Vertifly

Anyone interested in freefly organizing hosted by Dave Brown and John Klueg can meet us, East Coast Freefly, at Crosskeys on the weekend of September 24th and 25th. If you would like to come out and play, send me a PM because we would like to have a round-about head-count. Also, you can contact Klueg at john@ecfreefly.com. John and I have been putting together some interesting and challenging dives up at Sussex. We have also been talking about having regular (maybe once a month) meets. This September event would be a nice start for the group. Let's face it though, it is getting close to the end of Jersey 2005 flying season. A very good way to end the summer and it will give everyone an idea of how many people near Crosskeys or Sussex who would be interested in ECFreefly. The event will cater to experienced freeflyers who can fly slots and turn points; however; if you're simply able to hold a slot, that is ok too. I would be glad to organize loads that cover formation basics and things to practice for people who are interested in learning formation freeflying. Seeya there!!! BS's

You may even want to consider coming down the weekend before too...on the 23rd and 24th. Word is that some serious FF orginizing will be going on. Lots of locals, Dave Brown and maybe Mike Swanson is the word I got. Yet to nail anything down but contact John Klueg for details, if you don't have his info, just PM for it. I'll try to find out more as well.

This stuff seemed a lot more interesting when (1) I knew there was a degree that would come out of it and (2) I didn't know that it was useless to anyone who was not going to become a Math Professor.

I can't watch that again but he may have offered $500 "more" to lick it up. Hardly a bargain compared to spitting it out for the same price. Puking isn't that bad, sucking up puke takes more tolerance than I can imagine.

that's messed up

I agree, but judging is a lot easier when done by the numbers. Someome will definitely know if they won or lost if the direct point difference is 20 to 15 (for example). It is very difficult to judge the essence and difference between a smooth rock-the-cradle vs. a blind/bak-to-back carve (for example). In last scenario, subjectiveness is the only way to be. Having been a judge, usually the top and bottom teams are distinctive and the ones in the middle are difficult to place. Those other sports aren't fading probably because there is an audience and more people can relate to the difficulty involved with doing that stuff. A sports magnitude can be measured by its fans. If there aren't any fans, or onlookers, then what is the point of expression (i.e. artistics). Is it more important to be artistic or competitive? Both together just confuses judges, who I might add, are hardly ever freeflyers themselves.

Are you saying that flying is becoming more mechanical? Damn, I hope not but I just have to agree with you - two way stuff has faded. The competition may die but the concept will not.

Hey Jay, That's true too...about the "UNDER PRESSURE" thing. Definitely. At a low altitude 7 or 8 grand, the intensity level rises. It plays a huge part in getting the ball back. Better to have someone around who can chill, approach, chill, grab, and stuff it away. No question!

I do, and am a forum whore. From local township ones, to auto lovers, climbing, and singles. It also helps to have a computer job and do this at the same time.

I would be into that dude, NYC rocks. Just let us know where and when. There is a lot more to the world than a dz for groups of skydivers.

Do the same rules apply...If we screw up the video on that, do we get to reshoot?

Spacegames and Skymama, Here I come...the devil's advocate as usual; but hear me out. As an experienced jumper who has seen way too many deaths (and injuires) in the sport I will be the first to say that jumping a skyball alone or without qualification is extremely irresponsible. Regardless of the dangers I will address at the end of this post, here is a little opinon (you know you couldn't avoid this...hahah): A warning when I had 'low jumps' would have made little diffrerence. Regardless of any dangers that existed, I made a skyball anyway. Why?...because I wanted to be better. Because coaching is freekin expensive. Because the skygods at my DZ paid little attention to people with a few-hundred jumps less. And because, at the time, a steady and unemotional free-fly partner seemed like a good idea (i.e a skyball). Typical Goldy-lock story...the first one was too heavy, the second was too light, the third was just right. Secretly, I think that jumpers should thankful for my reponsibility with regard to spotting, attention to winds, and jump order, etc. or they would have been at risk. And they weren't at risk because I was responsible. I have gone up with the ball MANY times and not released it due to a discrepancy related to what I have said. Many times. And if I felt that way about things and acted on it; many more people where/are likely to do the same. So flyers will likely continue to make them. And jump with them. Maybe this is a good time to talk about how important it is to be responsible with one of these missles. The concerns we have about the danger of posting such detailed information about skyballs is quite valid. Most freeflyers are incapable of the skill involved to use such a tool without being a risk to others. It is the responsibility that should be stressed on owning one of these. A skyball is a modern day cannonball. If it lands on a car, or your hangar, or someone's roof, it will go through it and kill someone. If you don't have a license to prove your ability to fly with a skyball and are jumping in an area anywhere near human beings then it is stupid to jump with one. It is unlikely that every freeflyer is going to know (enough) whether he/she can fly a consitent slot - speaking vertically, horizontally, or on heading. What else do you need to know?...a lot!. You need to know if you have enough experience or intelligence to sit on a plane with a ball and be able to assess the ENTIRE situation. Everything not related to your jump and having fun with the ball is a factor. Exit order, other jumper's experience levels, winds direction and speed, the spot, your spot, YES-ball weight, your skill, hard-deck(what altitude to stop playing with the ball and retreive it), etc...there is probably more - maybe someone can add to this list. ?? Be responsible with these: Can you fly stable vertically, horizontally, and on heading? What are the winds pushing? Where are they pushing? What is the spot on the day you jump a ball? What is the best order to exit with a ball? And is the ball weight correct? Is someone ballmastering? What are the skill levels of the people in front and behind? Did you ask for extra time to exit from the people behind and in front?

The big picture...Good idea to assess any situation the way you see it; there is rarely an exact answer. If you're with a crowd of people with outside video...better to do a 180 and track away on your back. Then do a bunch of rolls and look around. If it's a two way, what does it matter as long as you can see the other guy? Unless you think someone exited after you but didn't wait enough because they appeared anxious on the plane. Keep your eyes peeled. As free as it feels to fly, you are NEVER alone. There are planes, clouds, wingsuits, atmonauti's, flatflyers above and below, and above (or below) all, a planet - which happens to be on a direct course and aimed directly at you.

I am an extrovert, but only when I'm talking.

It just takes some balance. Flipping into it will likely make it difficult. From your back, touch your knees to your chest, then put 'em back out again when you're vertical. From you stomach, just scoop your whole body up and force your legs down almost in to a sit. Just cause you're sitflying doesn't mean your sitting. It's flying either way. What I mean is, try not to relax on your butt. Your whole body is relaxing on the wind evenly. Keep 45-degree angles on everything and practice. 45-degrees at your knees, underarms, waste, between the legs, etc. you dig? If you feel yourself falling back, tuck your knees. If you are falling forward get balance and try again...eventually, what I'm saying will make a whole-lotta-sense. ps. do you own craigslist or something?

Try the pike dude. Like Swayze in Point Break.

Wow, Erik, that was nice! Did it hurt? Just kidding spaz. Never saw Trance101. Bring it along on the weekend. My favorite movie is PHIII. Phat-ass dives. Can't give or sell any copies but I can give you a contact if you are interested.

I work on really huge computer systems. The kind you never see but always know, deep down, exist somewhere. Out there...somewhere, we are watching you, for the rest of your life...

Guzzled very rotten milk about half way down the esophigus. It takes a while to get that sourness out of the mouth after that. FYI

You're right. The sound of the boom would not travel fast enough for them to heard. Until at least when they slow down again....Which, by then, the sound waves are like to have disseminated to the point where they couldn't be heard anymore. If they slowed down right away, they'd probably hear it and feel it. I wonder if there is anything to hear on the way back down. hmm???

Out of season, I used to use a pool to feel like being in the air a little. But not upside down. It feels a little like flying for about 1 second after you go under water and push off of the wall. You can do spins and quick transitions from head to sit if you practice enough. The movement is identical, but as mentioned, it only lasts about 1 or 2 seconds then it's over. Fun as hell if you happen to be in a pool and Jonesing for a jump.

that Hershey's chocolate may be the best thing that ever happened to planet earth. That's it.

Ideally, learn both and then learn every possible inch in-between the two. Out to the side with knees slightly bent is the way I do it. To get REALLY slow, I will do a 45-degree spread (not daffy or straddle but in between). Try doing several jumps just to get used to having noticably more drag on your legs than arms in head down. Lower body control is key in the air while upside down.

Looks like style and accuracy to me.

You're all on crack; none of this question makes sense enough to answer. This is going to need more clarity in order to answer the question accurately.