freeflybella

"Older women know what they want - and better yet, we know what YOU want!" Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I have no specific info to add here other than I believe you're right - injuries are infrequent. (When they occur in competition, it's mostly ankles.) I only add this because in other threads there has been speculation that most/all high-performance canopy pilots have been injured - and that is not the case. I'd be interested to hear your presentation.

Hi FlyAngel2 - caveat: I replied to this post before reading the rest of the thread No offense, but I think this is a terrible message to send. Cheating often has nothing to do with the one being 'cheated on' and everything to do with the moral character and integrity of the cheater. As a matter of fact, changing oneself to try and "please" another will create weak and self-doubting people that are more likely to be cheated on. Having said that, I also think communication is not "THE" answer to preventing cheating. I think being honest with onesself and having the strength to look at the relationship as brand new everyday and deciding every moment that the relationship is healthy and growing for you. Nothing will prevent you from be cheated on if the person you choose is a cheater. Self-confidence, self-sufficiency, integrity and courage will help to prevent you from being cheated on. And optimism. Maintaining optimism will make it easier to say "I don't need this jerk, I'm a good person with alot to offer - the right one is out there for me" - at any point, either before you start dating him/her or 4 years into the relationship. Also, optimism helps to prevent resignation - feeling that "all people cheat" or "I'm always getting hurt so why bother". When you're overcome with those thoughts or actually start believing them, believe me, you will never find a solid happy relationship. You're no longer a productive and viable option for a partner - so why should you expect to find one? We've ALL been cheated on or cheated. If we can remember that we are ALL human and share ALL of the same emotions and ALL have the need for the same things in life (just in varying forms) maybe we can have empathy and optimism - and find the inner happiness and strength that draws good, quality people to us.

For me it's important NOT to put aside the emotional side and only focus on the rational. Especially when it comes to fear. Nothing is more basic within you than emotion. And you certainly didn't start skydiving for exclusively rational reasons. Allow your emotions to guide you - stay close to them or they will always have the ability to appear from 'nowhere' and startle you. That's when you start questioning your actions and yourself. Allow your emotions to guide you - and temper them with reason. I can't imagine a DZ full of non-emotional, rational people. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Just a quick side note: God, you must be freaking out. And falling in love all at once. Wow, how wonderfully your life is going to change. Whatever her name, I'm sure she'll be the 'most adorable little girl ever'. Best of luck!

I know you've already signed off this thread - but since having read it, I'm starting to think of names myself. I love the name Isabella. And Sophie (gave that to another friend already). Now I'm thinking Stella is the one I'll hang on to.

Gotta chime in on this one. Seriously. Who gives a freeflyin' crap? Go jump! On your belly, on your head, on your feet. There was once a time when a 'freeflyer' was a painted toenail, baggy suit wearin', "Don't care if I die, I'm out first", bleary eyed renegade. And a 'bellyflyer' was an old redneck legmount big parachute wearin' MF'er. Can't we all just skydive? (To answer the honest question of the original poster - Honey, if you wanna be a freeflyer, you're a freeflyer!)

Fly into San Juan and make sure to save a day there to visit El Morro and Old Town San Juan - incredible. Also! For only $45 round-trip, you can charter a caravan to fly you 20 min. east to a small island (7x3 miles) called Culebra. It has gorgeous empty beaches and excellent snorkeling. We camped on the beach there for $10/night. Then you'll drive to Humacao and the DZ. Car rental is really reasonable but Puerto Ricans are 'experienced' drivers, so brush up on your skills! Jess, Heath and I - Adam and Stuey will be there for sure. We're planning to come down the weekend before the boogie for some off-DZ fun. Can't WAIT!

I don't know WHERE you got that picture of me... but I did not, repeat DID NOT steal anything! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

This is a very amazing trip. There isn't alot of dz.com activity or a countdown thread for this boogie - but at the risk of revealing one of the best, local and most beautiful skydiving trips of the year, I'll be the first to say, Puerto Rico is truly amazing. The people are GORGEOUS (MiroChristie and Julio, Skycutie (Jessica), Jason G., IvanRockOn, Hector, etc.!) and friendly, the land is spectacular - surfing at Rincon, el yunque (rainforest), the beaches, the caves, the phosphorescent bay......Do you know about 'coqui'? And the enthusiasm is seriously unmatched. Discover PR for yourself. There is a reason it's getting bigger and better every year.

The Dixie Chicks are a country band, they said they were ashamed to come from the same state (Texas) as GW. Texans (country listeners) were offended. I have no idea who the majority of Incubus fans are, but I'd hazard a guess that they didn't outright offend their fan base. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

That's a pretty bold statement there, big chief. WE, as Americans, don't know a whole lot about our food supply by design. The folks who supply our food don't want culpability - and WE who eat our food want plausible deniability. When everyone tells, and knows what really goes on - no one can claim ignorance and innocense. There's propaganda on both sides of that there electric fence. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

It's less about aerodynamics per se, more that if you point your toes you lose the tops of your feet as a control surface - and with your toes out instead of forward, you're more likely to push your hips back and chest forward. This is harder to do when you fly with the outside of your legs and the tops of your feet. You'll more likely use your legs for fallrate and rely on your hips for movement. Also, it sets your body alignment. This is definitely more aerodynamic. Try it - stand with your legs rotated slightly outward (bent a little and then straight) - then roll your hips forward, around and back in a big circle. Then try it with your legs rotated straight forward (straight or bent). Especially when you simulate forward motion, you can see it's much more comfortable and allows for a higher range of motion. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Rehmwa was right, good call!

Really great tip! Strong legs is usually taught - and obviously still applies, but I'm not sure I've heard the 'arch your back' aspect put into words. edited just because I'm so picky about this stuff: be sure to arch only as a quick corrective action - try to teach yourself perfect vertical torso muscle memory so you can snap right back into it. arching in a vertical sit (relative wind to your thighs) will cause you to backslide. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

To illustrate!

It's definitely more of an instinctive thing - but that's why you do solos - flail away - until you learn how to ball up. 'Flailing' by definition means out of control. You must not be 'flailing' to maintain relativity when you're jumping with others. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

None of the responses here are conflicting - they seem to be because they are coming from different posters. Just to be completely clear: -Do solos until you learn NOT to cork. -Practice flailing and getting stable on solos. -Practice balling up to maintain relative speed on solos. -Do 2-ways with another jumper of equal or better skill to practice relativity. This is more difficult than most think - and shouldn't be jumped straight into. (no pun intended)

Be very careful! Chuck's have a tendency to take you back in time and keep you at the same skill level for eternity!! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Nice one, Ivan! Can't wait to see it at The Puerto Rico Boogie!

Newbies cork. That's what they do. Do tons of solos and cork away! Really learn what it feels like to start to get out of control and then CORK like crazy - and learn what you have to to do get back up to speed. Instead of always trying to stop yourself from corking - which makes you fly rigid and tense - let yourself go. I stress to do this only on solos. While you're at it, tumble and flip, too. It's fun and you learn alot.

Hey everyone! Thanks alot for your help with this. Hopefully the DVD will be ready by the end of the year - I'll be sure let you know when it's available! As far as contacting the team directly, my best suggestion for now would be through their respective dzs. Ian, Shannon and Jay: Deland Cisco: Sebastian, Freefly Training Center Heath: Crosskeys, Monkeyclaw Freefly Thanks again!

They may get treated . . . . . . but they get hounded to pay the exhorbitant bills and when they don't/can't their credit is marred. And if you think that's not a big deal, you should research how many become homeless. I think some sort of socialized medicine with incentives for achievement instead of frugality for doctors/healthcare workers should be considered. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Prague and Budapest were the most amazing cities. Architecturally and culturally incredible. And Eastern European people are very friendly. Amsterdam was FUN! And the Dutch are GORGEOUS! Greece (Corfu) was gorgeous and relaxing. Currently planning a trip to New Zealand myself - 'Pyke' here on dz.com PM'd me some great advice/tips on NZ. Did the Eurail, hostel/hotel, backpack thing for 2 months and would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure and an equal love for being alone and among many new friends. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I didn't even notice the date at first and thought to myself, "Sure, like, 8 years ago!" (We're like the hippies who grow up to own vineyards and islands and stuff!)