freeflyfrog

Nice idea... I will look into that! Thanks!

The Pares are in their mid-30s, he has brown hair, graying at the temples. She is a pretty blonde. He is about 5'7", tandem instructor. No biggie... just thought you might have known some of the same people...

Don't think so... I bought it three years ago at BlueNile.com (a very good experience, BTW. I got exactly what I wanted and the ring appraised 30% higher than what I paid)

Nice... So, I see you jump at Napoleon... do you know of Steve and Heidi Pare? Or Steve Marschall? I think they jump there. We all used to jump in Hastings... Blue ones!

Thanks, Wolf, good to know I'm not the only one with such a story! It was mutual...we're still friendly. I just realized I have this nice diamond ring gathering dust and thought I could sell it somewhere and get some cash.

Actually, airfare to Italy PLUS jump tickets...

A girl's best friend. Until you break off your engagement! Anyone have any suggestions for a guy with an engagement ring that he wants to unload? (She was kind enough to return it). Would you do eBay? Or would a jeweler buy it? I don't want to pawn it... I don't think they'll give me what it is worth. It is GIA certified... a beautiful stone. I sure could use the cash...

I'm thinking I may have to try this, how do you say, "Bird Man" suit... soon!

Alright! Welcome to the Dark Side Don't give up completely on RW... the more skills you have in every discipline, the better all-around skydiver you'll be! It only gets better! Ciao!

So, how does it surpass the Velocity? Do you know anything more about it?

Here you go: Clicky! Sorry... not quite laymen's terms... but it should clear things up a bit. Also, follow the link in this article to the one on humidity...

I think we have all seen this at least once. And we all think "it will never happen to me." But obviously it does happen. Somebody is not paying attention. Or a whole LOT of somebody's. It's easy to get distracted by other things. But it's just as easy to make a proper gear check an integral part of every skydive. Be responsible for your own thorough gear check. Don't rely on someone else to do it for you. As we can see by this thread, anyone (even an AFF rated jumpmaster) can miss it. I NEVER get on the plane without visually and physically checking my chest strap (as well as every other part of the rig). And I use the time on the ride to altitude to visually check the gear of those around me. I have caught more than one misrouted chest strap in the plane on the ride up just by looking around!

Hey all, just thought I'd share this with my fellow skydivers. A friend of mine just discovered a VERY sneaky practice perpetrated by Fandango.com and other online services. So, just in case you were unaware, here goes... BTW, this is a close friend and I have no reason to doubt his story: Shitty, huh? Makes me think twice about those "convenient" online services. Caveat emptor!

Make sure that your browsers are set up to accept cookies...

Beastie Boys... So What'cha Want? I LOVE my iPod

Clapton... Running on Faith

Heh heh... is that an oxymoron?

OK... is this summary more to your liking? Strom

All jokes aside, Thurmond was an ignorant racist, plain and simple. Same goes for his understudy Trent Lott. Good riddance.

Nice post, AggieDave. It's people like you that keep this sport alive. Too many skydivers forget that they were once students and looked up to an instructor just like yourself. And you're doing it for the right reasons. To give back to the sport what you got from it. I started doing tandems for much the same reason. My friends thought I was crazy, but for me, there is nothing quite like taking that newbie on their very first skydive ever. Such a great feeling, especially when they are so excited after the jump. It is every bit as fulfilling as other skydiving accomplishments, and when they come back and become licensed skydivers you get to see the fruits of your labor...

A tandem jump should never be considered simply a "joy ride" for the passenger (a title which itself makes it too easy to do just that). Granted, most people that make a tandem skydive may never make another jump again, but they must be trained with the same thoroughness as someone who WILL jump again. ALL of my students receive an altimeter and a drogue release and I train them how to use them. I have only had one passenger release the drogue early (around 11000'). I blame myself for not catching them before they pulled the release. I am much more careful now. As for "tricks" it all depends on the student. For their first tandem, I gently suggest that learning to make a controlled exit in a good arch is more important than doing flips. Most students agree with this, plus it gives them an incentive to make another jump. Also, I am a fairly small tandem instructor (5'8", 170lbs.) and I will not do intentional flips with first-time students that are much taller than myself or who have given me reason to believe that they will not arch well enough or quickly enough to get us on our bellies ASAP. For the person who felt cheated when they didn't get to do flips on a tandem jump, get a hold of Strong Enterprise's side-spin phenomenon video and you will see why some instructors insist on no "tricks." Tandem jumping is every bit as serious as AFF as a training method... let's not forget this.

This is the BEST site to visit when you are bored... or when you aren't: H*R "Everybody to the Limit!"

Thanks. You a fan of StrongBad? Yeah... my friends at work and I are obsessed. I have taken to wearing my H*R clothing to the DZ... it's cool when a fellow fan recognizes the characters. Best site on the internet... ever! Well, it's time for a nice cold One... Ciao!

I haven't moved nearly that much. Just wanted to give you props for the avatar and signature line.

Hey! You didn't tell me I missed TOPLESS jumps... I want advance notice next time!!!