skybytch

She got a life. So I'm here in her place. She never did live up to that name anyway.

A better idea might be to learn to flare correctly so that you don't have to PLF.

LMFAO!!!! You funny man....

Bullshit. The person in the position of authority is responsible for any inappropriate contact between themselves and those they are charged with overseeing. Whether an instructor wants to admit it or not, they are in a position of authority over new skydivers, therefore ethically they should maintain a hands off policy at least until the noob is off student status. If someone can't think with their brain instead of their genitals when around someone they think is attractive, they shouldn't work with students. Period, regardless of gender.

So if I had a current coach rating but needed three more "coach" jumps for my renewal, I could go do three jumps with my s/o, say I was "coaching" him and I'd be good to go. Sweet! Could I have done the same thing to renew my AFF rating? If not, why not?

Go USPA! Regulate something that hasn't killed many at all while continuing to "educate" in the area that kills a handful every year.

Thanks! Looks like it would be a bit too much effort to get what I'd need to use it, but the information is great to have for future projects.

So you have this awesome picture that you'd love to use in a project that you could make money from. You are in contact with and can obtain model releases from the other people in the photo, but the person who took the picture is dead. How do you go about legally and ethically using the photograph if you can't get permission from the photographer because s/he is dead and you don't have contact information for or even know the names of the photographer's heirs?

The San Jose Sharks! Oh, wait, that's for the trophy that takes at least 12 playoff wins to even get to the final SERIES. Nevermind.

I am responsible for all the good stuff. The bad stuff is somebody elses fault.

Don't hold your breath. You'll turn blue. There won't be any new BSR's until USPA members elect BOD members who are willing to do what's right for the sport today and into the future, not just continue doing what was right for the sport 20 years ago...

USPA's "recommendations", combined with applicable FAR's, already are the "industry standard" for skydiving in the US.

USPA doesn't have 10 + years of stats on incidents caused by GoPros yet. Don't hold your breath.

No way. My time is way more important than to be wasted on the roadway. If it were a really good job that far away, I'd rent a room there during the week and come home on weekends. But it'd have to be the job of my dreams and it'd have to pay the big bucks.

I have a boy toy - although I guess four years younger than I am isn't really a boy toy. Not an issue here, but then again I'm amazingly hot for my age so... More important than who is older is the age difference, I think. We are close enough in age that we have similar "cultural memories" (music, movies, historical events). He wasn't ridiculously young when I graduated from high school - can't imagine being with someone who wasn't even born the first time I got laid, y'know? I was once told that it's easy for old guys to go young, they just have to go wide. Wonder if that works for old chicks too?

This one. It sounds like you aren't finishing your flare and/or you are putting your feet down too early. Definitely get some video and debrief, but better yet, get thee to a canopy course ASAP.

Pretty sure that the USPA BOD members understand that not every jumper can get to a canopy course right now. I'm hoping that these new requirements will change that. There are many things in skydiving where the person "in charge" is going to have to take your word for things. Your instructor had to take your word that you did at least some of the canopy drills during student status. Show up for an instructional rating course and the course director will be taking your word that you have done whatever number of jumps, hours of freefall and/or time in sport are required. It is that way for a reason - so that jumpers like you who don't do the majority of their skydives at one dz can still become instructors. Regarding getting the things you've already done signed off, talking to the S&TA at whatever dz you are currently jumping at might be a good first step. I'd bet a quarter that s/he will be glad to help you out. There was a time when I cared what others think of me and my opinions. That time is long past. But what the hell, I have a few minutes this morning.... The screenname I use is as old as these forums and it does fit me quite well. When I think something is unsafe or non ethical or just plain wrong, I'm not likely to keep my mouth (or keyboard) quiet. Which, to some makes me a bitch. Might as well claim it. I like cooking and I enjoy a good beating of a dead horse. Pot stirring seems to cover both of those quite well. The current sigline is an inside joke. Anybody who has been around here for more than few years knows who I am. And that's just fine with me. There are lots of people out there who can give the same messages that I am in a way that is more palatable to you. There are also lots of people out there who have thanked me for not only the messages I've delivered but also the way I have delivered them. what you call Tude, others might call being honest. Doesn't have to be. As I see it, what USPA is doing right now will reduce the number of funerals and hospitals we have to go to. I just wish it would have happened before Cliff and Tommy and all those other super nice people went and died under perfectly good parachutes...

So your point here is to complain about having to get someone to initial a few spots and sign a name on a card? If you've done the drills, go tell the local S&TA that you've done so and have them signed off. No big deal. btw, one of my hobbies is indeed pot stirring . Not much else I can do until the ortho says I can jump again (fyi, ice hockey is dangerous). Other than teaching canopy courses that is.. And if you stay in the sport, you'll see more.

I asked for nothing and got a Kindle. :D

Easy. Kiss the ass of the regional director. Since that is the person who handles S&TA appointments.

You are correct, they are not the same things. Five fun jumps with your friends won't improve your canopy survival skills the way five hop and hops dedicated to working on those skills combined with classroom instruction and discussion will. That was certainly what I found when I did a canopy course at 900+ jumps, and it's also the feedback we get from those who do the canopy courses we put on (jumpers with experience ranging from 7 jumps to 1000+). You can choose to do what many people with way more experience than you or I will ever have are suggesting, or you can choose to do whatever you want (but be sure to send in that B license app tomorrow!). Your life is your life. It is apparent that you're good enough that you'll never hurt anybody else. But should you ever be taken out by someone else, know that by choosing NOT to do a canopy course you are reducing your chances of survival in a worst case scenario. IOW, it's all fun and games until somebody dies in front of you. And then it's hilarious.

I'm encouraged that the BOD has begun to address this issue. My hope/guess is that this is a start on the way to a full canopy education program that will include dedicated canopy coach ratings. In the absence of dedicated canopy coaches, having an S&TA sign off the card is the best option. Most if not all S&TA's know the local jumpers and instructors; they know which instructors teach canopy control well and which ones tell noobs they'll be fine under 1.5 loaded Katanas. Your skills as an instructor are not being maligned by this requirement. You know that there are at least some instructors out there who should not be allowed to talk to anybody about canopy control. Are you okay with those instructors being able to sign people off without any oversight? There are no requirements for a BOD member to have any knowledge of anything, and they are the ones doing the appointing of the S&TA's - not to mention they are the ones making these decisions. Here's a question for those who are complaining about this requirement - have you taught even one basic canopy control course at your local dz within the past year?

Maybe for some people there is no benefit. For me and for many of the people who have done the canopy courses we put on, there is great benefit. I hear nothing but positive feedback from those who do the flare exercises in our course (flare looking at the horizon, flare looking up at the canopy and flare with eyes closed). Like mentioned upthread, nobody is saying you should close your eyes and fly your parachute for fifteen seconds straight. Five practice flares with your eyes closed, clearing airspace before and after each one, preferably on a jump dedicated to canopy flight practice... not a safety issue. Go do it once and then come back and tell us how it wasn't helpful...

I'd send it to the assholes at the hospital. That'd be a bit less than 25% of what they want for the 70 minutes I spent in their ER.

yes Uh, believe it or not, everyone is not Christian. Uh, believe it or not, you don't have to celebrate Christmas. You can elect to leave it to those who choose to...or, you could argue against it till the wise men come home. Whatever rocks your manger. Uh, believe it or not, there is another religious tradition besides Christianity that exchanges gifts during December...