skybytch

Time for a new rigger.

She hasn't taken them yet, so she has no idea how she'll react to them. Yeah, taking a Xanax before jumping is a GREAT idea. Would you be okay with her ride operator being on Xanax? How about the pilot? How about the rigger who packed the reserve and the packer who packed the main? Drugs - legal/prescribed or illegal - are for after jumping. Not for before or during. If someone can't jump without a drug to calm them, they have no business in the air. Oh and btw, before you give us further benefit of your great experience with skydiving and skydivers, I'm not an aashole. I'm a bitch.

That's a really really really bad idea. At least be sure she lets the ride operator know that she's on Xanax. Not fair to put them at additional risk because she's too scared to jump sober. Like skydivers are supposed to do.

You're looking for something that lots of other people are looking for. That's why you can't find it. People say to buy used for a number of reasons, primarily saving money. In your situation, you have at least two good reasons to buy new - you don't intend to downsize soon and you can't easily find what you want used. If you can afford it, go ahead and buy new. You'll be able to resell it quickly if/when you need to, and you can probably sell it for more than a smaller version of the same container/canopies. You could also buy a new container, reserve and AAD and put a used main in it. Or a new container and reserve with used AAD and main. Or even a new container filled with used everything else. Building a rig from pieces isn't rocket science; you just need to know what you want/need before you start. Have you tried talking to a gear dealer? Some of them are awesome sources of information, and I'd bet that one or more of them could put together a combination of new and used stuff that would work for you. They're only an email or phone call away... if you aren't lucky enough to have one at your home dz...

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Nothing in my blog post says that I hate USPA. USPA isn't fulfilling it's primary role, in my opinion, therefore I choose not to support them with my money. How does that equal hating the organization? So why are you continuing to discuss it? That isn't my premise, btw. My premise is that if a person (the global "You") is so upset about something that they are going to boycott a business, that person should also boycott any other businesses that do the same thing. If PD is sending pullup cords to the boogie and BSM is sending a free subscription and Aerodyne is sending a rep with demo gear, why is it only BSM that some people feel need to be boycotted? (Note - I have no idea if PD or Aerodyne are sending anything or anybody. Just using them as examples) Because BSM is the most convenient target.

Yes. It is. As are you. Do I not have the same right as you to have an opinion and express it? You're wrong on that point. I don't hate USPA. USPA has done huge things for safety in this sport. USPA has kept the government mostly off our backs for years. Without USPA, lots more skydivers would have died and jumping in the US today would be heavily regulated and even more expensive. My protest is not against USPA as an organization. It's existence is vital to you being able to continue to skydive. My protest is against things that the organization is doing and not doing to the point that I don't want to support them with my money. Note that not once in any of my replies to you have I questioned your intelligence or mental status, even though you have repeatedly questioned mine. Do have a nice day.

First it was my intelligence and now it's my mental status. What's next to attack, my physical appearance? We disagree. There's no need to attack me personally because I don't agree with you. AFAIK, there used to be a "rule" about that kind of stuff around here. But if it makes you feel better about yourself...

+1 For sure. Sparky +2

Yer porbably right about dat. Never wuz much fer intelegens an that kinda stuf. Thanks fer pointin out my mentel defex fer everbody to laff at. And btw - my point was that it's non-productive to single out one company (or organization) to boycott when other companies are doing the same thing. Either boycott all of them or boycott none. Picking on one while ignoring the others is nothing more than blowing smoke.

Yeah, cuz spending time working on canopy control is a waste. I mean that might actually save your or someone else's life. It's way more important to be able to turn points than it is to land safely.

Taking a stand isn't always convenient. If not giving money to those who "support" Slyride is important enough to warrant canceling a subscription to a magazine for skydivers (a small business run by skydivers), why is it not important enough to warrant canceling your membership to an organization that also "supports" Slyride - and in a much bigger way than sending some swag for a boogie? If you aren't willing to be inconvenienced by your "protest," then it doesn't really mean anything. If you aren't going to boycott every company and organization that "support" them, you're not taking a stand on anything. You're just blowing smoke.

So you'll not be renewing your USPA membership either then, correct?

Mine are better than yours.

Mad skillz, dude. Mr Jones would be one of the reasons I don't jump anymore. The others include not wanting to provide financial support to an organization that doesn't meet it's primary objectives, not wanting to be taken out by some ego-driven ass under a canopy s/he doesn't have the experience to safely fly and being tired of not getting to jump with my man because everyone else thinks they need to jump with him.

I have. More than one.

I wouldn't have a new container and reserve packed prior to having it shipped to me; when I was selling gear I encouraged my customers to do the same. I want to see the reserve and be sure it is what I ordered (mistakes happen), and I want my rigger to inspect, assemble and pack it. Plus, if you have an AAD that will need to be installed after the container arrives, that factory pack job is likely to be wasted.

Granted, you won't make it back as far under a 7 cell as you will under a 9 cell, but if you fly it for best glide you will make it back from the majority of long spots under a Spectre. Stating categorically that a Spectre (or a 7 cell) won't get you back is incorrect and may have some folks writing off a whole group of canopies that might be perfect for them before they even jump one. Maybe at a craps table.

I know this is a stretch, but just maybe "they" have done unsafe things in the past and paid the price in physical pain. And just maybe they've seen their friends suffer for doing unsafe things. And maybe - a small chance, mind you, but still - they don't want to see others get hurt or die from the exact same things that injured them or killed their buddy. Nah. You're right. It's just that we don't got balls like you.

Pass the FAA private pilot written and solo an airplane.

I have to hate the Kings, they're an LA team. But if it can't be the Sharks winning the Cup it'd be nice to see a California team do it. They are playing like they want it. And they have the nicest sweaters in the league, imho.

Yes, it is. But that doesn't categorically mean that Spectres won't get you back from a long spot, does it? Doesn't that depend a lot on how it is flown and wingloading?

Yeah... I went to last night's game. I expected a really great game, considering they were tied in the points. Saw about 10 minutes of the Sharks playing hockey like they meant it; the rest of the time they were mailing it in. The Kings were there to play hard and win, and they did both. They outskated, outshot, outpassed and outplayed the Sharks pretty much the whole game. I mean, c'mon... one shot in the first period? Niemi is the only reason the Kings didn't score double digits.

Really? My Spectre got me back. My s/o's Spectre gets him back (better than his Velo does). Why do you think the Spectre won't get you back from a long spot?

In your gear bag.