elightle

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Everything posted by elightle

  1. elightle
    Stiletto 135. Typically I'm on the outside of big-ways and my Stiletto opens quick enough. Got to watch that body position though. I don't do demos but I would use a Spectre for that.
  2. elightle
    Yes... but try to develop a thick skin, keep working to improve your skills, and eventually your skill set will surpass some of the loudmouths and people who seem to have a need to belittle others to make themselves look good. Of course another way is to simply not jump with the hardasses. Blue Ones!
  3. elightle
    If you want to become accomplished at something, though, you have to stick with it.
  4. elightle
    I second that. I was blessed enough to make a 4-way jump with Team Fastrax about 3 years ago (John Hart, Thomas Hughes and Nicklas Hemlin minus Doug Park). I am a little sh_t (5' 3-1/2" 130 lbs) and had on about 11 lbs and they were not falling fast at all. It all depends...
  5. elightle
    -ditto- A while back, I reduced the lead a tad and got a faster suit.
  6. elightle

    RW suit

    elightle replied to coticj's topic in Relative Work

    Yea, but John, you walk like a praying mantis, hardly touching the ground - HEHEHE
  7. elightle
    Not bad!
  8. elightle
    Excellent point, Dave! Back in the days when we did 4-way from C-182's, I jumped with several newcomers who went on to compete at the National and even World level. Then when big planes came along, I was usually on the big-way loads and newcomers were pretty much on their own unless they were experienced enough to join us.
  9. elightle

    RW suit

    elightle replied to coticj's topic in Relative Work

    Good idea to look at other options besides what's made in Europe. Tony Suits are very popular in the U.S. I owned a Michigan Suit for a while and liked it. If a friend has a suit you like, maybe he or she would let you make a jump on it to see if that brand would work for you. Lots of options. Also, if you're a lightweight like me, the fat grippers add more float so you might need a couple more pounds of lead. Good luck in your search!
  10. elightle
    Me, too, skymama. I'm short and hate standing on my tip-toes. I know, wimpy
  11. elightle
    Try a 15-year hiatus! Didn't jump from 1983 to 1998. I had a lot of catching up to do. Since then I've done a lot of 4-way and this past weekend, I participated in the 2-point 107-way at Summerfest at Skydive Chicago. Welcome back!
  12. elightle
    Hi, Jack. I am so glad I was there. BJ and Roger challenged all of us. I hope we get to do it again next year!
  13. elightle
    #49
  14. elightle
    Congratulations! Maybe it will make up for some of the time and money a few of the Russians put into coming to Perris in January only to get weathered out. I know, you pays your money, you takes your chances .
  15. elightle
    Excellent points, Jan. I only wear sleeves when necessary, and they're small ones at that. I wouldn't dream of using swoop cords or a baggy suit. Some big-way jumpers would be well-served to do a little 4-way too ;>) Blue Skies, Ed Lightle
  16. elightle
    I hear ya, Mark. Sounds like we speak the same language. I wore sleeves AND 5 pounds of lead on the 88-way Virginia State Record last September. Since I'm a short sh_t, I don't have the range a long and lanky person has. This configuration gives me that range. For 4-way, I wear no sleeves and 10-11 lbs of lead. For 10'ish-ways, I wear sleeves and 6-7 lbs of lead. For the outside of 100-ways, I wear sleeves and maybe 4 lbs of lead. Like Dan BC says, "Dress for success!" Like Clint Eastwood said in the movie 'Dirty Harry', "A man's got to know his limitations." Blue Skies and Safe Big-Ways! Ed Lightle
  17. elightle
    Blue Skies, Harry. Semper Fi. Look out for my little darling angel, Shaina. Your little Marine buddy, Ed
  18. elightle
    No excuses, Marine (I was in the Corps for 6 years ;>). If you can't stay with a formation, fly in the base and/or get a roomier jumpsuit. You've got a wind tunnel at your home DZ, for Chrissakes! And I see you're a USPA coach. Don't learn bad habits and don't teach them. It's easier for big guys these days. Us little folks wear slick suits and the big guys wear roomier suits. I've done 4-way with guys who outweighed me by 100 lbs with no problem. I know you can learn how to slow down before taking grips. Blue Skies and Semper Fi! Ed Lightle
  19. elightle
    Congrats, Florida POPS! Now let's set another POPS World Record this year! Blue Skies and Safe Big-Ways!
  20. elightle
    Thanks, Dave, for the words of caution. Inexperienced jumpers could become unstable when trying this technique. As they gain experience they naturally learn how to slow down as they check the air around and above them before they pull.
  21. elightle
    I'm glad to hear you passed your test! You did it all by yourself. You asked for help and had the guts to give it another try. I like what you said about the balance between agression and patience. You've learned a lot already! Anticipation would be the third factor. With practice, you will find youself thinking ahead to the next point before you've even finished the current one. You're gonna love 4-way! Blue Skies! Ed
  22. elightle
    ... I watched the jumper closely until landing. It did turn out to be an experienced jumper -- at least a couple thousand jumps -- but more surprisingly, he was a short, stout, tubby f*cker. Very good point, pchapman! I am the shortest guy on the DZ at 5' 3-1/2" but pride myself on an excellent flat track as well as the ability to gain great horizontal separation. A good track takes work and starts with the turn at breakoff. I like to feel my body moving away from and staying level with the formation as I turn and identify members of my tracking group. As soon as the front of my body starts to drop, I lock my knees, point my toes, and raise my hips and push down with my palms at my sides. As I pick up speed, I roll my shoulders forward and tuck my chin, constantly pushing down with my palms and keeping my butt elevated. Like I said, it takes work to do a good flat track. You can feel the lift! Blue Skies and Safe Big-Ways! Ed Lightle
  23. elightle
    Jeez, mdrejhon! You're very thorough and what a sales job for the P3 camps! Good stuff. It's easy to see you're nuts about big-ways and have soaked up a lot of information. Maybe I'll see ya on a big-way sometime. Blue Skies! Ed Lightle
  24. elightle
    Hi, Jack. Good post and good replies. I am just sorry that a fatality had to occurr to prompt this discussion. I guess all of us big-way people are thinking along the same lines lately. I just submitted an article to Parachutist about this very same subject. It should be in the February issue. Kate Cooper-Jensen reviewed the article. Parachutist also asked me to write a companion piece covering safety under canopy on big-ways. It should appear in the March issue. Blue Skies and Safe Big-Ways! Ed Lightle
  25. elightle
    Uh-huh, that's what I'm talkin' about. Great stuff! The Godfrogs would be proud! Ed