rdesilets

That is one of the best sayings I have ever heard, really. Get your degree, get a great job that pays you good money and then skydive your ass off. I did the same (computer engineering) and now I (luckily) am in a situation where I have plenty of money for skydiving (and other things).. if you want to hop on a plane and go to a boogie across the country, you just do it... don't need to worry about money. I work from home so I have flexibility and don't "sit behind a desk all day". There are many Friday's that I split at noon and head to the DZ to skydive. When I had 80 jumps someone once told me "finish school... skydiving will always be there"... they were right.. Plus,

I just picked up the eTrex Legend C. I just love it. I also purchased the mapping software as part of the auto kit (I can run power from my car when cruising around town). The battery lasts for about 36 hours, a new feature of the legend C. I mounted it on my jet ski as I also use it to navigate around all of the lakes in Austin. Attached is a view of the unit mounted on the ski. I also use it to "track" my routes so I can see where I rode, etc. The Legend "c" is a reasonably new color unit which has many great features such as auto routing, etc. It retails for $299 at Best Buy, however I got it at tigergps.com for $209. They were the best prices I could find. See attached photos. Let me know if you need more info. I pretty much know it inside and out now, but it took me about 5 times reading the manual (and mastering a new feature each time).. Edit: Can't seem to upload the photo, maybe image size is too large..

That sucks man! I just bought 2 Jet Ski's ($10K) off Ebay last week. I was the only bidder. I used uship.com to have people bid on getting the items from Detroit down to Austin. BTW, I used escrow.com for the transaction. It's sweet. Buyer and Seller come up with "terms" (what is being sold), etc. Then Buyer wires funds to a non interest bearing account (all part of escrow.com). Once funds are secured, Seller ships items. Once Buyer gets items, has X days to "inspect". Once all is well, he clicks yet another button and the funds are disbursed to the seller. It's perfect as the buyer is reluctant to send money without seeing the goods and the seller is reluctatnt to send goods without seeing money. Jumping tomorrow until 3pm then meeting the shipper and will be on the lake by 5pm :)

I am not sure what you mean.. That's all skydiving is - a hobby/pastime/sport -- except for some it's a job as well. What else would it be? I am not sure how you can compare skydiving to raising kids? I think that is seems some "skydivers" are insulted when folks with a lot of jumps (or anyone for that matter) decide to leave the sport or take a break. It is like they just can't comprehend what else there is to do in life except spend every moment and last dime skydiving. It's hard for me to explain it but the same type of person seems to have to let everyone (in their non jumping life) know they are a "skydiver"... I feel like saying "get over yourself" :) (not to you, just a general comment for those types of folks) Very well said Dave... I read your post after I posted mine.. but you pretty much said what I was trying to...

The same thing happened to me. I "quit" for 5 or so years when I had about 500 jumps ('97). Sold all my gear and spent 5 years doing other things on the weekends (jet skiing, boating on the Austin lakes, etc). There was a day when I would show up at the DZ 5pm Friday and leave 10pm Sunday.. dealt with all of the DZ politics and B.S... after a while it just was not fun anymore.. so I decided to take a break. A few years ago I got the bug and decided to give it another try (I knew I would be back, I was just taking an extended break).. now I am a pure "fun jumper" and love the sport more than I ever have ... I show up make some great jumps (usually for a big way record/ event or with a pre-determined group of folks).. and head home to do other things (married with a 3.5 year old son). No politics, no BS, just put money on my account and skydive hard. As someone else said, I think it's all about balance. I like to have balance in my life and skydiving is just one of the "slices of pie" in my life. (sorry, a little off topic). Hey Jumper Conway, we met at the Ballunar last weekend (I was on Larry Hinson's team). Hi Wendy. -Rob

LOL

Massachusetts (all New England states for that matter): RW 81-way http://www.jumptown.com/100way/2003participants.shtml

Pepperell is cool. Yes, they have a Casa there this weekend and lots of organizing.

That TeXXas star sure was fun!!! Thanks to all that organized and attended, what a blast. See you at the next event.. -Rob

Not sure if anyone is interested (and I don't mean to hijack your thread), but Roger is organizing 40 way sequentials at CPI (Ellington, CT) on Jun 18 & 19 if you want to come out and play. We will have 2 otters. Right now we have 33 experienced and 15 "up and coming" (they will be in a seperate group working with Hollie Reno). If you are interested, more info can be found here: http://www.skydivect.net/bigway

Ian, I thought the exact same thing. When my friends asked me how it was I said that I started liking it at about 60% through it -- and that I liked it of all the star wars..

So far we have 31 experienced signed up and 14 in a second group (that will be working on drill dives). We still have 8 experienced slots so if you are interested in a weekend (Sat & Sun) of Big Way Sequentials with Roger Ponce come on up. Just fill out the link above to reserve your slot.

If you are a seasoned formation skydiver looking for some practice for upcoming big way events or a less experienced skydiver aspiring to be on big ways or future record attempts.. this is the event for you. Below is a link with the dates, information, and online registration. Slots will be limited so sign up.. when the slots are gone.. well .. they are gone.. http://www.skydivect.net/bigway/ -Rob

I would agree Tony Suit. I used to have to stay towards the inside of big ways or I would be on the verge of going low. Tony Domenico out in Perris helped my measure for a new Tony suit when I was at one of his big way campes. Best $ I have ever spent.. never gone low since.. am in the middle of my fall range, and was on the outside of an 80-way; something I never thought I could do..

Hi Ian! I am living in Austin (3 hours south of Austin). We live down here in the winter and head up to Mass come late May. If you want a road trip Sat or Sun if the weather is bad come on down.. Austin is a great city.. Spend the night and head back to Dallas.. -Rob

Tony and I ordered my new "big" Tony suit the last day of the camp. About 6 weeks later it arrived... Guess what? I have NEVER gone low since I got that suit and am now flying right in the middle of my range.. instead of always on the verge of going low every jump.. Dress for success...

Hi Dom!

I don't see your logic? Are you saying that the company should sell the cypres for what it costs them to manufacture it (I would guess the parts cost that much)? I bet that little computer to run it took many many man hours to program, test, reprogram, retest.. (you get the point). Not trying to pick a fight, I just don't see your argument and where you came up with the $400-$500 price point. -Rob Edited to Add: I guess my point is that it is a computer; just not in the context you are talking about (personal computer) but I bet the computers that run aircraft, manufacturing lines, etc are just as small and cost a heck of a lot more than $1200).

Interesting. So, I have a PD Reserve and a Sun Path container and according to this chart both of these manufacturers permit an annual repack cycle for my gear (in Germany), correct? Does the time a reserve sits folded in the freebag and the pilot chute compressed have any bearing on how it will 'respond' (e.g. open) when deployed? In other words, in theory if you did have a 'reason' to open the container (e.g. cypres battery replacement) could you go a few years without actually repacking it and it would function the same way it would the day after you packed it. My guess would be yes, but I would love others prespectives.

Not to change the subject, but to expand on your concept of gear checks: Last fall at our DZ a person was getting on the plane (super otter) and did not have a rig on. In all the hustle and bustle they simply forgot to put their rig on and someone pointed it out to the LO (Load Organizer). They were actually climbing up the ladder to get in the otter.. Holy crap.. Edited to fix spelling error

Thanks for the updates, Bill! BTW, how is Kate doing?

Yeah, baby, I am in! Lets try to get some big ways going.. that would be so great!!!

The rig is sweet.. but man is that a nice wireless router to the side! Edited to Add: When looking at Koopa's picts..

My life insurance policy is with USAA. The will cover me 100% in the event my death is skydiving related. I had them actually send me a letter to confirm - that I put in the safe deposit box.

I sent an email over the weekend and got a response this morning (inquiring about the status of my suit).