packerboy

Depends on the person. I shouldn't say this.. but I'm going to. You can flame away, I know it goes against all that is what being a skydiver is about, but... I once turned down beer from someone to get out of teaching them how to pack. I couldn't in good faith contribute in any way to enabling this person to jump out of an airplane. If anyone remembers Stephen Baldwin skipping across the pond on his side... It was painfull to watch this girl do it across the ground every time she jumped. That being said, I have taught quite a few how to pack in my spare time. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Ask around your dropzone, I'm sure you will find someone around THAT dropzone that may or may not have done it some point in time. Of course, I'm sure your dropzone is closed by now... they do the odd winter jump don't they? You may or may not even get to hear about some crazy malfunctions while jumping into a cottage... who knows. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

They are a little slower at going down though. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

He hacked it up and made a Toy Story quilt out of it!!!!! -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Yeah, I tried that for a while, but the openings didn't feel as good.. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

There was this girl who just finished the freefall program and didn't know how to pack, so she watched and learned while I packed her rental gear. Now I'm the one watching with amazement as her belly contorts from the kicking of my baby boy. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

CURVZ - They are sunglasses and goggles. http://www.lanesunglasses.com/ -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

"But I also don't want it to turn into the hammer that makes every problem look like a nail." Like the approach they had at Enron? I certainly hope not too! I don't think it will though, most champions for change are forward thinkers that look at the big picture. I would hope that those that wield the power for major change are carefull about where they swing the hammer. Of course if you can end up with some willy nilly hammer swinger as the president of your country, you could end up with one as the president of a company too. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Make sure you talk to your DZO first, because if he/she feels the same way as Andrewwhyte (sp?) you may be wasting your money. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Flavor of the month process change paradigm?? It's how import automobile makers have been throttling N.A. vehicles for the last few decades! N.A. is just starting to get caught up and in some cases get ahead because they adopted this theory a decade ago. So many companies have been held back from getting there because greedy unions kept them from trimming the fat. But as the baby boomers retire, manufacturing companies are gaining back the control of the bottom line, which is why process change analysis is starting to pick up steam in the recent years. It's not flavour of the month.. it's a business model that works, and most bigtime companies are using it somehow. If only just paying consultants rediculous amounts of money to explain it how it works to their employees. Added: I don't know much about martial arts, but I'm willing to bet that martial artists are the best trained athletes and mental pilots out there and if this is how they approach their training, that it is something that obviously works. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

If you do Yoga or Pilates you will have something to talk about should you run into Cindy Crawford in the grocery store... that's a bonus! -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Not true.. it is much easier in the air. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Try it this way

(Not pointing at you gravitational, just replying to anything) What's the big deal? Open the damned reserve and suck it up princesses, pay for the repack and be on your way. If you can't afford a repack, you couldn't afford to buy the rig in the first place, and you damn sure can't afford to skydive.. or buy a ticket for a flight on a commercial airliner either. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Longer lines on larger canopies = more line to get over top of the canopy & greater distance from container to line stretch = more time and space for chaos of 120 mph wind blowing little strings around to do it's thing. Not to mention it is a bit tougher to keep proper tension on the lines while packing a really big (tandem) canopy. Am I right or wrong riggers? -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

That's a fantastic picture. I will probably get wings this winter and I'll have good time to practice with them since A: never done tandem vids B: Starting a new dz, so I've got some proving to do before I start doing tandem vids.. that is if they will let me, I don't see a problem though, there is not an overabundance of video guys around. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

The formation that I fell through was round at the time. What I felt in the air was that there was no chance at all that I was going to save it. It didn't happen as I was coming down to the burble from far it happened as I was going from not so over the top to over the top. My reaction was not to get huge and pop up, my reaction was to get in the middle of the round and go down through the middle without hitting anyone. I was almost succesfull but I came down through an arm dock and glanced the sides and shoulders of two jumpers. When I got to the ground I immediately went to the most experienced for advice. (I already got the one finger salute from the organizer while I was on my back under the formation, coincedentally one of the two I hit.), and was told by both that it IS a big deal, but it happens. Learn from the mistake and I'll be a better jumper. And that's how I took the advice. The people that I hit are my friends. I felt terrible. Not for destroying the formation, but for endangering them. I know how serious a freefall collision can be and I do not take it lightly. That being said... this "other" advice about me not being ready to fly camera and that this is evidence, came weeks later as a side note to another completely seperate conversation. Kind of a "By the way... that time you fell through the formation proves that you are not ready." This is why I was offended and was here looking for advice and a sort of redemption. If I was told on the ground after the jump that maybe I shouldn't have been videoing that jump and that I should stick to something smaller, I could have accepted that as learning advice. But that's not how it went down. This person watched me get on 15 loads and do video before telling me a few weeks later that I am not ready for it. I like the idea of a camera suit as a tool. But I have been told that it is like wearing booties. Although they are a good tool that can help you track like a madman some people use them to compensate for poor flying and tracking. Learn without and then integrate. I think for now, I will zoom a bit, stay a bit farther away and flirt with the edge a little more before being on the edge. We don't do 4-ways with video out of our 182 and when we have the otter for long weekends, 4 ways don't really happen.. people go bigger. The one time there was a 4 way, I went with them instead of the larger way. The person that scolded me was not the person I hit, was on the opposite side of the dive and didn't seem at all concerned about the situation untill weeks later and had a point to try and prove about something all together different. And paying for other peoples slots doesn't happen at our dropzone either... except for students and tandems. If you want to be a video guy, you pay for your own jumps and carry a camera. Most people at our dropzone although they like to see video of themselves could care less about having video unless it is a special occasion jump. There is alot of good advice in this forum, much more than any of the other forums... thanks for being supportive and not for being pricks who do no wrong and who's crap don't stink like most of the other forums on this site. This is what I like about the few camera flyers that I know.. they are humble. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

A few weekends ago I took my first stab at some serious RW camera flying. Backround info: I've got 550 jumps - about 400 of which are freeflying and about 100 with a camera. I did 15 formation camera jumps (8-10-12 ways etc.). The first few didn't turn out that great, mainly because I was a little timid and more worried about flying than filming. Some a little out of centre, but everything was in frame, maybe just a little far away and everything was safe. After about 5 or 6 I started to find a sweet spot on the edge of the burble with a good angle and got some really good film. jumps 12,13,14 turned out awesome... nice formations perfect angle and everything just felt great. I was getting debriefed by the load organizer and our main video guy after pretty much every jump and both were telling me that things were good, but I could get a little steeper and a little closer. On the 15th jump of the weekend I got a little too steep and ended up falling through the formation. I got scolded by someone very important (not the load organizer or my video mentor) and was told that this is evidence that I am unsafe and not ready to fly video. This is the first time that I have been called unsafe aside from one or two landings "in the corner", and I was extremely offended. My question is this... how many video guys out there have never fallen through a formation? (be honest) And IS this evidence that I should not be flying camera? I'll be very honest. I'm not fantastic a formation flyer. I can't turn 10 points on a 4 way. And having me on a bigway probably lowers it's chance of success. I'm a freeflyer. However, I felt very comfortable and in control up there and knew where I was and was exactly where I wanted to be at all times. The last jump I chose to go somewhere I shouldn't have gone and learned a lesson. I didn't fall through because I accidently got too close. I fell through because where I decided to be was too close. This person got very offensive and personal (that's just the way they are). I think they were simply out to offend me for the sake of being an asshole. Should I put off filming RW untill I am a hotshot 4wayist? Am I an unsafe flyer because I fell through a formation? Or am I now simply safer than I was before because I know exactly where not to be? -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

How about you do whatever it is you know how to do to make the situation more survivable for the patient (your friend), with whatever supplies you have available. Fuck protocols if your friend is dying. You obviously wont/don't do anything you are not trained or know how to do at work. Why the hell would you? I don't know about sue happy America, but here in Canada you will not get in trouble for doing what you know how to do to help. Any judge who gives you hell for doing what you've been trained to do to help a trauma victim before on-duty help arrives needs to grow some balls. As for losing your licence, if you are carrying shit you STOLE from work... maybe that's something to think about, but if you happen to be in posession of something that you have procured legally and is not a controlled substance... WTF use it if it'll help? My g/f is a Paramedic, and I have heard stories of MD's on scenes... not good ones. She has had to tell an MD that if he doesn't f*&^ off that he will have to assume care and responsibilty of the patient and be in care for transport as well. He backed off. She has collared and spinal boarded a jumper while off duty at the DZ, and transported with him in the ambulance. He was extremely gratefull. If she had not taken charge of the situation (along with a military search and rescue tech), he may not be with us anymore (pelvis,femur,spinal fractures). I would hope that anyone with the necessary training would step up to the plate and not stand back and worry about legal ramifications. That's bullshit. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Ask for a monkey fist. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Wow Sparky... you agree with me??? Edit: BEER -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

If you can do an 8 point 4-way, you shouldn't have problems doing a 4 point 8 way. provided you can find 7 other competent people to jump with... correct? I think something appropriate would be a "bigway" licence. Something that only a handfull of the organizers who put together 50+ ways should be able to sign off on. Something that shows you have the training and skills to be on something that big. Also maybe a "Vertical bigway licence" to be on stuff bigger than 15-20 way verts. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

It's not about lacking balls. Where I jump, night jumps don't happen. We've got plenty of balls. Footballs, Soccer balls, Baseballs, Basketballs, Bowling balls (DZO took the bowling balls away when a farmer found it with his combine). -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

IMO you aren't going to put very many jumps on that gear before you realize you want "up to date" gear. Great price sure... I can sell you a bridge for a great price too if you know what I am saying. It's old technology... not just slightly old... tape cassette kinda old. Don't buy it. Maybe if you can get a really good price, just pick up the container only... J3 is a good container for a newbie. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Not the case. The DZO doesn't like just anyone landing his airplanes in the dark on an unlit runway, I can live with that. -------------------------------------------------- In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson