elightle

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Everything posted by elightle

  1. elightle
    Overall, I'd say this guy is the exception and not the rule. I haven't run into his type but, like someone else said: Don't invite him back. UDSkyJunkie, who also responded to your post, is a first-year organizer but he's a good one. He stepped up and filled a much-needed gap in organizing at a new DZ. Blues! - ED
  2. elightle
    Good point, Bill. Actually, good points all around. An exit without grips should work the same as a chunk. I hate video of big-way exits where it looks like the plane is spewing chunks. Blues! --Ed
  3. elightle
    Hi, Royd. First of all, don't believe everything you read in these forums. Coaching and big-way camps are the best sources of information, but you can still get some good advice from the forums. Everybody SHOULD be able to fly on the same relative wind. But divers sometimes get so jacked up on big-way exits that they forget to present their chests to the relative wind out the door. Just remind the divers to do this before you line up when you're giving your pep talk. Tell them to "twist" toward the wing as they exit. Remind the floaters to present to the wing too. Remind front floaters to push out and away so they have their own column of air. Inexperienced front floaters often collide with the middle floater or base if they don't. Of course, there's no substitute for practice . -Ed
  4. elightle
    Can you believe this "blade" guy! Women's 4-way hasn't been around that long. Give it a few years. Women like Eliana and you and Natasha are already showing your mettle. Eliana is the best point in the world, hands down!
  5. elightle
    Hi, Kittikat. I wrote a couple articles for Parachutist magazine that might suit your needs. One was titled "Hands Off!" and deals with no-contact 2-way drills. The other was titled "The ABCs of 4-Way". I'm attaching PDF's of my original submissions so you don't have to order them from Parachutist . Blue Skies! Ed Lightle
  6. elightle
    John, congratulations to you and all the POPS jumpers on a new Illinois State Record! --Ed
  7. elightle
    I attended a 30-way camp at Skydive Carolina and an 8-way team with Pete Langahans (spelling) was practicing on the Friday I arrived. Yea, I was jealous but glad to see 8-way alive and well. By the way, Airspeed is focusing only on 4-way this year. Blues! --Ed
  8. elightle
    ...and it built nicely too!
  9. elightle

    Start Skydiving

    elightle reviewed startskydiving's dropzone in Ohio

    Even though Start Skydiving is a new DZ, I believe it is fast becoming "The place to be" in the tri-state area (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) and surrounding states. World class coaching by Team Fastrax, a fast-climbing Otter, and owners who believe in education and keeping up with the times and technology have already sold me on the place. The huge landing area and beautiful Southern Ohio landscape make every jump enjoyable and memorable. Of course, making a jump with the Fastrax 4-way team made one of this writer's recent visits even more memorable! Where else can you go in this area and receive world class coaching? Answer: no where! Come join Start Skydiving for a weekend of skydiving fun, relaxation, and the best nicest group of jumpers you could ever imagine.
  10. elightle
    What billvon said is correct but please be careful! Never do a head-down or no-lift dive without being able to see where you're going. It's better to take 5 seconds longer to get to your slot than to dive into somebody's back at 180 mph. I know of a guy who did just that back in the late '70's. Killed himself instantly. Just be careful. As for technique, you have to find your own "sweet spot" (to quote Kate Cooper). But do it on your own, don't practice on a big-way! And if you're put on a big-way, ask to be moved further up in the lineup where you know you can get to your slot safely and quickly. Blues! -- Ed
  11. elightle
    Hi, JENNR8R. As already mentioned, Dropzone.com already contains some articles on this subject. Below are a couple links (I wrote the second article). Blue Skies! Ed Lightle http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=631 http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/safety/detail_page.cgi?ID=72
  12. elightle

    IS IT ME?

    elightle replied to SARLDO's topic in Relative Work

    I suppose you're overloaded with advice by now but take it with a grain of salt. Your best bet is to jump with video and a qualified coach or very experienced RW person. Also, check out the attached article on 2-way drills I wrote for Parachutist a year and-a-half ago. Blues! Ed Lightle
  13. elightle

    IS IT ME?

    elightle replied to SARLDO's topic in Relative Work

    I agree. I would much rather do 20 points on a 2-way than a garbage 4-way. I also agree about the forward movement thing. About the only time a belly flyer should bring his arms back are to dive to a spot outside the formation or to track away after breakoff. --Ed
  14. elightle
    Excellent points about "visualizing hard". I replay skydives in my head on the way home from the DZ. And, like GQ Jumper says, you don't necessarily have to do 4-way with a team. I do fun 4-way with a few friends a couple times a month and that seems to keep us all in the game. I just email them before the weekend. Avoid garbage loads and only do big stuff if you can practice your 4-way skills - like flying tail on an exit chunk and turning points in the base. Blues! --Ed
  15. elightle
    Alright, how'd you know it was "Chicken Lightle"? Seriously, only a handful of old timers know that. I'm flattered the name might still be floating around. --Ed
  16. elightle
    Hey, how'd you know my old nickname? I got it back in the 70's when I had yellow and white gear and jumped a Strato Flyer. When I'd land, I'd have to have to flap my arms like a chicken and pump the steering lines to slow down. (Unless you really meant to call me a chicken...)
  17. elightle
    Okay, I just gotta chime in here. Those in positions of leadership should not make their first reactions all-out defensive. They should listen with an open mind and not criticize those constituents they represent. They should offer alternatives for making things better and not be afraid to admit that they could have done some things a little better. Blue Skies to All! Ed Lightle
  18. elightle
    Quote...As to the competitors, I agree if they don't like something they need to make themselves heard. Problem is they seldom do. This goes for the general membership as well...reply] Betsy, Aren't letters to the Parachutist editor also an effective forum as long as they contain nothing scathing or disrespectful? Blue Skies Always! Ed Lightle
  19. elightle
    I know what you mean. My slick Michigan Suit works great on small formations but I'm gonna have to get a slower suit for big stuff! I'm sure Mike Michigan makes slow suits too. Blues! --Ed
  20. elightle

    RW

    elightle replied to adventurechick's topic in Relative Work

    All of us belly flyers are glad you're one of us! But don't try to listen to all of us at once. Opinions are like ___holes; everybody has one (including me). So here's my opinion: By the way, you are doing the right thing with tunnel time and small-way drills. As you progress, you might find that super-positioning (the ability to side slide and turn at the same time (as HeatherB already mentioned) will serve well in 4-way as well as on big-ways. But you shouldn't try this until you can consistently turn in place, maintain a good body position and fast fall rate, and stay in position. In 4-way, the goal is to get to your next position as quickly as possible but with total control. Super-positioning helps you do just that. You'll get tons of advice but there's no substitute for getting out there and doing it. Blue Skies! Ed Lightle
  21. elightle
    I wanted other lightweights to know how much my Michigan Suit has helped with my floating and overall control. I still have to wear lead but not as much. And I get positive response when I move. On fun 4-ways I like to fly outside center and set things up for the group. I can turn on a dime now and adjust altitude easier and feel totally in control. That's all I wanted to say. Blue Skies! Ed Lightle
  22. elightle
    How true, Matt. Kate Cooper says she keeps a "quiver" of suits, along with a weight belt for base work and a long-sleeve T-shirt to wear over her suit for flying on the outside of big-ways. I'm gonna buy me a long-sleeve T-shirt when I go to her big-way camp next May. Blues Always! Ed Lightle
  23. elightle
    Good idea about keeping a different suit for competition and others for bigger formations. I'm learning this with my super slick Michigan Suit. I'm going to have to get a slower suit for bigger ways. I don't have the recovery with the slick suit. Blues! --Ed
  24. elightle
    Hey, Gunshell! I agree. Like I told Matt Cline. What works is as varied as human body types. See ya at Xenia this weekend, probably Sunday. --Ed
  25. elightle
    Sorry I missed ya, Matt. The RW crowd is getting pretty thin at Xenia. I was on a 101 jump but the guy who organized it made it a little too difficult for a couple of the jumpers. Maybe we'll cross paths again. As for what works and what doesn't with jumpsuits, there are as many solutions as there are body types. I was just happy to find something that worked for me. Blues! --Ed