skybytch

Just to clear up a misconception - I do not now and have not in the past worked at Action Air. I did work for Flite Suit, a different company at the same location, until December of last year. I am not currently employed in the skydiving industry in any way, shape or form.

Probably for the same reasons you like your Sabre2 - because I like the way it opens, flies and lands. In addition, I prefer the steeper approach angle of a 7 cell; it's much easier for me to be accurate with. Skydiving isn't a one size fits all sport. What you think is the shit someone else may think is shit. What's an Air-Ram Canopy?

Understood. If I were buying from a dealer I'd expect that. But I'd also expect that there be a certain time frame after I receive the item in which I'm entitled to return it for a full refund (less shipping and the cost of any work that had been done to it by my request). In most cases a gear store can be trusted to cut a (good) check for a refund even though the original payment has already been processed. You can't always trust that a private seller will still have the cash if/when the item is returned.

I'm doing laundry. That's productive. But really I'm here because I'm avoiding writing a paper for English class.

Different monitors and different monitor settings produce different colors. The jade on this canopy is the jade used on PD, Icarus and other canopies. It hasn't faded; it looks exactly like a jade PD color swatch. So in your case the picture didn't tell you what this canopy actually looks like and could have made you decide against buying it had you been in the market for one. Thanks, that's another reason for me to continue to believe that pictures aren't all that helpful.

A good point. On my monitor the white does look kinda like silver on one cell and kinda like a dirty gray on the other, and the jade looks more like turquoise (light/bright blue) than jade (which, for those who don't know, is another name for teal - a bluish green). In reality, the white is still white and the jade really is jade. Which is another reason that I think if someone doesn't know what a particular color is or how two or more colors will look together, the best way for them to find out would be to visit a gear dealer and look at fabric/color samples instead of asking a seller for pictures. And even that won't tell them what it's going to look like in the air...

I agree. But I don't think there is a way to lay a canopy out on the floor that is going to show what it's going to look like in the air. And even though the canopy in question is only 99 sq ft it's still too big to get the whole thing into a picture. Would the attached picture do a better job of showing the colors for you in this case? And how could I take a better picture of a canopy with cells of different colors?

I'd consider that a personal attack if I didn't know that I'm just a puppy compared to you.

Absolutely. I'll need all the support I can get as I stand up to give my valedictorian speech. I promise to post all my good grades. I'm going to tell my parents that they need to reinstate the cash for grades thing they did when I was in high school. $20 per A would buy a lot of beer.

Take a look at the attached pic. How does it help you visualize what the canopy is going to look like in the air compared to the words "white with jade ribs"? And don't get me wrong, I appreciate the different views on this and have already learned a good reason to take a pic of the warning label/side panel labels. I just don't understand what a picture of a canopy laying on the floor tells you about the color pattern that words don't.

I'm here for ya, Bonnie. Anytime. I'm glad to see that someone else out there gets my point.

Groovalicious - currently jumping at Davis, Ca. Second place intermediate freefly at the '05 Nationals (no medal, they competed as guests). Feel free to give them shit about not updating their website for awhile.

True, but if you choose to buy online from a private party that you have never met imho you are accepting the risk that the seller is scamming you. Skydiving is a small enough world that the identity and reputation of a seller can be usually determined with a few phone calls. Any seller not willing to give references if asked would be a seller that I wouldn't buy from. The trust issue is why I think it's a good idea for the seller to hold the payment (ie don't cash the check) until the buyer has received the item and has let them know they are happy with it. If a seller was not willing to do that I wouldn't buy from them; likewise I would not sell an item online without offering to hold the payment.

I don't buy that. I sold loads of used gear without pictures when I worked in gear sales. That makes sense, thanks. It could also mean that I don't have a digital camera (I do, just playing devil's advocate ).

If you saw a classified ad that says a main canopy has "x" number of jumps on it, "x" number of jumps on the line set and is royal blue top and bottom skins with black ribs, why would you need a picture of it? I can understand wanting pics of a container, helmet, or jumpsuit since the pictures will likely give a good indication of the item's overall condition. But a canopy? What exactly is a picture of a canopy laid out on the floor going to tell you that the above information doesn't tell you? And before anyone says it, if you are in the market for a canopy but don't know what "ribs" are or where on the canopy they are located you really need to educate yourself about gear.

I wouldn't question the preferred break off altitude of someone with 50 jumps regardless of the size or type of jump they are doing, even if it's much higher than I prefer to break off. Whatever that person feels it takes to make them comfortable with the skydive is what should be done. I'd consider that high break off altitude as an opportunity for me to pull a bit higher than normal and spend some time working canopy control. See, skydiving isn't a one size fits all sport. We all progress at different rates, we all have different levels of comfort and confidence and we all have our own level of risk tolerance. Or in simpler terms what's right for you may or may not be what's right for someone else; because they choose a higher pull altitude than you did at their experience level does not make you right and them wrong. imho, it shows that the person understands that skydiving is dangerous and they need to do whatever they need to do to keep it safe for them. She's not expecting others to make a concession. Don't want to break off that high? Don't jump with her. Simple, and she seems to accept and understand that some people won't be willing to jump with her for that reason. As long as the entire load knows the plan and the exit order is designed with that in mind she is not endangering anyone's safety by breaking off from an RW jump at 6000 feet. I agree 100%.

Muenkel. I've known him for way too many years and we still haven't met in person.

I guess I'd be laughing too if I knew anything at all about "rush." Besides, I don't need no stinkin' sorority. I can get all that they offer and more at pretty much any boogie.

I'm gonna tell you what they told me when I owned a business - that's what you have EMPLOYEES for.

Yes, Mom. Yeah, but only because I've learned that I need to get the homework done before I start partying cuz I know I'm gonna be useless the next day.

For someone with a total of 50ish jumps in her one year in the sport it's not excessive at all. She knows where she is on her personal learning curve. She's set personal limits based on that knowledge and she's not going to push those limits until she's comfortable with doing so. Sounds like someone who values her personal safety to me. Every tracking dive I've been on breaks at 5000 feet. By your logic we should be taking it much lower since we're falling so much slower.

You're right. Life is about sex, beer, cocktails, drugs, food and skydiving.

Last time I wore a toga I woke up with several large unexplainable bruises and a massive hangover. Sounds like fun. What are you gonna wear? Wouldn't want to show up with the same toga as anyone else after all... that could be part of where those bruises came from...

Cultural anthropologists run museums and shit. So I'm gonna run the Parachuting Museum that is being built next to the new USPA headquarters. I'm so good that they won't mind in the least that I'll insist on living in California and telecommuting.

Luckily for me, no. You have to pay to park at the main campus but I'm taking classes at an "outreach center" with free parking.