GravityGirl

All of the above. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

When I say "Rally for my Slot" (leave it alone), I mean determining where I will fall into the pattern amongst the other parachutes. I'll consider my decent rate in relation to all the other canopies in the air. And then I'll do my best to judge where I should fall in to have the most air space. The idea is make sure I'm not a hazard to myself or others. If I get out last with an AFF, I'll still land before quite a few lightly loaded jumpers who exited first. Even though they are below me at first, I know that I am out-decending them, and I'll end up somewhere in the mix. It's up to me to determine where I should fit into the mix. I'm "rallying for my slot". I guess. That's just what I've always called it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

It's important to teach the landing pattern. In todays environment, it is equally important to teach a student the different types of landings. Straight in, and the varying degrees of high performance landings. EVERYONE should fly the same pattern. When you look in the air, it should resemble a tidy bowl flush. At some point there will be pilots who come straight in. Then there will be those that have flown the pattern to their desired spot and perform a landing turn. That turn is not part of the pattern. How they get to the point they initiate that turn is part of the pattern. IMO. It it the absolute responsibility of the high performance pilot to rally for his/her slot to accomodate clear air once he/she gets to that point. It is also good form for the straight in approacher, to rally for his/her slot and realize that if a canopy above them is gaining on them, they should let it pass. If you do not have the ability to evaluate all of the canopies in the pattern and acurately gage the slot you should take, then your canopy just might be too small. This is one of the biggest points I make during gear consultations and student instruction. Smaller parachutes mean less decision time in the pattern. Each and every jumper, regardless of landing style should be able to gage their rate of decent in relation to the other parachutes in the air. There are variables that come up and keep us challenged. But that is another story..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Oh yeah. But that was a nice downwinder. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Um. Your welcome. Told you. You have to just come to Byron, to get it. Facilities: Bad Byron Love: Good ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Mathias. VELOCITY103 He's really good. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Our orders have been very prompt from Tony as of late. But I'm sure your special too! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

What type of canopies are available for you to jump at your DZ? It MAY be that you can jump a 250 or 260 until you are ready for a 235. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

JP, you said, "Rule: First one down sets the pattern." Surely you are not talking about Byron. For as long as I have been jumping there the rule has been: Left hand pattern. Land into the wind. No wind, land to the north. The discussion you are talking about involved one very big ego that happened to be bruised when you decided to join the conversation. Maybe you took it personally. Big Swooper #1 just got reprimanded by Big Swooper #2 and DZM for flying a right hand pattern. Continued discusssion is what makes Byron such a safe drop zone. This happens. Your input is welcome. But at the same time, there are times when you should be sensative to some of the long time jumpers. You are learning a lot... quickly. Your input is valid. But we all have big egos in this sport. The charactors you are describing are open to comments. But timing and delivery play a huge factor in listening to your ideas and telling you to "fuck off". Just my humble opinion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Jett and I are set! Her picture was taken when she was 1 and it's soooo cute! Her little passport is all stamped up too. Gravity Gear!

It is possible to find used gear that is a good fit. If you need help determining size and fit of some used stuff you find out there, just PM me. Many people only fixate on canopy size when shopping used gear. It is equally as important to find a match in the harness size. For both safety and comfort reasons. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

If you put 100 straight in approaches on the 170, and you have under 300 jumps... ...you did not GRADUALLY build from a 90 to a 360. Don't fool yourself. Because you pull something off for a few skydives, does not mean you have it mastered. Try doing 90s for a few HUNDRED jumps. Then progress from there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

I'm not going to be there, but I'll ask Vic and Marc to "Bite you" for me. Seriously. Kick ass all y'all! This is so cool to finally see this category coming to action! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Nor Cal is going to kick So Cals ASS! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Jimmy. Your shit always rocks. Because if anything can hold your attention that long, it's sure to thrill! Rock on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Hey baby girl! We miss you and Sean already. Jett can't stop talking about Sean. How he's so cool and he can do this and that..... ....can't wait to see you kids again! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

It's not a "line of bull". This is true. The line length is shorter. Very noticably from a 170 to a 150. You will loose a lot more altitude in the turn on a 150 than a 170. Even with the same wing loading. This sucks particularly in a panic turn, or a side gust of wind, where your instinct is to reach out and break your fall. Instead you are turning yourself into the ground. May as well go through some of these learning curves with a 170. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Much less decision time in the pattern. Instead of 7 - 10 minutes to decide how to join the pattern, which direction to land, where to put it down, traffic considerations, etc. You will have 3 - 5 minutes. Times are not exact, but you see the point. These decisions are largely based on experience. Then there is the ground hazard. The smaller canopy is much more responsive to toggle input. An avoidence turn can easily drive you into the ground with the more reponsive canopy. If you are equating it to race cars, remember you don't have any steel between you and the ground. We take 100% of our impacts with our flesh and blood. Another common error for low time jumpers on small parachutes is when you get a side gust of wind on landing. If you get pushed from the side an reach to brace your fall (instead of countering the turn), you'll turn yourself into the ground quite hard. The idea is to go through each learning curve with the proper tools to keep you in good shape. This way you can become a great canopy pilot! Gravity Gear!

I am indeed quite perceptive. Much too much for my own good. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

If his jacket is under his arm and he extends his arms, won't the jacket fall? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

Well, being able to have a house and a decent car and some money in my pocket to be able to take the old lady out. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, Oh. My side. mmmm. Yes you can be comfortable, but it takes a while. If you have a strong stomach and like van, truck or tent life, you'll do fine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

My favorite for fast fallers is the Tony Suit. The Flite Wing by Flite Suit is a close second. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

What Dave said.... ....and if you still decide to change it, I'll buy that cypres. I have a waiting list for them. Call Rigging Innovations and ask if there were any major mods since that year. Otherwise, a good inspection by your rigger, should reveal any abnormal wear and tear. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

BOB = Battery Opperated Boyfriend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

DOH!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!