems only to be an issue with low time jumpers. B. Brian Germain...He knows his stuff, and I respect him. These numbers were not just pulled out of thin air. They are pulled from the accidents that I have seen over the last 10 years, and looking at the current trend in fatalities...I guess since I don't have a PHD they don't mean anything? Ron "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

You have an AAD? An RSL? Did you go to a DZ and work with an instructor? Seems like you have already had a bunch of regulation "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I tried to write them as fair as I could. Now thats funny since I added "do nothing I don't see a problem/personal freedom for you" "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well I know my answer. Whats yours? Please include Wingload and # of jumps. Me 1.8WL 2,900 jumps "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I would like to know how long these last.....I have thought about getting one (Once I get tired of my V8 Mustang...yeah like that will happen). But I thought of buying another car for my travels. But just like in skydiving...Never be the first on your block with a new toy....I don't know anyone with one of these yet, and they are not 10 years old with 150000 miles on them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334