skybytch

If the "poor image" you speak of keeps even one person who is not willing or able to take complete responsibility for themselves and their choices from jumping, then I'd call it a great image. Again, please don't jump if you aren't willing to accept 100% of the risks involved.

Then please don't skydive. No, you are not clear on the fact that there is inherent risk involved in throwing your body at the ground at a high rate of speed relying only on yourself and some fabric and line to save your ass. Parachutes, even when packed and maintained correctly, can and do malfunction. Airplanes, even when operated and maintained correctly, can and do crash. Skydivers, even when attempting to do everything right, can and do screw up and hurt or kill themselves and/or their friends. There is no insurance available to people who pack parachutes. The person packing mains for money is making $5-10 per pack job. I don't know anybody who is willing to risk losing everything they own to make $5-10, do you? The waiver sends the right message. The message is - you are responsible for everything involved in assuring that you survive your skydive. When you use a packer, you are paying for a pack job. You are not paying for a guaranteed good opening. Don't like that concept? Pack it yourself. If you've jumped, you've signed a waiver. It's a binding legal document. By signing it, you've promised not to sue. Were you lying when you made that promise?

Thanks to a few of my friends, I'll be knocking a few things off my life list this summer - Go to Alaska. Work on a fishing boat. Work on a fishing boat in Alaska. Spend multiple days/nights on a boat on the ocean. Spend multiple days/nights on a boat on the Prince William Sound. Do a multiple night backpacking trip. Hike in the Rocky Mountains. I have the best friends that anyone could possibly hope for.

It's only 20 sleeps 'til Valdez...

72 more sleeps.

I think you should get to use her vacation time.

Me. I couldn't possibly be cranky today. Yesterday I booked my flight to Colorado and today I get to book my flight to Valdez.

What do you not like about your current canopy that makes you want to get something different? What do you think an elliptical canopy will do that your current canopy doesn't do? When you say "elliptical" which canopies are you referring to (i.e. Stiletto/Crossfire/Katana or Sabre2/Pilot/Safire)?

Go to the dropzone. Hang out. Watch loads land. Talk to people. If you feel like jumping, great. If you don't feel like jumping, that's okay too. Repeat the above process as necessary until you either feel like jumping or decide you aren't going to jump again.

For those that choose to do them, yes, they are worth the risk. That's one of the cool things about this sport. To a certain point, you can choose how much risk you're willing to take.

Between 2500 and 3000. None. Yes. Depends on what you mean by certified. You could get "off instruction" (so you can jump solo) in a few days, assuming good weather and instructors available to jump with you. Most instructors suggest doing no more than 3 student jumps a day; getting through the student jumps on a three day weekend is doable but at most dz's not likely since instructors are usually needed to jump with a number of people instead of focusing the entire weekend on one.

I love when Keith puts his head between my boobies. Is that platonic or not?

Normally I'd be drinking with ya but tonight I don't feel any need to. My summer is already kicking ass and it's only gonna get better from here.

Pepperoni and pineapple. Yum.

I've never had a brand new car. Don't think I want one either; if someone other than me were to scratch it, I'd have to kill them...

I'm addicted to NPR's "Most emailed stories" podcasts.

My GPA is 4.0.

Good question.

It's not Florida. I love California for the mountains, the coastline and how different it is depending on if you're in the north, central or southern part, the wide variety of available outdoor activities, the weather, the fact that even where it's flat you can still see mountains and/or hills, the people (in NorCal anyway; the only good people in SoCal are either skydivers or related to me), the deserts, the dropzones, the diversity of the population... About the only thing I don't love about California is the high cost of living.

This is Jason we're talking about. Maybe you would, but I sure ain't gonna bake his ass a REAL pie.

Hmmm.... I think I have some Cool Whip in the freezer.... when will you be at the dz again?

Nope. I've wasted a lot of money but I don't think I've wasted any of my life. I don't measure my life by what I have but by what I've seen and experienced.

I know it's not a "good" brand, but I really like my Diamond Back Sorrento. Mine's 13 years old and has a couple thousand miles on it. I'd buy another one. They still make 'em; I think they come with front suspension nowadays.

You'll have a great time at any of the dz's in Northern California. Regardless of which one you choose - GET VIDEO!!

Ray at Action Air is a reliable source.