freeflybella

For sure, there is a point of diminishing return. Play with it - you'll never know 'til you try. Not sure I understand what you mean here. For some people, relaxing their bodies (not just their minds) 'closes them up'. If you mean - When you think you're maxed - try to give a nice big exhale while opening up further - you're right on. It's easy to get "locked" into position thinking that if you move at all you're going to speed up. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I LOVE how you guys are giving such professional, detailed advice to what is obviously a couple of horny exhibitionist kids goofing around! Great advice, by the way! Shows that you've done it before... ...or was that the point? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Sorry to interject here... Scott, I think the point is to be grateful and appreciative for what you have and not to publicly (or even privately, for that matter) put down someone else's home DZ and someone's livelihood. Your posts may have been intended as innocent criticisms but they are being read as having come from an insensitive, self-centered, ungrateful person. I don't think there is any reason to alienate you just because you have alienated others. You're young in the sport (although old enough to know better) and will hopefully learn alot over the years. Up jumpers at smaller dzs have things to offer that you will find less frequently at bigger ones - the pure desire to hang out as long as necessary to make a jump - the willingness to pitch in and cut the grass or put TP in the restrooms, just because... Often they take their home dzs much more to heart than those at bigger dzs. There's a loyalty and bond that often goes way deeper there. Just be careful and sensitive when posting about something you have not had the privelege of learning yet.

To quote a pretty bad-ass freeflyer, "It's not the weight, it's the flap." You don't need heavier fabric, just more of it. I have a pair of super lightweight, really baggy FF pants that work great. Keep your suit as-is unless you have a fallrate issue on most jumps. If you're just looking for tips when you jump with certain people - just change your clothes on those jumps. Or add a baggier shirt over your suit. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Typo or freudian slip? (sorry, not picking on you personally Fedykin) But seriously, what's with all the 'we need a license to show who's good'? Just jump! Wanna get better? Gather a small group of people, build a vibe with them and jump together - alot. Or go compete in stuff. Wanna know if the 'new guy' on the dz is any good? Go jump with him! Pull yourself off the 10-way and go do a 2-way! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Read mine! Read mine! Scorpio... Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Great analogy!

I get what you're saying about the 'boredom' of just jumping from a plane. There is a certain amount of complacency associated with boredom. Maybe that's not the best word to describe it - "ready for more", "got it down-build on it" - those might be more appropriate. You're absolutely right, one certainly shouldn't lose respect for the dangers/thrill of just jumping out of a plane. Unfortunately those people find themselves "out of the sport" whether they chose to be or not! (articulate is sometimes hard without typing 400 word posts and looking like a preaching egomaniac ) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

That's exactly right, honey. You just put all your love and trust in the girl. If she uses her powers for bad things, run away. If she uses them for good things, realize how lucky you are and do everything you can to deserve her. That's all you need to know.

I don't understand why you would say something like this? You're open minded enough jump out of planes, why close your mind to different ways of flying? And not to totally hijack this thread, but belly-flying 'not doing it for you' is the short answer. The long answer is to explore all that interests you. If it doesn't interest you now, fine. But you're emphatically stating that it never will. Why not go with the flow and see where your passion takes you? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

All I can say is "Welcome to Crosskeys summer of 2003" Not funny but...damn, it is funny. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Might I suggest that if you're doing on article on PRO swooping you go to the PRO swoopers? The people in this sport are very concerned with accurate portrayal in the media. You could be the first to 'get it right' if you know your sources. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

To be sure, who knows what will catch someone's eye. One thing is for sure, they will see hundreds of thousands of gimmicks and stunts. Casting agents are pretty talented people - and good at reading someone quickly. They'll need to see 'something' in you to call you back but who's to say what that 'something' is. I'm sure neither of us is going to crack the code for her. Just two guesses for her to ponder.

I think that was probably Road Rules not Real World. But, you're right, some would consider skydiving a "challenge" we have. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

As do we all! I didn't mean for her to hide something she loves to do, I was only suggesting that by 'playing up' that one aspect she's placing alot of importance on something she does, not who she is. I think Val being a skydiver helps to illustrate that she's a 'beautiful, strong woman' but being a skydiver in and of itself does not necessarily make you interesting. Anyway, I'd love to know how it turns out. I wish I had the opportunity to try out a 'few' years ago. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I say don't play up the skydiving thing AT ALL. Every one of those shows goes skydiving or bungee jumping at some point or another - my guess is it's pretty played. They'll want to see some sort of personality/character that will stand out in everyday, group dynamics. Are you seriously going to the casting call? If so, good luck! I'm way too old for the show but have to admit I love to watch it.

If I get the sense that a person truly believes in what they are posting - and not trying to sound smart, or put others down, and is coming from a caring/educational perspective - I will listen and weigh my beliefs/opinions/thoughts equally with theirs. If they're just being a blowhard know-it-all - I like to participate in/observe a mental beating! Overall - all talk/discussion is good. No one can predict how others' learn. Keep up the talk, keep up the education. If you believe in something, don't get discouraged and stop discussions, even with jackass blowhards - you may not change someone's mind but you could affect the brilliant mind of someone who will! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Caveat: I don't have kids. My parents did not show any type of affection toward each other while I was growing up. Still, I am an extremely affectionate person. But I have no sense of a close loving, caring family relationship -more like a business-style relationship between parents. I think it's probably so healthy for kids to see and know what a loving adult relationship is like. But whatever you're not willing/able to sit down and explain in objective/nonsexual terms to them is too much info. It seems to me that a slow, gradual approach to love/sex is best - they're kids, they have no frame of reference (assuming they're young), it's like a martian landing on earth!

Dove: I certainly didn't mean it takes courage to lie. I think we agree in theory. Plus, the whole thing is just evil. Someone cheats on their SO, they lie, their friends are caught between telling and being the 'bad guy' or not telling and actually having complicity - and then if the SO finds out, not being able to trust friends, blah, blah, blah...an entire cycle of lying, distrust, betrayal that goes WAY beyond just some dickhead (chicks, too) cheating on an SO. If everyone realized that every single little tiny thing they do in life has an effect on the entire world - would we all care for each other more? There's a buddhist saying loosely translated "A butterfly flaps it's wings in the West and arises a tsunami in the East". Anyway, to the original poll: Whatever excuse someone uses is probably not even close to the real reason they cheat. If they lie and are cowards and lack integrity - they probably don't have what it takes to look deeply into themselves for the truth. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

For total clarification, Dove is referencing my firm belief that cheaters are liars who lack integrity and behave as if the world revolves around them - not that I am a cheater.

Can't say enough how much this is true. Get a ton of video of yourself (if possible), of the pros doing their thing - all you can get your hands on and watch it religiously. Visualize, dissect, etc. Then save some $$ and book a coaching week with someone - someone really effing good and who knows how to teach - not just fly. Then watch all the video of yourself over and over and over. Then teach what you learned to your buddies and encourage them to do the same. Repeat. Seriously, Heath Richardson had just joined PsychoCirkus when he was sent on a 7 month deployment. He watched video non-stop day and night and swears he came back a better flyer than when he left. Good luck. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

OR to protect yoursefl against someone with a big ass camera set-up on their head getting slammed into you! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Boo. Beat me to it. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

OOH! OOH! I KNOW! PICK ME, PICK ME! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

As a very general rule, drag is only useful for 2 things. 1. Assistance in holding a certain orientation - drag on legs helps keep you inverted, drag on arms helps keep you upright. 2. Assistance with fall rate - if you're big and fall fast, drag will slow you down. The reason you don't see many freefly teams with baggy suits is because they can fly their bodies and are generally well-suited as far as fall rate. My own opinion is make sure you learn to fly your body. If you get a suit, make it tight. That way you'll be able to use it longer (when you don't need the drag for assistance), and you won't have to fight the extra drag when learning what your body feels like in the air.