lurch

Matt. Nice. Flocking. Photos. Purple Mike is up here. Hot and muggy so for once he isn't bitching about the cold all the way down. We're having a blast. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

The alligator pit is one of the coolest things at Sebastian. That, and the 4 foot tall birds that take bread from you. Oh, and the flocking was good, too. Scott, you have GOT to get Jeff or Scotty to show you the video from -THE- burbledive. I'm not sure who got the worst of it... Mike, because every time I plummeted at his back he didn't see it coming, or Jeff, because he DID. I have a screencap of Jeff's face by the third time through, eyes the size of saucers with the look of a man expecting to get hit by a truck. I'm just glad I didn't take anyone out in the process. In Justin's words, "Laughing your ass off in freefall is as good as it gets." I haven't had that much fun since the last time I -(edited for legal protection purposes)- with the chocolate covered percosets. Tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Hey Riccardo. Next time I'm out, we'll go over the video again, get your exits dialed and go up again. You're going head low because you looked down. Would have made an awesome exit if you were freeflying. All you gotta do to fix this is fix your gaze on the prop when you exit. Hop out sideways, keep looking at that prop as you drop away. This will roll your shoulders back and keep you head-high. Then you just kind of lie down on the air. Do this your next tracking dive, tell me how it goes. I'm not worried about you going head-low next opening. Just keep your legwing closed tighter, thats all. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

I dunno, I'm thinking we ought to let the artist do his thing, if we bug him too much he might do something weird with it... Want a chicken, Matt? -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Thats gotta be Rick. Decided to sell the kids, rent out the house, get a tent and leave the wife so you can buy a suit yet? If you thought the Classic rocked wait till we get you something bigger... Soon you'll look at clouds the way most people look at food. Saturdays looking like a wash and Sunday is iffy. Last I heard we don't have a pilot yet. Looking like maybe Lebanon Sunday, though. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Given that this is one of those subjective things where you'll get as many different answers as you do replies, I'll offer a subjective reply. You'll know you're ready when it seems the most natural thing to do next. When you feel totally at home, in a wide delta style track. When you can truly relax in freefall and feel like the air is holding you up. When you don't get disoriented easily anymore. And you reorient quick and easy when you do. When your spatial awareness hits the point where you don't need to think about spotting anymore. You look, and at a glance know where you are, where the wind is, where you'll be going after exit, where you will be when you plant canopy, where you can get to from here and where you need to be. When its been a good long while since the last time you landed out. When your awareness of time hits a point where you know when, and where, to expect to see canopies opening below you. You know, before you look, where in the sky they will be. You look, and they are there. When the idea of wearing a suit that effectively ties your hands in freefall doesn't bother you. Hope this helps. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Thanks Howie! Well, the exotic motorcycle-lookin-critter would be me, and the passenger currently using the ejection seat option would be one Christian C, an up-and-coming bird and the newest addition to our merry flock. Special thanks go to Justin and Dave for getting this one on video from 2 different angles at once. Chuck, I believe you will find that whatever it is, exactly, it has been quite thoroughly blicked, so thoroughly in fact that I'm still not quite sure where I left it. Possibly on the roof of my jeep along with the inexplicable disappearing pickle, or maybe I lost it up at altitude. Next time I find it, it will probably have been left alone long enough to require reblicking all over again, possibly more than once. I will get the other birds to help me go look for it. And when we find it, we will blick it. Again. Tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Consider it blicked. Ken can't make it....disney family gig going on. All other birds for 100 miles in all directions are converging on Jtown by 11. 2weet! Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Chirp! That was tight.... Can we have some more? -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

I'll be there. I'll also see about getting Nik and Ken out for it. Today was awesome kind of day, expecting same all weekend. Tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

You really think the z-flockers can be summoned 1500 miles by waving a keg of BEER at them? If they show, Thats some seriously migratory alcoholic dedication. We better make sure we got good stuff on tap. Would not do to greet em with budweiser. I know I'd be pissed if I found I'd migrated that far for bad beer. You birds drink heineken? If not, what? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Wanna bet? If you guys show up and J throws down the free beer gauntlet, I'll have to produce a keg myself just to be hospitable so you're taking us both on. Can you total -2- kegs? There will be video. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Tweet! Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

"anyone need anything?" Yeah, can I get a lawnchair, an eggbeater, a tube of hemmorhoid cream and a poster of Cindy Crawford? Thanks. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

For what its worth, in the image on the left you look amazingly badass. Very, very cool. -tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Nice, nice pics, man. Still can't believe I was there and got to be a part of that. Most intense few days of my life, no doubt. -tweet. -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Ok. These days I try to avoid long winded posts, but for this event I'll make an exception. I'd try to sum it all up somehow but I don't know where to begin. I'm beat up, my face looks like hamburger from too much sun, I'm sore in places I didn't know I HAD places, flew harder better and faster than I ever have, and somehow made it home alive with more energy than I left with. Skydive City is pretty much my definition of paradise. I'll second that thanks to Nylon City, you guys did some awesome work, absolutely no gear fear with you guys on the job. Thank You! I'd also like to say thanks to Chuck, Scott, and the entire wingsuit army for the warm welcome and awesome flocks. I got to do more, different stuff than ever, and got to fly pretty much every possible slot from front to top to edges. Also like to give a shout to... Larry for the serious base flying skills and that incredible kneelfly jack move that completed the front ranks in that earlier formation- Never saw anyone fly like that before and with that level of sheer precision. Jaw-dropping to witness. Veggie Reggie for managing to stay on my tail through some outrageous maneuvers and for just being himself-you're a rare one, man. Fireflies rule. Justin-Unlimited pride, man. Never saw anyone go that far in the sport, that fast. Steve-Wouldn't have been right if you hadn't been there, man. Avery-Lodi....I'll give it some thought. Glad you made it. Pete- If I'm flying half as badass when I'm in my sixties I'll consider it good. Warm welcome, a slot in our flock and a place of honor by our fire await you if you ever make it up north to hang out with us yankees. Jeff-For completely resetting the bar for wingsuit performance. Now I have new limits to try to match. I'll try to get you that footage you wanted. Ed P: I'm still embarassed about that burble, man. Robibird- Thanks for the flight tips, was an honor to fly with you. Hope to see you at an exit on a big wall someday. Perry-Do I really need to say anything? PackingRyan- For reminding me why I came. Again. Joni-You got more raw courage than any self labeled tough guy I've ever met. Fly with you anytime. Purple Mike: Congratulations man, hows the birdseed taste? James-I'm going to be laughing about cheesy peas for weeks. I owe you a tape and a cup of tea. Bob... how the hell did you get a wingsuit up to 212 MPH? I couldn't do that if I had an anvil stapled to my forehead. Janine, aka "bitch-in-the-box"... missed my shot at Muff Brotherhood, but thanks for the food. Next time. I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch of people I wanted to say hi to, but I'm down with a vicious bug I picked up somewhere and I'm too tired to think. Tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Whoa. What a ride. Can I have some more? I had this elaborate long piece written out to say thanks but who wants to read that crap? I had a blast. I will be back. -Tweet! -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Ok, I'm not sure if thats encouraging or vaguely discouraging, but I'm bringing fuzzy stuff anyway. Doesn't weigh much. If it happens, it happens. If not, so be it. Its not like there won't be a double dozen other awesome forms of flying going on. Rumor has it theres a mach 1 tail flappage dispute of some kind going on and I've been nominated by a couple friends to help resolve it. If half what I hear about that suit is accurate you could tie a string to my chest strap in light winds and fly me like a kite. Preferably over the swoop pond. My curiosity is piqued. I gotta try one. Do I get any extra credit for using a word like "piqued" in a sentence? -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Yeah but you know me, I'm a lo-speed junkie and just ITCHIN to see if I can break the 4-minute mark. Came close last year, real close, but close only counts for horseshoes, hand grenades and tactical nuclear weapons. If I have to bribe a pilot with a bottle of something expensive and imported to get 25,000, I'll do it, so long as the pilot don't crack the bottle till AFTER I get out the door. If the pilot can finish it by the time they land, I'll give em another. If they can finish it before -I- land, I'll give em two more. Mental note: This time, bring gloves and warm fuzzy clothes. Its COLD up there. Justin and I will be on our way in 12 hours. Ca-CAW! Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Is there gonna be high altitude? Tell me theres gonna be high altitude. I LIKE high altitude. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Excellent! Thank you. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Repost. Although the recipes are an excellent contribution, I'd suggest a different recipe each time. Those of us who pay attention to the recipe wars are counting on you to provide variety in your dietary offerings. That said, if I substitute beef for the squirrel in the recipe in the other thread, will it come out alright, or do I need to adjust cooking times and preparation procedures for optimal outcome? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

"Anybody know how to pack an Ostrich egg in your luggage without it getting broken?" 50 cubic feet of bubble wrap in a hard case. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

"...hell I even try RW jumps sometimes!" Heretic! Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.