GravityGirl

I'm going to have to go against the grain here for a moment. I keep hearing everyone recommending that you "Check with your instructor." "They will know what is best for you." I have to disagree. Most instructors are gear conscientious, but many are not. There are so many professionals in this sport that dedicate their career to learning about improving gear. I would suggest talking to a professional gear consultant. Since you are here on the forums, you will find several here. Just to mention a few, if I may, Skybitch, Arlo, DiabloPilot and there are more... Most instructors are good at their jobs. But there are those amoung us that dedicate 24/7 to learning about the individual jumpers, keeping on top developments and bulletins specific to the Gear Industry. Why not take advantage of their knowledge to help you find the proper gear. I am both and instructor (8 years) and a gear dealer (6 years). I can honestly say, that before I started dedicating my time to the gear aspect of the industry, I wasn't the best person (AFF Instructor) to come to for gear advise. The resourses are out there. Use them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Your logic escapes me. But I would like to offer this. If what you are after is repeat business or long term business by having the customer return and do AFF or Tandem Progression, then invest in a short trailer on the video that illustrates: You have just experienced the thrill of a lifetime! You have enjoyed a small taste of the absolute freedom and exhillartation that skydiving offers! If you want more.... .....if you truely want to fly.... .....if you want to study the art of human flight.... (Insert video snippets of student progression leading up to an awesome solo and finally a nice happy sunset load) Something like that might be effective to recruit repeat customers Also you can buy postcards very cheap at www.VistaPrint.com. About 3 months after their tandem, send a thank you card... Thank you for your business. We truely enjoyed flying with you.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

I think it's a great idea. But I think the "Check Ride" should be an evaluator going up on a "real live" AFF jump. Or perhaps the submission of videos of the jumpmaster handling the various senarios. Poor exits, flip overs, fetals, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

This leads me to ask, "Were the two previously tested pins, tested by the same person or company?" What were the conditions of the test. Was the test done properly? Not pointing fingers, but trying to find the weak link. If we need to retest every pin that comes through our door, we will. But I would like to find out were the original test failed to show the defect. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Mathias is down in the big hangar right now training the new pilot! Come on over GFD and we'll tag team them! Oh. Did I type that out loud? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Gas for $2.35 in Cali all week long! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Dude! YOU GOT NEW GEAR. Quit worrying about what other people think and go jump... ....and jump... ...and jump... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Hey Drew! Sorry I just picked up this thread. I had about 1000 jumps on my St 97 when I decided I wanted more. I didn't want the responsibility associated with a X-Brace. So I went with the ST 89. Ummm. I liked the 97 better. I have about 200 jumps on the 89 and I still can't make it go faster than my 97. Do you want me to send it to you so you can check it out for yourself? Or maybe, if you are heading north, you can come on by and jump it. If I was staying very current, I would be considering a Katana or Velocity, but I'm, well, just lagging these days! PM me if you wanna... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Right on! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

*must resist.......* I won't. Gareth Holder is a world class skydiver and a steaming asshole. Note: Humor, and the compliment should cancel out the asshole part.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Also consider adding to your list the A2 from Aerodyne. We have had a demo at our dz and it is getting rave reviews. PM me if you want more details. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Hey! Way to get stable! You jumped, you saved yourself! Now how big of a dork could you really be? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Did you get video? Ask your instructor if you are "Potatoe Chipping". Sometimes happens with the long and lean types. Each body type has different pros and cons. Biggest recommendation I have for you is to "Keep your eye on the road!" If you can hold a heading for a bit, you can hold if for 40 seconds. Now that you are on level 4, you should actually be seeing more of the planet that you are heading for. I think on my level one and two really saw my altimeter and JMs faces. I think there was a planet down there, but I couldn't tell you for sure! Really check it out. Look at your heading. Register that you are maintaing your heading in reference to a beautiful spot on terra firma. Don't for get to register your altitude along the way. And that guy/girl in freefall with you. If you want to relate it to driving a car, then you have to keep your eyes on the road. If you focus too much on the speedometer, you are gonna veer off the road. So consentrate on the road, and glance at your dial. Oh, yeah. Have fun while you are at it. It really is a great view! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Perhaps on the climb to altitude you can visualize it in your mind and chant, "Heading, Altimeter, Toes...." In other words incorporate it into the dive flow. Not just the words, but physical act as well. Sometime, when I have a really "Flat" student, have them dirt dive, "Hips, Heading, Altimeter, Check in...." After you get it a couple of times it will be automatic and you won't have to think of it so much. But staying current is key! Happy jumping. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Four guys did a few BASE jumps and cost Red Bull $600,000.00. Beat that. I don't want to beat that! I've had enough! UNCLE!!!!!!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Hmmm. Depends on how you look at it. Two that stand out. #1 - When they tell you BASE if free, "They" are inexperienced. A certain Tower ended up costing me over $4,000.00. #2 - A panic turn when I had about 130 jumps ended up costing me a broken pelvis and L4 and about $35,000.00. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Why do people keep asking the same stupid question, year after year? And yet we all keep coming back?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Maybe you can call her Spanky. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Hey! Girl Fall Down! You wanna go camping? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

I vote Pimp Daddy. The gunner takes a certain face "type" to look good. The Pimp Daddy, well, it's just pimp! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

The picture is not big enough to tell if you are sexy. And I have to say, my own inner peace has been a bit elusive these days. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

It wasn't meant to be an attack. Just an observation. Your avitar is very serene and peaceful, as is your dz.com handle. Sometimes your words just don't seem to match that image. I don't pass judgement. There is no right or wrong way to be. I just saw a contradiction. I am very sorry if I offended you. Now. Which side is right again, and which side is left? I keep forgetting. It's hard to see sides when you look at the whole picture. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

There are some mods that people do to help the risers stay shut, but based on PERSONAL experience, it's like playing Russian Roulette. So I have to ask you, "Do you feel lucky, Pu... I mean, Kevin?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

BillVons post is just as misleading as you calling yourself "PeacefulJeffrey". IMHO. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

When I first started Gravity Gear, I rolled into a boogie and someone said, "Hey the Gravity Girl is here, it is now officially a boogie!" Gravity Girl stuck. It is also the name of a BASE jumping team that I had the honor of competing with for a very breif stint. It is also one of my lines of clothing now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!