BobB

That suit is the Shiznit. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I read this and thought "Damn, that's hardcore." Then I read the next line about letting it cool on a surface first. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I've been watching a 2003 Rantoul video on this page. At approx. time index 2:40 (right after the tandem portion) a birdman rodeo exits. The suit is black and red. I don't think it's you, but I'm curious enough to ask. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Nice! Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I like making the sunset load and then enjoying the beer post facto. Jumping the sunset load makes the beer taste so much better. I love knowing I milked the last skydive of the day. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I guess the question now is, "How did you like it?" I recognized you immediately from your avatar on here. Always good to meet new people, especially when you've already seen them on DZ.com. For everyone's info, Chivo is one cool guy. He was sitting next to me on one plane ride telling another jumper about the technique he uses to sitfly. I saw his exit on that run...quite nifty. Head towards jump run, parallel to the ground with some insane barrel roll speed and a good shout going out the door. Catch you next time Chivo! Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I experience this occasionally. Particuarly on late nights during weekends. Funny thing though, I don't have a dog . Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I have complete faith in Pammi & Merrick. The necklace they sent me was AWESOME. I buy from them because they are HIGHLY recommended (for good reason, in my experience). Just wanted to post to make it doubly clear that it was TOTALLY my fault for my lost necklace. I don't blame anyone else (certainly not Pammi & Merrick). I won't be skydiving with my new one when it get's here. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Remember this which I was SO happy to have? It was three days old this weekend and I was wearing it at the DZ. I had it tucked inside my shirt and my jumpsuit (still around my neck). Two jumps later, I felt for it and it was gone. I guess the sky took it from me. I'm ordering a new one tonight, and I WON'T be jumping with it when it get's here. Can't say I wasn't warned though. From Dropzone Jewelry's website, Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

0:3:0 No cases owed, but I brought a twelve-pack to the DZ on Friday evening to share with everyone. Two jumps on Saturday, then spent an hour or two with Cheryl who agreed to help me learn packing. She wants to work with me more before she signs me off, but I'm glad she is taking the time to help me learn it right. I'll have to buy her a couple of jump tickets for the help. I jumped the NAV 220 I was practicing packing on with her. It opened NICE...on-heading and quick but soft deployment. Also had a fine time Saturday night. Thomas (Aviator's) agreed to partner with me for two games of horseshoes (we won one BTW...NICE). I've never thrown horseshoes, but, despite having some brews in me, I managed not to lob any into the crowd who was watching nearby . Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I believe this is the first post you have made regarding this subject. Beer on. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

18 (I'm assuming we're dealing with equipment mals here...not to be confused with the mental mal I can't get away from ) Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

((((VIBES)))) Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I'll start... I never claimed to be fashionable... Next time you're sober, reevaluate the concept of posting on DZ.com while intoxicated Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

No shit...check the video out. (NOTE: Quicktime required) Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I've seen some nice swoop action at Raeford, but... WTF? How can this possibly end favorably for the canopy pilot? I've seen videos of this, too, so I know it's done. How can this happen? That is, it looks to me like the pilot would totally burn sideways into the ground? Oh, and, NO, I'm not thinking of trying this with my (read: "Raeford's") Navigator 220! BTW: Pic grabbed from Performance Designs Photo Area. I'm a PD snob already . Heath Richardson is two years younger than I am and he's pulling this crap off. Jeez...I'm getting old. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I'm no doctor...but maybe you're breathing difficulties are due to tension? If you tense up, your diaphragm and intercostals don't want to move...and you can't breathe. Raff told me that forcing a deep breath through the mouth and then exhaling will make you relax. Try it before your next exit...deep breath...hold for a second...then exhale. If you have trouble during the dive, try it again...deep breath through the mouth and exhale...Raff gave me the "breathe" signal more than a couple of times on AFF dives...it sure as hell helped me during freefall. Good luck and blue skies... Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Along the "dirty laundry" line... I have had somebody, purportedly a high-ranking Niegerian banker or something, tell me that I could have 30% of 20.2 million dollars just for sending them a lot of my money. I've gotten that scam-mail a couple of times. Open proxies are a disease. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Yep...safety. It is the number one issue when skydiving. I've not done many more jumps than you and I still pull at around 4k. Good luck and I hope you get as much out of it as I have so far. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Low? You're 68 dives look impressive compared to my 18 . Welcome. Reading here is a good thing (lurking or not). The folks here have a TON of knowledge that ANYONE can learn something from. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Welcome. I'm severly new, too. I'm glad I didn't turn away after my first AFF dive...it sounds like you are, too. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

This is what I remember thinking about to prepare myself to jump (or not). I don't remember being really nervous until I saw the people in front of us exiting the aircraft. All in all, I look back and remember how confident I was that this guy (Tracy) strapped to my back knew what he was doing and wasn't going to do anything to hurt me. I just looked at it as "going along for the ride." His calm nature about the whole thing induced calmness in me. Bottom line, don't do anything you REALLY don't want to do...but don't be afraid to test your limits either. The satisfaction of the whole thing is priceless. Good luck. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

Saturday 7/5/2003: Riding motorcycle back to Fayetteville following a nice trip out to Southern Pines. Riding back to town, out of the blue, I remember one of my friends saying something about his aunt doing something called a "tandem jump" once. A moment later, another recollection of somebody saying something about skydiving and Raeford. I decide to ride home and see if I can validate any of this info on the internet. Yep, there it is...something called "Raeford Parachute Center." Okay, sounds good...maybe I'll just ride out and watch. Sunday 7/6/2003: I'm there at 10AM...some guy (Chuck Blue) looks at me and says "You ready to do some skydivin'?" I respond with, "Yeah man!" The past five weeks (AFF, solo-self-sup. and working my A-Prof-Card) have been less of "I'm trying to do something with my life and my career" and more of "I'm working toward a career, but I LOVE this skydiving stuff." It has changed my perspective completely. Bob Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

So you're the one responsible for the "lovely" Raeford weather this summer? Bob P.S. - Sorry about the wreck. I'm glad you're still around to talk about it. At least you get another chance to skydive...many motorcycle wrecks take that opportunity away. **Vibes** for a quick recovery. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.

I'm not a Mac user, but I think you are making a good choice. Hell, if Austin Meyer uses Mac to write and test the BEST flight-sim I've ever seen there has to be a lot of good things going for it. Bob P.S. - Don't tell Austin I told you this...it's supposed to be a secret. Yes, I know it is snowing. No, we are not putting the top up.